The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-09-17
By MEREDTTH NICH0LSOy

what. Indeed. bat Tor excliementY
Yoa arc not ~ those tame gonng wo.
rnca across the sen who coine out into
the world from convent frightened
al al lAey see aud whisper Yes. SIS
ter. No sister 20 everything they
hear
yes: we Americans are deficient ID
shyness ana humility have often
heard Il remarked. n Chauyenet'
mo. 20! You misunderstood! Those
deficiencies. ~ you term them. are de-
Hehtfu They are vhat give the
charm to the American woman hope
YOU would not believe me capable ot
speaking Ia disparagemeht mademoi
fele Yon must know
The water tumbled down the rock
into the vale; the soft dir was sweet
with the scent Of pines An eagle
crulsed high against the blue over.
head shlrleys hand frightened on the
rein. and Fanny lifted her head ex'
pwtandy
Chauvenet went 90 rapidly in French;
"You must know why am here
why | have crossed the sea TO seek
YOU IN your own home. have loted
you. mademoiseile from the moment
first saw you In Florence Here, with
only the mountains, the sky, the wood
| must speak. You must hear. you
must believe. that love YOU! Offer
you my life my poor attalnments.
Monsieur. you do me a great honor,
but cannot listen What you ask Is
fnposslble, quite impossible. But
monsieur
Her eyes had fallen upon a thickel
behind him where something had
stirred. She thought at first that II
was an animal of some sort, but she
saw now quite distinctly a mans shah
by felt hat that rose slowly until the
bearded face OF its wearer was dis
closed
Monsieur" cried Shirley in low
tone. look behind you aud be careful
what you say or do Leave the man
TO me"
Chauvenet turned and faced a scowl
Ing mountaineer who held ride aud
drew Il to his shoulder as Chauvenet
threw out his arms. dropped them to
his thighs aud laughed carelcssly
What is 1t. my dear fellow-my
watch. my purse, my horser he said
in English,
'He wants none Of those things
said Shirley. urging her horse few
steps toward the man. THE mountain
people are not robbers What can we
do for youf she asked pleasantly
"You CANT do noihin' for me
drawled the man Go on away, miss
| want to see this little fella' ! got q
little business with him
"He is a foreigner he knows little
Of our language. You win do best 10
let me stay" said Shirley.
She had not the remotest idea OF
what the man wanted. but she had
known the mountain folk from child.
hood aud well understood that familiar.
| ity with their ways and tact were nee.
essary in dealing with them
Miss. hnye seen you befo'. and
reckon we aint got no cause for trou.
bic with you. but this little fella' ain't
no business up hyeh, Them hotel peo-
I pie has their own places TO ride aud
drive. and it's all right for you miss
\ but what's yo' frlen' ridln' the hills
for AT night? He's lookin' for some
IN. and / reckon as how that some
un air met
He spoke drawllngly, with a lazy
| good humor IN his tones. and Shirley
wits took advantage of his delibera
| ton 10 consider the situation from
several points Of view Chauvenet
stood looking from Shirley TO the man
and back again. He was by no means
a coward and he did not In the least
relish the thought Of owing his safety
to woman Rut the confidence with
which shirley addressed the man and
her apparent familiarity With the pc
culiarlties Of the mountaineers i'm.
pressed him He spoke TO her rapidly
| IN French
Assure the man that never heard
Of him before IN my life-that the idea
Of seeking him never occurred TO me.
The rifle. repeater Of tie newest
type went 10 the mans shoulder 10 0
fash and the blue barrel pointed at
| Chauyenet's head.
None o that! reckon the Ameri.
can Language air good enough for these
I ere negotiations
Chauyenet shrugged bis shoulders
| but he gazed into the muzzle OF the
ride unAinchlnglg
"rhr gentleman was merely explain
lug that you are mistaken. that he