The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-07-13

ne said lrreleYantly. It's not so much
her good looks can find dozen
prettier girls in . days ride-but
something something 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 sPjd, lifting his eyes to the sky,
line. Then suddenly could you pos.
sibly imagine her fashionable-with
corset on body OF soul?"
lowering, the financier, shook his
head. Mallows turned from him
T men were coming, almost on the run,
urged by some invisible monitor He
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
by-that she smiled al 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 If 1t didn't plum skeer
me ter see Lassy Drewett stompin'
her foot at the bunch O. us and
fairly drivin' US to work Why,
don't hardly believe she was ever on
the place before-not by her lone
self"
lowering smiled as he listened.
, Mallows looked glum. Here was no
dryad, rather an enchanted princess.
guarded by ancient dragons-he was
already aware of the eunts. They
might, If they chose, make a 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. lowering might handle them
MallOws rested his hope upon the pay
ment of his debt He overheard fur
Their gossip that possessed him yet
more clearly of the situation.
Presently lowering went toward the
wide weather-gray house whistling.
evidently thoughtful. yet alert
Mallows made feint of discomfort
with his survey Wait, want to
look over the country from that hill
top" he said, of-handedly to his
Lclpers
As they sat down at ease, he half
rem 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:
Il don't want my money-but you
have to pay ito Mrs. Dann. at the
pOstoffice She has nothing but 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 s'ockings-I saw she had on
rags"
You must take the money yourself
i never would Iare undertake a 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
I he cent possibly be jealous. 1t would
be different if ! had asked the hand
some man"
Mighty different" Mallows
,vrc,,.lcI &c o,o,,rh
FOR anything"
81 wonder would he dare ask them
to let him stay at dinner" Alaster
cried, nodding toward the house. 20,
| hope so, It is three years since We
had company except preachers and
peddlers-and they don't count"
Would ! count-if | came2' Nal
lows demanded
She smiled at him.
How could | tell, unless you tried
it?" she said She was not forward.
OF ly human anu feminine. rapressed
past endurance,
Il am going to try-depend on ii"
Mallows said. looking full in her
eyes
4 month after he asked the aunts
for Alaster. lowering. notwithstend-
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 % the Mallows match,
if 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 1t
must be confessed. They were not so
old. but the flavor of life delighted
| them. And they felt like fairy prip
Cesses themselves when, a year after
the wedding. Alasters father did
turn up, not a ne'er do well. but a
man sorely repenting the haste and
heat of his youth. He had not known
there YVES living child-he had
thought It died with the mother. Since
he had a fortune 10 bestow upon his
grandson, he quickly made his peace
Alaster climbed often to the hill OF
hope-she loved it. since 1t had become
also a hill OF happiness.
A Valuable Right.