The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-03
CHAPTER II.

A month later big Ben Greg was
coming home from market and just
rounding the shoulder of Witchbarrow
hill. He was utterly oblivious Of the
bright spring weather, and was engaged
In earnest conversation with the only
person he ever said much to-his neat
little mare.
ITS a fact, lass, daresay thou
thought it niver wod come, but it has
Wi vengeance! Thy big soft mes
ter s love, lass, clean muddled and
moidered In it once and for al and for
ever
| With a flash of self,recollection he
started and looked guiltily round, and
then he shook his head and resumed;
'She s nobbut little bit of thing,
white-faced townifed mite as doesn t
know a churn from n wozzel and
Nance here he dropped his voice in
a sudden gush of confdence-''I niver
wanted woman afore and Is niver
want one again, and she wodn t look at
me!''
Nance, chucked up her head in ap.
parent dissent, but her master was not
TO be convinced. I've telled thee,
now. She wodn't touch me w t. end
Of stick, Why, woman. she IL want
| parson or doctor-a gentleman, thou
! knows.
At this point Nance sauntered alb
sently towards feldgate, (which she
opened with her mouth and then pro-
ceed along the hedge side towards Bos-
XII, Bon, absorbed IN his ruminations,
observed nothing and presently began
again. Thou s seen her thyself,
low,"
Nance had stopped with Jerk that
nearly pitched him of, for there under
the hedge, her face buried in the young
grass, lay Mary Ashley. sobbing as
hfp prrh hnr ho, ~
ne could grasp the situation she was
on her feet and clinging pleadingly at
his saddle side
'Oh, save me. Ben. save mel I've
nobody to help me and she's making
me. Oh. ] couldn't, | couldn 'tl'' and
tho red-eyed face turned so pitcously
up. was smeared with tears and an.
guish.
Why, woman, womanlD and he was
at her side and timidly supporting her
with trembling arm in an instant.
You are good, Ben; you are my
friend. You will save me, won I YOU ~
A. Sa,sa-yw,h,y, sartin. Whatever's TO
You re good, Ben; you re kind and
Poor Zen! In her frantic fear she |
little knew what she was saying. The
great tender fellow licked his dry Inns
looked helplessly at the pleading face,
and shook like a leaf.
In a torrent Of fresh tears and Diff
ful agitation she told him her jumbled |
story, and he going from gasp to
gasp as the case was made clear to him. |
was alarmed to discover that all tho |
other elements of the difficulty were |
fading, away before fury of mad zeal.
ousv that was rising within him,
But-but-it s a free country. WON
an, and you needn't have 'em if Won
DON aon 7 want, an-and, ay, and you've
II? Not penny, Ben. Why, she
bought the very clothes 7 wearl'f
ms was beyond him; his face be.
came map of wrinkles and he put
his hands on her shoulders and pushed
her back that he might search her |
race Then as the truth broke upon |
HIM he felt himself dwindGng-he Was
as much afraid of his termaeant bouse. |
Keeper as the rest-and he felt he was |
gong smaller and smaller as he reflect |
ed. But the other thought was strong |
est; his neighbors and chums were rob |
ping hlm, were taking more than life /
itself, and he trembled as he rerop
nized the fierce nature of the emotions
within him '"'
she S had her finger in livery match
that S been made j. Crowbeck-bnt !
what have they been doing? Have
they bothered you?'
NO not much, only Bob Hallatt
but don t mind them, Ben
Bob! what S he done7" His
question was almost hissed ont
Well, he-but don { mind Ben I'm
not afraid of them, he says he II have
me or swing for me- -
blgow that's Bob! But leave him
to me and all-oh Lorjus davsli.
y. Ben had started and was now po;no
imp with fear, for there a few yards
away, her hand in Nance s bride, stood
aunt Bet glaring at them in highest
Indignation. "e''
.'oh, that S it is it. we can = tax >,
10eighbor's lads cause we want t garter
10 WEI Walk this way, Miss.
Mary stood still and nanted vbiIa
ne long terrorlzed Ben emitted low
,roan ~"
I'D 'ye hear me''-this in higher
Mary could not move to save her life
hen shrank once more towards her
ha5lng protector as Bethia began TO
trlde towards them, Ben stood I;ko
ne hypnotlzed and then with a prowl
dehauee went forward TO meet tho
nemy;, AS they approached. Ben sud.
eehiy llfted his eyes and caught those
\ = 1eu une approaching woman. Both of
anting. One long tense momen+ fho;y
aces set and white, their eyes met in
ne, terrible clinch. Then it was over,
nth hoarse, defiant. but defeated
ugh Bethia began to waver. and bv
ie time he reached the mare q bride
IS s, aunt was in full retreat.
lhey were both calm md collected
men nal1 an hour afterwards Ben took
& the house was like house of deatb
athIa, cowed and sullen in the kitchen
ending most of her time in the ONT.
use taking 1T out Of the maids. DIR.
the next few days Ben scarcely ever
q the premises; and plainly could NOT I
81 q moment If Mary was out of his