The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1911-08-01

After second the two. they were
most excellent chums. understood. and
both laughed
Hit you. too. square between the
eyes" Mallows said.
The other nodded After a breath:
he said irrelevantly: Its not so much
her good looks-I can find a dozen
prettier girls in a days ride-but
Notwithstanding catches you in
the breath. when you see her. What
is it?"
Remember the Dryads? We read
about them in our Greek days. Nal.
lows said, lifting his eyes to the sky
line. Then suddenly could you pos
sibly imagine her fashionable-with a
corset on body or soul?"
lowering, the financier, shook his
head. Mallows turned from him
men were coming. almost on the run,
urged by some invisible monitor. lie
smiled. She need not hope thus to
escape him-he would see that she got
her pay. also the best apology he
could frame for his laundering. Then
he was suddenly aware that she passed
oy-that she smiled at him, that she
moved with the foot of Atlanta. AS
she climbed the hill. one of the vii
lage fellows said, shaking his head:
BE dinged IL It didn't plum skeer
me ter see Lassy Drewett stompin'
her foot at the bunch O. us. and
tarly drivin' us to work. Why,
don't, hardly believe she was ever off
the place before-not by her lone
self"
lowering smiled az he listened
Mallows looked Slum. Here was no
dryad. rather an enchanted princess,
guarded by ancient dragons-he was
already aware of the annts. They
might. If they chose. make lot of
trouble Tor the new roed-its right of
way must cross a corner of their land,
not very big. but strategically most
important The countryside had bid
den the road builders beware of the
sisters. They were prone to suspicion
of strangers because they didn't
know them. of friends because they
did
Presently lowering went toward the
wide weather-gray house. whistling.
evidently thoughtful. yet alert.
Mallows made a feint of discomfort
with his survey. Wait! want to
look over the country from that hill.
top" he said. off-handedly TO his
helpers.
AS they sat down at ease, he half
ran up the hill. There was a clump
of trees at top-elsewhere it lay bare.
He had a notion that he should find
the clump tenanted. So he was not in
the least taken aback. when Alaster
said airily:
i don't want my money-but you
have to pay ito Mrs. Damn. at the
postoffice. She has nothing but a mean
dog. and big fat no-account husband.
The money is for her. and the dog
to buy it bone, and her some-well,
some stockings saw she had on
rags"
You must take the money yourself
i never would dare undertake com.
mission so delicate" Mallows laughed
Alaster screwed up her face "A
man who can swear so shouldn't be
afraid of anything" she murmured.
Then as though suddenly enlightened.
Don't you be afraid of Mr.. Damn
he can't possibly be jealous. 1t would
be different If had asked the hand.
some man"
Mighty different" MalIows
growled. lowering has cheek enough
for anything"
II wonder would he dare ask them
to let him stay at dinner?" Alaster
cried, nodding toward the house, 20!
| hope so! 1t is three years since we
had ompany-except preachers and
peddlers-and they don't count"
Would | count-if / came?" Nal
lows demanded.
She smiled at him.
How could | tell. unless you tried
it?" she said
Il am going to try-depend on It."
Mallows said. looking full in her
eyes.
a month after he asked the aunts
for Alaster. lowering. notwithstand
ing his looks. had found himself out
of the running at the beginning OF the
game. A good friend he showed him.
self. The Sisters Drewett might never
have consented 20 the Mallows match
II lowering had not admonished them
Suppose Alaster's father turned
up, only a husband would have author.
ity Against him"
AT that they gave in-joyously II
must be confessed. They were not so
old. but the flavor of life delighted
them. And they felt like fairy prin.
cesses themselves when. a year after
the wedding. Alasters father did
turn up, not ne'er do well. but
man sorely repenting the haste and
heat Of his youth. lie had not known
there YVES a living child-he had
thought 1t died with the mother. Since
he had a fortune to bestow upon his
grandson, he quickly made his PEACE