The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-04-13
CHAPTER TX.
Continued.

neck?" Tom said to Janet.
"Oh!" cried Janet to Tom, with
wide-open eyes; then added in low
tone, chat was where father was
killed. l have never been there.
And I'm not going to take you
there. It's all shut up ever since.
But I'll tell you what we'll do, Jan.
Wen have long spin-as far as
Blackmore's farm"
"Blackmore's farm That is the
place"
He gave loud laugh.
well, and what then? A thing
may happen once and not again. They
were tremendous friends of fathers.
I don't mean friends like-like the
Erskines and so forth Blackmore's
not a gentleman, but he's a rafting
good fellow. And you should just see
his stablesl There's one hunter I'd
buy in minute if I had my liberty.
It's ten miles, or perhaps little
more. Perhaps you're not up to
that?"
"Oh, yes, I'm quite up to it. But
wonder if we should go-it gets dark
so soon-and perhaps mother"
"OA, bother mother!" cried the
boy. I'VE can't, at our age, be al
ways stopping to consider what an
old lady thinks"
Mothers not an old lady, Tom
She's a great deal older than we
are, or she couldn't be our mother.
Come, Jan, are you game for long
spin? It's almost the last time these
holidays. Hurrah! then, off we go!"
And off they went in wild career,
Janet following, breathless, gasping,
her dark hair flying behind her, her
hat often in danger, wherever he led.
She would not allow that she had any
fear; but it was a long ride, and the
way was confused by the cross cuts
which Tom knew only imperfectly,
md which made it longer, besides
leading them over moors and across
fields which excited their horses and
kept the young riders at full strain,
to which Janet's immature powers
were quite unaccustomed. She was
greatly dishevelled and shaken to
pieces upon their arrival at the large,
rough establishment to which her
brother had already paid many visits,
and where they were received by
chorus of innumerable dogs and
lounging men whose appearance was
very alarming to Janet. They looked
like keepers, she thought, or grooms;
not like people who would be greeted
as friends, which was what Tom was
doing, shaking hands with the big
and bearded master of the house and
the younger man, presumably his son,
and calling out salutations in as good
an imitation of the broad country dia-
lect as he could accomplish to the
others. Janet was aware that her
own aspect was very wild, and she
was very tired, but she chung to her
saddle, when that big gamekeeper ap-
protched with a mixture of pride and
shame
So this is your sister, Master
Tom? Charlie, cry on your mother!"
cried the man. "The mistress will be
here in moment, missile. Let me
lift We down."
No, no." Janet said, 1--WE can't
wait long. We must soon go back, it
will be dark. Oh, Tom, we must go
back"
Nonsense, Jan! Now I've got here
/ mean to stay awhile. And Black
mores awfuly jolly: he'll take you
through the stables. Come, jump
down"
"Cry upon your mother, Charlie, I"
said Blackmore again. 1.-THE young
Teddy thinks we're a. mon folk here,
and she's frightened But ye must
not be frightened, my bonnie doc.
Hey, Marget, where's the mistress?
And the powney's in lather. Pit
your hand upon my shoulder if you'll
no let me lift We down"
When Janet saw woman appear
at the door, hurrying out in cap
and a white apron, she allowed her
self to be lifted from her horse,
feeling all the time as if she had
fallen into some strange adventures
such as were described in books, not
anything that would happen to girls
like herself in common life. She did
not know that she might not be de-
tanned, locked up somewhere, forced
to sign something, or to come under
some fatal obligation as happened to
the heroines of some old-fashioned
novels which she had found in the
library at The Towers. The mist of
fatigue and alarm N her eyes made
her even more confused than it was
natural she should lie in so new and
unexpected scene. And the rough
and dingy house. the clamor of the
dogs, the heavy steps of the man who
followed her in, the sense of her own
dishevelled and disorderly condition,
and of the distance from home, quite
overcame poor Janet. "Oh, Tom, let
us go home,' she cried, in an agony
of compunction and fear
is it Miss Torrance from the Tow
ers? Dear me, but it's long ride
for her-over long and wild road.
But you must rest a little now you're
here, and I'll get you cup of tea, !"
said the woman of the house. She
was fresh-colored, buxom woman.
not at all like brigand's housekeep-
er, and she smiled upon Janet with
encouraging, kindly looks. "I'm real
glad to see your sister, Master Tom;
but you're a thoughtless laddie to
bring her SO far, and her not accus-
toned to rough riding. Marget, is
the kettle boiling--for the young led
die must have some tea?
And you can bring in the hot