The Jackson herald., 1907-02-07
CHAPTER IiI.-cont!nued.

Sne pOuleu, Caught MIN Dy tne
tapels of his coat and prettily tried
to shake him.
Now, now! stop It at once, and
come to the house. I've been tending
your father and mother, and I'm go.
ing to tend you. What you need d.
rectly Is food. Your look may be
holy, but | prefer full cheeks. Not
another word until you have eaten
every crumb put before you"
With an air of captor, daintily
ferce, she led him toward the house
and up to the door, which she pushed
open before him.
Come softly, your mother may be
still asleep-no, your father is talking
--listcn!"
A querulous voice. rough with
strong feeling. came from the inner
room.
Here, l tell you, is the prophecy
of Joseph to prove 1t, away back in
1892"
He broke off, for the girl came lead
ing in the son, who, as soon as he
saw the white-haired old man with
his open book, sitting beside the vast.
ed woman on the bed, flew to them
with a glad cry.
They embraced him and smoothed
and pattcd him, TREMENDOUSLY. feebly,
with broken thanks for his safe re-
turn. The mother at last fell back
upon her pillow. her eyes shining with
the joy of great relief while the
father was seized with a fit of cough
A. ..ft, Ii
frame and left him weak but smiling.
The girl had been placing food upon
the table.
Come, Joel" she urged. you must
eat-we have all breakfasted, so you
must sit alone, but we shall watch
you"
She pushed him into the chair and
filed his plate, in spite of his pro-
tests.
And now we mast be about our
preparations for the Journey. The
time Is short-who IS that"
He sprang to the door. Outside,
quick steps were heard approaching
The girl, who had risen in some con-
fusion, stood bushing and embar.
rasscd before him. The mother rose
feebly on her elbow to reassure him
"'Tia Capt. Girnway, laddie. Have
no alarm-he has befriended us. But
for him we should have been put out
two Gays ago, without shelter and
without care. He let us be housed
here until you should come"
There was a knock at the door, but
Joel stood with his back to it. The
words of Seth Wright were running
roughshod through his mind. He
looked sharply at Prudence.
"A mobocrat-our enemy-and you
have taken favors from hlm-a minion
of the devil?-shame."
The girl looked up.
'He was kind; you don't realize
that he has probably saved their
lives. Indeed, you must let him in
and thank him."
Not T."
Tho mother interposed hurriedly.
Yes, yes, laddie. You know not
how hlgh-handed they have been.
They expelled all but us, and some
they have maltreated shamefully.
This one has been kind to us. Open
She door"
81 dare not face him-I may not
contain myself"
The knock was repeated more loud
ly. The girl went up to him and put
her hands on his shoulders to draw
him away.
"Re reasonable" she pleaded, in
Tow tones, and above all, be polite
TO him."
She put him gently aside and drew
back Che door. On the threshold
smiled the young captain. His cap
was dofred, and his left hand rested
easily on the hilt of his sword. He
stepped inside as one sure of his wei.
come.
Good morning, Miss Prudence,
good morning. Mr.. Rae. good morn
ing, madam-good morning"
He looked questioningly at the
stranger Prudence stepped forward.
This is Joel Rae, Capt, Girnway."
They bowed, somewhat stifIly. Each
was dark. Each had face to attract
women. But the captain was at peace
with the world, neatly uniformed,
well fed, clean-shaven, smiling, pleas
ant to look upon. while the other was
unshaven, hollow checked. gaunt,
roughly dressed, thing that had been
hunted and was now under ban. Each
was at once sensible of the contrast
between them, and each was at once
affected by it; the captain to a greater
iauntiness, more ELUSIVE affability;
the other to stonier sterraess
81 am glad to know you have come,
Mr.. Rae. Your people nave worried
little, owing to the unfortunate cir.
cumstances in which they have been
placed"
Il am obliged to you, sir, in their
behalf for your kindness to my father
and mother and to Miss Corson here"
"You are n Thousand times Welcome