The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-06-09

eye that II must be a hard fight to
make living here.
You must work hard" he said with
unwilling admiration. IF you and one
man Keep the place like this"
Grant is half dozen men," she
replied. There is nothing he cannot
do. He is stableman. carpenter, cook.
plowman-everything by turns" Her
tone was almost enthusiastic.
1T must be a hard life for you"
She shrugged her shoulders.
Il have got used to II. Mercifully
one gets used to anything in time. At
hrst, she threw up her head as though
something choked her; lat first
thought I should never be able to en-
dure it."
When Drummond went in big red
Scotsman was putting the dishes on
the table, whom his hostess introduced
as Mr.. Grant" lie was rather pus.
zled by the mans appearance and
manner. 1t was nothing unusual on
the prairie to find gentlemen working
as farm hands and doing any mental
labor, as IL would be called elsewhere.
being a gentleman, though neither was
he rough or uncouth in any way. 1t
was impossible to treat him as an in.
ferior, though one might not consider
him an equal. He conducted himself
with perfect propriety. and when he
did speak-which was seldom-he
spoke with knowledge, and was worth
listeni to.
Two things struck Drummond who
was an observant man. One was that
his hostess turned instinctively to
Grant in any little doubt or difficulty.
and not to her husband The other.
that the man looked at his mistress as
n dog looks at it's master--as at n
superior being, eager to anticipate her
wish, to obey her slightest command.
curious thing happened when
they were sitting at dinner. A neigh.
bor rode up, saying he had been into
The town fer letters and had brought
their pest with them. He tossed a
small packet down on the table and
was gone almost before they could
thank him. Drummond noticed that
his host had stopped eating and was
looking eagerly and furtively at the
letters, but he did not attempt to touch
them
The woman stretched out her hand
and took them up. Among the letters
was a small parcel addressed. as
Drummond could net help seeing. to
f. Crawford, Esq" Another name
which he did not see was printed at
the head of the label. To his astonish
ment, lis hostess. after a brief glance.
took up the little packet and de-,
erately dropped in into the stove.
where fire waas smouldering.
"Helen!" her husband cried in an.
ger, and entreaty, stretching out his
hand. But she took no notice.
For moment he looked as though
ne would have said and done some
thing more. but the Scotsman's eyes
were on him-steady, scornful. com
mandihg-and he got up without an
other word and went out of the room.
AS he went. Drummond saw-and
grew hot with indlgnation-that his
eyes were full OF tears and his hands
trembling
There was an awkward pause. and
then on the excuse that he wanted to
smoke pipe, he, too. left the room.
AS he was strolling about outside.
wishing that he could do something to
heip his unfortunate hest. who seem
ed at the mercy of his wife and ser.
want, Crawford himself appeared.
Come away from the house. where
we shan't be overheard" he whispered
i want to speak to you. and that brute
Grant is always watching me. | am
never safe from him"
Il saw you felt sorry for Inc Just
now he went on. You will guess
something of the awful life lead.
have no voice or say i'm anything; / am
a nonentity in my own house--worse
prisoner. | have no money and no
means of getting anywhere. can
oniy go as far as / can walk. and YOU
can guess he said bitterly, how far
that is"
He moved feebly like a man rocov.
ering from an illness. and his face
was gray and beaded with perspira.
ton, though the air was quite cool.
Any exertion seemed too much for
him. he looked the wreck of what must
have been a fine, strong man. Drum
mond was full Of compassion and in
dlgnation
Why don't YOU communicate with
your friends? ?" he asked Surely they
could put a stop to such state of
things If YOU arc not strong enough
70 exert your authority. OF course
don't understand the circumstances
but can see that something is
wrong"
And YOU will help me?" he said
eagerly For PHYS sake, don't refuse;
J may not have such another chance
for months"
The shrili. excited voice broke off
abruptly The little outburst had com.
pletely exhausted him, and he leaned.
shaking and half crying. against the
stable wall, n pitiable object
What is II you want me to dor
Drummond asked.
Post this for me yourself. that is
al" holding out letter. 81 wrote IL
just now on the chance II is 70
friend OF mine in Montreal who Will
help me. Don't let anybody see a.
put Il In your pocket quickly" lie
looked round In furtive apprehension
d