Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-14
CHAPTER Tv-continued.

to-day Mr. Arnold asked me to marry
him2 DO you wonder I'm rather rick Of
all this?'
esquire Arnold" cried the old woman.
You don't say What did you tell him2"
II told him no. Of course"
Yes, yes-to be sure you did"
Yes. But he was qulte-quite bullying
over IT,"
He'd better leave you be- said the other
menacingly. More than one Of the boys
in the swamp would see Squire Arnold had
an accident, II say the word. only one
mans goin' TO marry you, and we know
who he is-eh?'
''Pshaw. Mary! you talk nonsense. I've
told you a dozen timems I'd never marry
him"
"Oh, well see It's natural for young
girl to be little shy at first. Wen seq
my dear"
was rather siokened by the frequency
Of the woman's my dearr There was a
touch of sycophancy about II that I did
not fancy. However, her face and laugh
were genuine-ln spite Of her ugly pet
had at last found one point in the con-
versation to cling TO. 7 remembered the
Mr.. Lawrence Arnold who had been In at
tendance at Morvan, the day / had taken
possession OF the estate.
He had stood beside Bran Morvan when
the latter had welcomed me, heartily
enough at the door OF the manor house.
Arnold was much the same sort as Bran
country gentleman. although neither so
riotous nor so frank in manner as my
cousin" had guessed they were Damon
and Pythias to each other
Ny act of usurpation had been mado
absurdly easy. II had occurred 10 no one
that I was other than ] seemed-Harry
Morvan returned to his ancestral home for
the first time since his earliest boyhood.
had hardly played part-I had had only
TO accept one-to fall into the duties that
were awaiting me. My twenty years abb
sence from West Jersey-as was believed
by all-excused me for what slips 1 made
and they were not many.
But, upon the other hand. my fear of
making a fatal misstep had kept me from
learning many things during my two days
at home-things that now, lurking IN the
darkness outside the cabin window, 1
longed very heartily to know.
Exasperated at my ignorance ground
my heel into the earth, I was soil GOV
cred with pine ne edles and fallen boughs--
twig cracked under my boot.
The Lady Of the Spur was instantly upon
her feet. her eyes luminous beneath her
dark brows.
what was thatr'
THAT snappin' soundT' asked the old
woman
"Yeg There's somebody therel'
"Oh, no. It's only the cold maxim the
trees crack. It's all the time dom IT, cold
night like insists gettin' on to winter,
You're nervous. my dear"
The girls eyes were still luminous She
gazed SO intently that began to fear she
-. a. he
opening in the shutter / pulled my hat
we'll over my browa that my eyes might
not reflect the light.
Presently her body relaxed. Her mouth
dropped, and tired sigh escaped her.
YES, am nervous" she said, and
Mary l feel sleepy. Perhaps It was the
tea. ia feel better II could sleep. But
this isn't the place for a nap" She
glanced about with a barely repressed
shudder Besides it's time to start home
Il mustn't stay any longer.u
"No, no, my dear" protested the swede
"sleep a httle-why not? Nobody's here
but your old Mary-she'll wake you In hall
an hour You've plenty of time. No use
in hurryln' off. You don't suppoae your
fathers sittin' up for you. eh7 No
hArdlyv
Suppose he should miss me some night
, daughter is doing while he sleeps"
"oh, yes. while he's asleep!" interrupted
the other. mo need 20 worry about that
Come, lie down, dearie. The bed in there
mighty comfortable"
The girls head dropped in spite of he
evident effort to keep awake. NO no,
mustn't"
The older woman glanced at her sharply
then took her by the arm. Poor lamb
You're most asleep already. Come, II
down a little while" She led her drowsil!
resisting. to a door at one side There
sleep In old Mary's bed, Go in and res
yourself anyway my dear-lie down, an
rest yourself a minute or tive"
She pushed her gently into the mex
room. and shut the door, Then she stoo
listening a moment, nodded her head wit
satisfaction. and Imped TO the table,
YES yes" she said aloud. Time yo
should be asleep. He'll be here any min
ute"
She took the teapot to the fireplace. an
poured the contents carefully into the fire
She gave her little tinkling laugh
Eyes, perhaps II was the tea, my deal
Perhaps II was the tea" She replace
the pot on the table. then hobbled TO a sea
on the bench.
swaying her body back and forth, sh
began 10 sing IN low tone, IL was
pretty scene enough-the old woman, hC
hands crossed in her lap, her white ha
shining IN the freight, grooming TO hel
self. Yet did not find the picture altS
gether pleasing to my taste. for the WORD
OF her song sounded strange from he
wrinkled lips
A girl a bottle. and a gun
To make the seasons fit
And OF the three, when all is done,
The girls the best OF H.
That's worthy OF one of Brams ba
lads / thought. The old dame mu
have had her fling in her time"
A faithful hound, a gallant horse
That strains against the bit
A girl TO hold them 10 the course,
For she's the best Of Il.
vow there was something uncanr
about this venerable erOne, grooming soT
that might better have fitted the oampfir
OF my western hunters. She sang on, h
face turned toward the cracking logs
spicy tale a reckless lay.
TO speed us toward the pit
And II you viii 70 lead the way,
A girls the