Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-13

JUST "Itiltn tne gate HarmOnyS grand
mother, a meek-faced old lady, mildly
r6ulns with some one whom Tom took
to be Bates himself
Approaching the group Tom drove
more and more slowly, forgetting all
pollteness in his pity for the child when
he saw that Harmony was crying ana
Juggling at Dinah's tie strap with al,
her little might
The Eclipse came to a standStill
Papa didn't sell my Dinan, Tom
my! Papa didn't" cried the little girI
dropping the strap. running forward.
ana reaching up her hands to MIN m
pitiful appeal
Tom was beside her in moment. ond
Selling his hard she ran with him to
her grandmother's side
IL Is unfortunate. Mr. Bates" the old
lady was protesting. that you should
nave come when there's noone at home
out ms" Even the hired men are not
around. They would have known or
course. | don't doubt your word bur
IN afraid there's some misunder-
standing. Can't you leave the mare
now, and come for her when my son IS
at home"
L would like to oblige you ma'am.
indeed | would" answered the man.
| very blandly. but | have promised to
| deliver these horses tomorrow You
knew that your son had sold d horse.
didn't you?'
| dld hear him say that he mad of
fered one for S75 cash, but | thought
twas old Prince. the gray ! didn't
suppose he'd sell Dinah for any such
amount of money or under any Circum-
| stances, for
| Papa didn't sell Dinah" The child
confronted the man unflinchinsly. 81
was there. Don't you wemernbeh twas
Prince? Dlnah's mine. Papa gave her
to me long time ago" In spite of her
Sobbing her voice rang clearly every
sound she attempted but the letter
| Nonsense" said Bates. though smil-
in2ly. He attempted to stroke the lit
tie girl; hair but she flew from him
with frantic gesture
| Tom felt that he could keen quiet no
longer
Something is wrong. Mrs. Cush-
man" Tom said Mr. Cushman told
me only this morning that he had given
Mr.. Bates the refusal of Prince Any
|
tonight to speak for himself. That
| isn't long to wait"
| That Bates paid no attention to him
| did not in the least trouble the boy;
| but Mcmahon. who had sauntered over
from the hotel. and had heard the lat
| ter part Of the conversation. braced
| himself before him with feet apart. and
began a sort Of ss-questionng, en-
,Nl,,,
| open palm.
"Mr Cushman told you that he had
| offered Prince. eh, young man."
YES, Sir"
well, now, what have we to do with
Prince? Clearly nothing at all The
| question is-did he tell you that he had
not sold Dinaho"
mo- but if he had sold her.
Tut. tut. Keep to the facts; The law
| can't recognize ''ifs: it's facts we want
Young man. you go about your bust
| ness You'll miss your train if you
waste much more time here. Wright
| don't stand much fooin', you know"
Then to Mrs Cushman he said, i'm
pressively:
ALLOW me. ma'am. to introduce to
you my friend Mr.. Bates. of New
| York. Mr. Bates is gentleman
| mann. I'll stand for him. It's
simply absurd that his word should be
| called into question by that young
prig. It's late now, and further delay
may put him to a great deal of
trouble. You were to pay the money
and take the horse. Mr. Bates"
THAT was the bargain" said Bates
with the callnness of one who's sure
he's right and waits patiently for
permission to go ahead
Mcmahon was naturally head
strong: still he might not have acted
with so much assurance had he not
been imbibing freely at the tavern
We'll. Mr.. McMahon." said yielding
grandma. eff you say it's all right
| WHY"
"Of course it's all right. madam
Come in. Mr. Bates. and count out
your money" And with the familiar
| ity of an old neighbor, he led the way
| into the house. grandma following
neelSly. only stopping for an instant
to pacify Harmony. who clutched her
| gown in speechless protest
Don't cry. deary." she said "and
| you may ride to the station with
Tommy. if he'll let you''
| But. with d faint scream. Harmony
| flew out and began again her helpless
| tug at the tie-strap Tom looked at
her = second, then crossed the road
and let down the bars of a pasture lot
then. with steady. nimble fingers. he
| unhtChed his near horse and put him
into the lot. He was at HarmOnys
; side the next instant with a low, com
forting Ssh sh" he took the strap
from her shaking fingers. united it.
flung it into the buggy box. and led
Dinah into the vacant place The
| rusty old harness was loose fit. but
it was made to answer with only the
change of IA buckle or two.
Meanwhile the naughty little beast
showed a pair Of disdainfu eyes under
the shabby binders. and tossed her
head and lifted her feet in a way that
showed her to be quite out of pa
thence with this new work But Har-
mOny, whose active little brain had
quickly guessed Toms purpose. ran to
her head.
You must ne good Dinah," she
said and at the sound of her voice. the