Putnam patriot., 1911-09-08
By CLARlsSA MACKlE

changes In tbe quiet village. The morn ing after her arrival she lay contented ty ia the slant rOofed little room that had been hers since childhood and listened 10 the familiar music of ham mer and saw from the distant ship yards.
 Just then wood smoke reminded her that her mother was getting break fast in the Kitchen and wi,h pricking of remorse at her slothfulness. Eliza peth arose and dressed.
 eI thought fhe waales would arouse veu. Bpr<. smiled ter mother. as the girl entered thc kitchen. flushed and sparkling. Here is the first batch take them in and begin your break fast. l"-
 @Mether mlar.' saeIded Elizabeth. aadlng the rosy checked. plump little woman iHtp the dining room. Sit right d0wa and eat breakfast with ind. shaii rock wa4ies for both of Fou Not q word
 She smiir4 hu k at the two loving faces as she passed to and fro from kitchen to dining room fnini<ierins lo laeir wais
 We can't expect 10 keep Der with us always sighed her mother. This fast ycnr without Der has shown me how dreary | will He for us when somebody fakrs her away.
 By somebody l suppose yeu mean Norman. ba8med Ar GraH5s deep voice. T don't know as there's an oeher man in EjmWood. to say nothing If the outside world. that I'd rather =ife my little Ecss to than Norman Ryder Perhaps she has met some body else h fhe city you can't tell and S0rmans only country bred. Bess probably met some fine dandified ehaps in New York
 i'd rather fl would be Norman" in- sisted Mrs Gray. with a little fright ened nutter in her voice that went straight to Eizaheth's heart. ."l couldn't bear to have Bess marry any body from the city We might not see her from one years end to the other.
 Elizabeth hastened into the dining room with q plate of waliles scorched to crisp and her fair face flushed and agitated.
 i've heard every word you said.' she confessed between tears and laugh ter. "Dears. I'm not going to marry anybody I haven't seen any one in New York that could tempt me away from you"
 NIT Gray squeezed the little hand she had laid in his broad palm and looked quizzically into her blue eyes.
 How about anybody in Elmwood. Bess?'' he asked
 T don't want to marry anybody" flashed Elizabeth tearfuly. "I want to stay right here aH my life"
 That evening Norman Ryder drove over to see Elizabeth Gray. and such k the contrariness of womankind. that he who had always found favor in her eyes. now appeared to be awkward and provincial in manner and speech. as compared to the showy youths she had met when visiting her uncle. Al though he was bigger and broader and handsomer than any of the city bred youths. almost lhe first words he uttered seemed to place him in differ ent class.
 50 you knew 1 had returned. Nor man?" she asked withdra wing her hands from his close grasp.
 "Yes. yes" he had cried delightedly, and it was that characteristic double affirmative uttered with a slight twang that drew n thin veil of discord be tween them. There was something about the expression that smacked strongly of the rustic: that, with the twapg and the equally favored double negative, No. noi" seemed to place Norman Ryder among the farmers and dairymen who formed the community about Elmwocd
 Elizabeth hated herself for shudder ing every time Norman spoke with q twang. but she couldn't help it. She was angry with him for speaking SO her father did not, nor did any of their neighhors. II was carelesSueSs on Norman's part. and fl grated on her sensihihties
 "I thought perhaps you'd answer my letters" he said rather ruefully. as he drew his chair near the glowing stove. but expect you were pretty pussy studying your music. I'm going to ask you to play some of your clas sical pieces for me by and by
 Of course will" said Elizabeth. 'l didn't write to anybody here except father and mother. and they said she paused with sudden confusion
 T guess they said came over hero most every night while you wer'' gone" he er4nned happily They let me read your letters and that was next best to getting 'cm myself" "l didn't promise you I'd write. " freteS,ed Elizabeth, rather Stitily.
 No. no"' he uttered quickly, ex- anerating her from blame. "Gut-bui T kind of thought you might answer | one of 'em. and So l kept on writing "I was glad to hear from yeu. and I suppose it was mean of me never to | tnswer any of them. but did mother | give you the messages l sent s.'
 "Yes. yes. And that was something"' He looked SO happy and so handsome | that Eliza beth had Co harden her heart | against the magic of his dark eyes. | Every time that nasal twang smote on | her ear she winced. and after awhile l she grew to counting the times ht | said Yes. yes," and No, nos' If hs would only break himself of uSin- | those expressions. But vf course ht | could not know how they sounded l Everybody in Elmwood used them ex | eept a few persons like the minister U l- | l.. n.lA h.al