The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-08-19

| cIou'llhg IN tho shadow OF the great
! gate pillar rose suddenly and stood
before him. Tie did not recognize her
at FIRST; II was nearly dark, and her
head was snoodod I'm shawl. Then
she spoke, and he saw that II was Nan
! cy Bryorson-a Nan sadly and terri
bly, changed but must much Of the
| wild-creature Of face and form stlll
! remaining.
you done forgot me, Tom Jen?" she
! asked; and than at his start of rocog-
wilton: Il allow have changed some"
surely haven't forgotten you. Nan
| Bat YOU took me by surprlse and
can't see IN the dark any better than
most people. What are you doing down
| here Ia the valley 80 late IN the even
ine?' He tried TO say II superiority
paternally, as an older man might have
said it
you allow 1t amt httln 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, had 10
come, Paws been rcd-eyed for a week,
and he's huntln for you, Tom-JeH,"
Hunting for me? Well, I'm not very
hard to find" he said, unconsclously re-
peating the answer he had made 70 the
horse traders warning
Couldn't you make out to 90 off
somewheres for a little spelI?" she
asked, half-pleadingly.
Run away you mean2 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
CHI u1 h..
that sobs were shaking her. Being nei-
ther more nor less than a man, her
tears made him foolish. He put mis-
arm around her and tried to find the
comforting word.
How Ardea and Miss Euphrasia, GO
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
malned a thing ineXplicable. But when
he looked up they were there, Miss Eu.
phrasla Strengthening herself aloof I'm
vlrtuous disapproval, and Ardea look
Ing as If some one had suddenly shown
her the head of Mcdusa.
Tom separated himself from Nan in
hot-hearted confusion and stood as
culprit taken In the act Nan hid her
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" she
said, icily We were going to Wood |
lawn to see If your father and mother
could come over after dinner"
Tom smote himself alive and made
haste to open the foot-path gate for
them. There was nothing more said
or to be said; but when they were
gone and he was once more alone with
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 about
your father" he said, striving to hold
the interruption as If it had not beep
and yet tingling in every nerve to be
free. Did you come all the way down
the mountain to warn me?"
4 had to come anyway. He run ne
out, paw did"
Heavens" calculated Tom. prick
ling now with a new sensation. And
you haven't any place to stay?"
She shook her head
No. l was allowin' maybe vour
paW'd let me sleep where you-uns keen
the hawsses-jest for a little spell tiIJ
] could make out what-aI I'm goin' n
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 to}l
her he would take care of her; he re-
it.; doubtless she was re-.
it, too But her suggestion
was not to be considered for a mo-
nent
Il can't let you go to the stables" he
THE horse boys sleep there.
But I'll put roof over you, some way.
Wait here a minute till l come back"
Ills thought was to go to his mother
md ask her help but halfway to tho
lousa his courage failed him. Since
he breach In spiritual confidence he
.ad been better able to see the lovable [
'ide of his mothers faith; but he could y
rot be blind to that quality of hardness !
n II which, even in such chastenqd /
.ouls as Martha Gordon's, finds express +
sion i'm Woman's inhumauity to woman .
3esides, Ardea and her cousin were
It'll in the way.
He swung on his heel undecided. on :
he hillside back Of the new foundry !
here was q one-roOmed cabin built on Z
he Gordon land years before by a her S
nit watchman of the Chlawassee, plant t
{ was vacant, and Tom remembered
hat the few bits Of furniture had not
,een removed when the old watchman
lied. Would the miserable shack do
or temporary refuge for the outcast? L
lie concluded 1t would have to do; and,
ma king q wide pircuft Of the housa ba I
vent around to the stables to harness b
ongfellow to the buggy, Luckily, the d
cgroes were all in the detached kitch- T
p, eating their supper so he was able =
> 90 and come undetected.
When he drove down to the gate he =
1und Nan waiting where he had left
er; but now she had bundle in her
rms. AS he got out to swing the
riveway grille. the house door opened; o
flood Of light from the hall lamp Il
anded the lawn, and there were voices a
nd footsteps on the veranda. He flung
nervous glance over his shoulder; Ar v
ca and her cousin were returning
own the foot-path Wherefore 'he
lade haste, meaning not to be caught ~
gain, If he could help it, But the fates II
ere against him. Longfellow, snatch tC
! ruthlessly from his half emptied oat o
+: made equine protest, yawing and 81
ring and earning himself a savage
It of the whip before he consented to a,
ace the buggy at the stone mounting
ep
"Quick" said Tom, fiinging the reins =
! the dashboard. Chuck your bun u
@ under the seat ana climb inl" D.