Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-12-16


look and mounted and rode away with
| out answering his question. But the
| building activities were clamoring for
| time and attention, and his father was
waiting to consult him about a run of
IRON that was not quite up to the pipe
making test requirements. So he for
got Japheth's half-accuslng glance at
parting, and the implied warning that
mad preceded it, until an incident at
the days end reminded him of both.
Inc incident turned on the fact of
mis- walking home Ordinarily he struck
work when the furnace whistle blew,
riding home with his father behind old
Longfellow; but on this particular
evening Kinderling, the architect, miss
ed his South Tredegar train, and Tom
spent an extra hour with him, discuss
ing further and future possibilities of
expansion. Kinderling got away on a
later train, and Tom closed his office
and took the long mile up the pike
afoot in the dusk Of the autumn even
Ing, thinking pointedly of many things
mechanical and industrial, and never
by any chance forereaching to tho
epoch marking event that was await
His hand was upon the latch of the
ornamental side wicket opening on the
home foot-path when a woman,
crouching in the shadow of the great
gate pillar, rose suddenly and stood
before him. He did not recognize her
at first; it was nearly dark and her
head was snooded in a shawl Then
she spoke, and he saw that it was Nan
cy Bryerson-a Nan sadly and terri
bly, changed, but must much of the
Wild creature of face and form still
remaining.
you done forgot me, Tom-Jeff?" she
asked; and than, at his start of recog-
milton: Il allow l have changed some"
Surely haven't forgotten you, Nan.
But you took me by surprise; and I
can't see In the dark any better than
most people. What are you doing down
here in the valley so late in the even
ing?" He tried to say it superiorly,
paternally, as an older man might have
said it
You allow 1t amt fittin' for me to be
out alone after night?" she with a
hard little laugh. Il reckon it amt go
In to hurt me none; anyways, l had 20
come. Paws been red-eyed for a week,
and he's huntin' for you, Tom jeff"
Hunting for me? Well, I'm not very
hard to find" he said. unconsciously re-
peating the answer he had made to the
horse traders warning.
Couldn't you make out to go off
somewheres for little spell?" she
asked. -pleadingly.
Run away, you mean? Hardly: I'm
too busy just at present. Besides
haven't any quarrel with your father
what's he making trouble about now?"
She put her face in her hands. and
though she was silent, he could see
that sobs were shaking her. Being nei-
ther more nor less than a man. her
tears made him foolish. He put his
arm around her and tried to find the
comforting word.
How Ardea and Miss Euphras,.
Ing the roundabout way from one house
to the other to avoid the dew-wet grass
of the lawns, came fairly within arms
reach before he saw or heard them. re- !.
mained thing inexplicable. But wbe,
he looked up they were there, Miss En-.
phrasia Strengthening herself aloof IN
virtuous disapproval and Ardea Iool,-
ing as If some one had suddenly show,
her the head of Medusa.
Tom separated himself from Nar !,
hot-hearted confusion and stood as
culprit taken in the act Nan bid bar
face again and turned away. IT was
Miss Dabney the younger who found
words to break the smarting silence
Don't mind us, Mr.. Gordon Oh,
said, icily. 1--WE were going to wooa
lawn to see If your father and motbau
could come over after dinner"
Tom smote himself alive and r,odo
haste to open the foot-path gate for
them There was nothing more said
or to be said; but when thew wara
gone and he was once more alone win
Nan, he was fighting desperately with
a very manlike desire to smash some
thing; to relieve the wrathful pressure
by hurting somebody.
you were going to tell me abo,,.
your father" he said, striving to boId
the interruption as If it had not been
and yet tingling in every nerve to be |
free. Did you come all the way dou,n
the mountain to warn me?"
IT had to come anyway. He rim mn
out, paw did"
"Heavens!" calculated Tom, pric,x-
ling now with new sensation. "And
you haven't any place to stay?"
She shook her head.
mo. I was allowin' maybe your
paw'd let me sleep where you-uns keen |
the hawsses-jest for little spell tiil
could make out what-all I'm goin' 10 |
do"
He was too rageful to be quite clear
sighted. Yet he conceived that he had |
a duty laid on him. Once in the fool |
ish. infatuated long-ago he had told |
her he would take care of her; he re-
membered it; doubtless she was re-