The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-21

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| Elwood rode UP at great pace.
His horse was in a muck sweat, and
| tuckered about the TANKS. He had
ridden hard to reach home in ad-
vance of the cart bearing the mails,
and he did not know yet if he had
succeeded. But his waiting wife saw
nothing of his horses condition. Her
| eyes were for him only, watching his
rugged face beneath the Tapping
| brim OF his SLOUGH hat as he came.
| While he was still some distance off
she made no attempt to conceal the
| love shining in her soft, grey eyes,
but as he came UP change came.
The love-light died out, fading into
| a mere smile of welcome which quite
concealed her real feelings.
What she had intended to say to
| him, or how she wanted to greet him
she did not know. But the cool
words she actually spoke were who'll
| ly unprecedented, and the moment
they were uttered their GOODNESS an
noyed and troubled her.
Supper is just ready. Come along"
she said quietly.
But the man scarcely needed the
greeting. He was tired and pre-oc-
cupied; his mind was on other things.
He had left the vicinity of Sitlagoli
| that morning, where he. like those
others, had spent a sleepless night.
"Has the POSTCARD arrived with the
mails?" he asked abruptly.
All the joyful anticipation with
which Mary had looked forward to
his return was gone, leaving only the
old shadows gathering again.
mot yet" she replied. "At least I
haven't seen it go BY"
Saturday appeared and took his
masters horse, and husband and wife
silently made their way into the
house.
In spite Of all the girls hopes the
old order prevailed. The old cold
meal progressed in comparative ST.
1ence. But though the outward
manner was the same between them,
in Mary the change could not be de-
MED. She saw things differently
now. She read something behind
her husbands impressive face that at
one time she could never have seen.
He was disturbed, and the realiza-
hro M CT vf7.,
steady light in his eyes had given
place to new expression of doubt,
one that she hardly understood, and
which alarmed her.
However, she gave no sign of her
| discovery, and proceeded to devote
herself to his requirements. She no
| longer permitted Tanta's attendance
on him. It was her right, and though
at first she had taken the office with
some diffidence, as the man himself
offered no comment upon it, and
seemed almost oblivious to the fact,
she found it quite easy, even pleas
ant, for he had unconsciously dropped
into the way of asking her for any
thing he needed instead of appealing
to the housekeeper.
| Towards the end of the meal the
cracking of whip and rattle of
wheels reached them from somewhere
down at the drift.
| Elwood looked Up.
| 1.-THE post cart" he said, and sa.
listening as the vehicle drew nearer.
TITS a bit late. It's English mail
this week." he added, as presently it
ratified past the house.
| Eyes. I should get letter from
mother" Mary replied.
| Her husband pushed his plate away
and began to fill his pipe. His eyes
We're on his xife's face with a pecu-
liar expression in them. The wor.
rted look was there, but low it was
blended with another which was not
unpleasant.
| Mary" he said presently. 1T don't
want to frighten you, but I'm afraid
the time is approaching when it will
be--well, better for you to be out OF
Bechuanaland. Or. at least, it will
be safer for you to be living in a
town. Troublous times are coming
| Mary looked over at him with
startled eyes. The recollection of
the old warnings had been complete
~ swallowed up in the troubles of
her married life.
There is danger?' she questioned
vaguely, yet without any sign Of ap-
prehension.
| Eyes"
| "And you want me TOGO away"
| II want you to do as you please. ]
am giving you warming"
| She looked down at the white cloth
en- the table, and idly began to sweep
the crumbs at the side of her plate
| into a heap.
| 'Does Emily verricker know"
| Not yet. She will
| "And will she leave the village?s'
| SCI don't suppose so. You see, the
danger will not be great for her. Be-
sides, she would not concern herself
in any way"
| ST suppose you will be away a lot
| Eyes. That is why am warning
you"
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