Charlevoix county herald., 1911-07-22

Ahc otneT uOuueu. AIter Credtn,
he said irrelevantly: ITS not 80 much
her good lookS-I can find a dozen
prettier girls In a 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 seid. lifting his eyes to the sky
line. Then suddenly :"Could you pos
sibly imagine her fashionable-with a
corset on body or soul?"
Levering, the financier, shook his
head. Mallows turned from him
men were coming. almost on the run.
urged by soine 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 pessed
by-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 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, I
don't hardly believe she was ever Off
the place before-not by her lone
self"
Levering 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 aunts. They
might. II they chose, make lot OF
trouble for the new roed-its right OF
way must cross 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. Levering might handle them
Mallows rested his hope upon the pay
ment Of his debt. He overheard fur
ther gossip that possessed him yet
more clearly Of the situation.
Presently Levering went toward the
wide weather-gray house, whistling.
evidently thoughtful. yet alert.
Mallows made a feint OF discomfort
with his survey. wait! l want to
look over the country from that hill
top" he said, otf-handedly to his
helpers.
AS they sat down at ease. he half
ran up the hill. There was clump
of trees at top-elsewhere 1t 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:
II don't want my money-but you
have to pay ito Mrs. Damn. at the
postofice. She has nothing but mean
dog, and a big fat no-account husband.
The money Is for her, and the dog
to buy it bone. and her some-weI.
some stockings-I saw she had on
rags"
You must take the money yourself
Il 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 l had asked the hand
some man."
Mighty dfferent!" Mallows
growled. %Levering has cheek enough
for anything"
II wonder would he dare ask them
to let him stay at dinner?" Alaster
cried, noddlng toward the house, 20!
| hope SOL 1t is three years since we
had company-except preachers and
peddlers-end they don't count"
Would / count-if I Gamer" NAL
lows demanded.
She smiled at him.
How could | tell, unless you tried
it?" she said. She was not forward.
only human ana feminine, repressed
past endurance.
81 am going to try-depend on It,"
Mallows said. looking full IN her.
eyes.
A month after he asked the aunts
for Alaster. Levering, 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 % the Mallows match.
If Levering had not admonished them.
Suppose Alaster's father turned
I'D. only a husband would have author
ity against him!"
AT that they gave in-joyously IL
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. Alaster's father did
turn up, not neer do well. but a
man sorely repenting the haste and
heat of his youth. He had not known
there wes a living child-he had
thought it died with the mother. Since
he had a fortune to bestow upon his
h. bta