The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-06-02

eye that IL 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 a dozen men," she
replied. There is nothing he cannot
do. He is stableman, carpenter. cook.
plowman-everythin by turns" Her
tone was almost enthusiastic.
1T must be n hard life for you"
She shrugged her shoulders.
Il have got used to II. Mercifully
one gets used to anything in time At
first she threw up her head as though
something choked her: lat first
thought | should never be able to en-
dure it,"
When Drummond went in a big red
Scotsman was putting the dishes on
the table, whom his hostess introduced
as Mr.. Grant" He was rather puz-
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.
But this man made no pretension to
being 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
listening to.
TWO things struck Drummond. who
was an observant man. One was that
MS 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
dog looks at its 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
Dor rode up, saying he had been into
the town for letters and had brough.
their pest with them He tossed n
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 hanc
and took them up. Among the letters
was small parcel addressed. as;
Drummond could net help seeing, to
r. Crawford, Esq" Another name
which he did not see was printed at
the head of the label. To his as.onish.
ment, Ills hostess, after brief glance.
took up the little packet and de-
crately dropped in into the stove,
where fire waas smouidering.
"Helen." her husband cried i'm an.
ger, and entreaty. stretching out his
hand. But she took no notice.
For a moment he looked as though
he would have said and done some.
thing more, but the Scotsmans eyes
We're on him-steady, scornful. com
manding-and he got up without an
other word and went out of the room.
AS he went, Drummond saw-and
grew hot with indignation-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
help HIS unfortunate host. 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
j want to speak to you. and that brute
Grant is always watching me. | am
never safe from him"
Il saw you felt sorry for me lust
now" he went on. "You will guess
something of the awful life / lead. /
nave no voice or say in anything: am
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 man recov-
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, ne looked the wreck of what must
have been fine, strong man Drum
mond was full OF compassion and in
dignation
why don't YOU communicate with
your friends ?" he asked. Surely they
could put a stop to such state of
things If you are not strong enough
to exert your authority OF course I
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:
| may not have such another chance
for months"
The shrill. excited voice broke OF
abruptly Tho little outburst had com.
pletely exhausted him, and ne leaned.
shaking and half crying. against the
stable wall. n pitiable object
What is It you want me TO dor"
DrummoDd asked
Post this for me yourself. that ia
an holding out a letter 81 wrote IL
just now on the chance II is to a
friend OF mine in Montreal who Will
help me. Don't let anybody see H..
put II In your pocket quickly" He
looked round in furtive apprehension: