The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-09-23


repeated, "Drat these rags!"
But, rags or no rags, there was
man on the horizon, and a man in the
prairie is precious. AS we multiply
we cheaper. The one man yonder
was all Henry cared about, and his
moments annoyance was soon forgot
zen. He waved a handkerchief that
pnce was white. Frantically he
waved it, shouting again and again,
sHil Hi! Hill" and beginning to run.
Half an hour earlier the prairie
had conveyed another shout to an
unbounded solitude. Wilfred Wild
smith had lounged against the door
most Of his shanty, singing snatches of
old songs, till dreary sense of lone
illness overcame him, by no means for
The first time. Then he shouted at
the hollow space, merely for the sake
of hearing a human voice and break
tng an intolerable oppression. The
Hrst enthusiasm of the emigrant and
budding landowner had worn away,
and he looked the very picture of
bored man.
He turned inside and laid . plain
meal on the old packing-case that did
duty for table and cupboard in one.
But in that outlandish place the
heartache of the exile was too strong
for appetite. He rose off his stool
and stamped.
"This won't do at ALL" he ex-
claimed; "Ill just go mad. Better go
over to the Emery's for an hour and
shake 1t off," Harvest was coming
on, and, he would have to barter
labor and machinery. His athletic
stride along the level track soon made
the shanty look smaller and smaller
TO his backward glance.
The Emery's farmstead lay six
miles due west. On his way the faint
est of distant sounds reached his
quick ears and arrested him. He
turned himself in the direction of st.
Winiton, and caught sight of Henry's
improvised signal. 1t took each Of
khem Welsh mile or more to meet.
Wilfred was not one to turn man
on scurvily, but he took no liking to
Henry at first. Apparently they were
about the same age, and Henry spoke
well, and Wilfred knew that where
men are scarce clothes are of less ac-
count; but he found Henry's gloomy
brow and sinister eye so suspicious as
half TO neutralize his obvious anxiety
TO make a good impression. Still,
fnere was chance of companionship,
an educated man out at the elbows
and begging for work. He directed
the stranger to his shanty, and re-
sumed his walk to the Emery's.
once within sight of the Emery's
he was greeted by the welcome of the
girls. Harvesting arrangements were
settled over the evening meal, and
harvest anticipations twinkled in the
glances Alice and Maud gave Wilfred.
For the younger girls were free, as
YET from that maidenly reserve which
was beginning to impose silken re-
straints on Milly.
The girls all walked part of the
way back with him. In the sweet
Irankness prairie life had bred in her,
Milly asked him II he would be COM
ing on Sunday fortnight, when the
BISHOP would he at st. Winiton. and
wired promptly decided that to
uavel over two sides of triangle to
reach the town was, in given circum-
stances, much better than a straight
line.
When he reached his own place his
hrst Impression of Frankson was dis
sgreeably confirmed. The fellows
strange air and shuffilng manner COM
peiied him to say he thought he had
no work for him.
really think" he said, at had
Detter not take on a man till l have
had time to get, it all under crops. !
am sorry to disappoint you, but j
must"
Must not finish that sentence
henry thought, and broke It off nm.
eeremoniously, with undisguised anx.
lety and quivering eagerness in his
plea for work.
Wilfred was sure of the mans edu.
s% sSlon now. and asked him bluntly
Mnat brings you here in such a
pickle?"
hehry's eyes moistened as the two
iooked each other In the face. .You
neeont be afraid of me. .
lou won't find me a rotten bargain
I'll work. M
record isn't just"
smut up" Wilfred replied; .sa,
=" more man. / don't want secrets
%ahy a fellow comes here to pulI
himself together
Well. I've begun, SO III maka q
.'ean breast OF 1t. Perhaps it's bet.
er' got a bit wild, In with n bad
io'' and my mother was cut up abou,
My father gave It me rathe,
YARN and ! vowed wouldn't ge
ome. i've been out year and got
no regular work" p
10 your folks know where yor
AreY" Wilfred asked, w,th strange
eager wistfulness.
No. not yet"
softly. wearily, Wilfred said. an,
you think they're worryioy .ha,,
you!' With downcast eyes. his foo
snaied the ground before he added
Look here. old man. I'm sorry 10
.ou' Come and get into sometb,n,
uecent; my things'll fit YOU.
10 you want me TO tell them ?
Henry asked.
Service was over at ST. winiton o,
nc sunday OF the Bishops visit. an.
~ congregation was scattering Il