The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-21


thing dark about her brow, furrow
little more deeply lined between th
eyes, n warm oily look about the wild
encd black pupils that told of anger no
ovcrpast-or at least not fully.
The "houselass Meg manoeuvre
about the hearth with pots and pans
A stray ploughman looked in 10 obscrv
how far the supper preparations has
proceeded. caught glimpse of Mrs
abruptly vanished. This was that RoI
of whom John Stoba had spoken t.
Tlbbie in the byrc. He knew whcr
there was an empty stool and bette
welcome
But John Stoba drew his chair nea
to the FIRE. after hanging up his plaid
| he had his own place, which was th'
armchair farthcst from the door. Mer'
tcrmt term ploughmen might huddlc
! Stoba it WAS another matter. His com
ing 10 the farm autedated even that OF
tho mistress - herself.
"All right on the hill today, Johnf'
said Mrs. CoIvend. She had spoken
first, which, considering her temper
was itself i sign of tho times. John
had taught her by not speaking him
self al all Silence was no difficulty
10 him. He was in constant practice
up among the sheep and the coursine
collies.
aye" he said gravely, with his
eyes on the empty little three-legced
stool in the chimney corner, "where s
wee Aggie2'
The mistress OF the farm compressed
her lips. The frown deepened Her
eyebrows drew together, and the oily
density Of black in the pupils seemed
to absorb the whole iris. For moment
she did not answer.
F. "Where's the bsirn1" John repeated
t'John Stoba.p said the mistress.
stamping her foot, chow often have
told you 10 mind your own busiuess7'
"I am. y said John calmly; "where =
the bairn9'
Meg the house lass, Tibbie's younger
sister, let fall E'pingle' of sowens in
her agitation, but Mrs. Colvend was
too angry even to register this for
future punishment. She stood before
the slow quiet man of the bills, trembl-
ing with anger, and yet with fierce
tiger.like beauty about her, of which
even Meg was dlmly conscious
''She looks famous, the mistress,
whom she's mad was her verdict
"tbat is" (she sddcd) "when she S
Nor was Meg Grier alone in
this opinion, though the herd of Bal.
minnie appeared entirely unconscious Of
either charm or anger:
Where s wee Aggie' Where the
hairnG'
The question repeated for the third
time nearly put the mistress by her
sell" as they said in that countrywide,
''Where she may be. is name o your
business, John Stoba, - she cried setting
her hands on the curve of her hips and
bending down her face close ia his
John Stoba regarded the angry
woman unflinchingly.
sTf We hae been lickin' the BARN,
ne said, speaking slowly, and with a
certain resolute dullness, "l II lick you
Haena' I telled yea
"And who are YOU, John Stoba ~
cried the mistress of the farm, 'my
herd-nae mairl
"That's it--nae mair,' repeated
John. "your berd-nae mairl'
A shiver of pain passed over The
handsome woman 8 angry face. There
came change, strange, unexpected,
pltiful.
'sOh. John" she said catching him
hv the sleeve, "dinna speak 10 me that
gatel What wad I do without You,
John?'
Z ,'Where 8 the bairnl' repeated John,
not a muscle of his grave, strong coun-
tenace relaxing at The woman APP
veal.
"Dinna-dinna,' she cried, "dinna
look al me as if-as if-oh, We think
mair o. the wee lassie than % mel -
And she wcpt great tears, half in
anger, half in agony of spirit.
II hae nae peety for the woman
that's no kind 10 BARN. said John
Stobs, still more quietly.
'sWee Agnes is no here, said Mrs.
sobbing- John Stoba rose TO
his feet. He lifted his broad bonnet
from the window ledge, where it lay
lmong almanacks and advertise
IF sheep-dips. He whistled on his dogs.
and was halfway TO the door before the
woman could stop him.
She put her arms about his neck. aud
her face was changed TO that strange
grey anguish, which only
most agony,
con. John, - she cried eye winna-
We Wilma forsake me. What wad / do
without You, John' ! need you, John.
My-hert-needs yc,'
1.-The BARN, woman, what o The
oairn7"
"The BARN sent hsme. John, - she
oled with him, ''ye were that fond o
Ter. / couldpa bear il, John. Ye looked
.Or hcr nrSU when Nc cam IN OF the !
muir. So she s game hamc. | sent Bob |
ri her 10 the toon She s TO stop the /,
licht wi my sister Ann and her man
n King street, and the morn she will |
gang hame. -
Then John Stoba uttered short /
to his dogs which, instantly |
responsive 10 his voice, again took their |
,laces under the table,
''Ob, where are We gaun, John 90
''To yoke the gig. - said John.
"What for-oh, what for?'
Z" For YOU and me 10 drive doom to ,
he toon.'
al winna-l wiuna,'
Then John stoba stood up towering
boye her, very strong and very stern
The buyom, brighteved woman seemed
omehow 70 shrink and dwindle before
i'm.
''Thon ye hae seen the last o John
'toba." ne said, removing hcr hands
ne after the other from his neck, with.
MT hnrshness. but rather as in thick
vood ono might put aside natural oh.
trUctlons.
Ia fifteen minutes more The herd of
5alminnic and the mistress of the farm
we're on their way to Calrn Edward.
I was a long drIve-nine miles bv tho
carcst road. But the man would not
peak, and the woman dared not.
4