Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-08

They'll be swinging some sort of an, old plank
across the ravine to-day Alma" he said at break.
fast, morning or two later. Lets go down and
look on"
But Alma shrank az won't come" she said sui
1enly. There will be crowd. The whole camp
Will be there 70 stare at me- Pop and Jack can
and find me-"
silence. Better 60 Alma" he said at last. "Itll
shut OF me and this
But Alma only glowered in dark obstinacy
About noon Alma, gazing for the hundrcdth time
from the window gave a. little cry Jack and pop!"
like Bird She few over the hre.boid and would ,i
have thrown herself into her fathers arms, but he
caught her wrists and pushed her back step or two
"W.hy wasn't you down at the bridse,' he asked
sternly The old man had changed in this fortnight.
were at once brighter and more sunken than ever.
His parchment skin looked livd and lifeess, and
his mouth had frightened until it drawn in and
Why wasn't you down at the. gully waiting for
Mi?" he asked again hiding up here in that cabin
suppose the camp thinks OF you now"
h9td ,b Ama why go wasn't at the bdsf
him. Ills tone s,eS was appealing. puzzled hr 'e''0'
Alma looked at him moment in frowning puz-
pled ncomprehension; from Tillotson to her father
She glanced and then back again. Then, as tho
meaning OF their attitude flashed over her. she fell
back pace or two from them, swaying little, her
prophecies surged over her in waves OF bitterness.
"Dios" she nuttered with stiff lips, sob rising in
her throat The loyalty she had never doubted, had
leaned against if it oak, but broken
reed.
One moment she despaired hopelessly, a brief mo-
ment. Then she tossed high her head in hot re-
sentiment. Her mouth was set in thin scarlet line
OF obstnacy. her eyes burned, but their expression
was unreadable. With a slow. movement of her
body, expressing infinite scorr she swung away from
her father and lover and with her eyes upon the far
horizon superbly ignored them.
ooh. Alma, my Alma, don't act this way" pleaded
her lover. his voice broker, with emotion. why
wasn't you at the gully Wouldn't he let you ~
lie pointed finger at Jesssop: who stood a little
thrust between his teeth. "Oh. Alma"-his voice
wavered and trembled-"why don't you answer your
pop Amt you just as good as when you come"
But Almas seven or seventeen devils were all in
full possession OF her Petted spoiled child that
she was she could not bear to be thus treated child
den and questioned where she had expected rap
turous welcome, and one OF the seven devils. new
ly acquired one, the demon Of silence, stood her in
of non-explanation would prove far more maddening
to her inqusiors than the Walls OF her wrath poured
But although her fathers silence was as grim and
unbroken as her own, Tlotson continued to plead.
"Oh Alma amt you the same? Just tell us; ANT
beat she dropped her pose Of nsolent indifference
and proud defiance. and willing suddenly about
scorched him with her glance
"How can | be the same when been living up
here two weeks with Pill lessop?' she flashed.
Tilotson sprang toward Jessop but Gallit3's hand
had shot ont and caught him by the arm with grip
OF steel holding him back, and the Swede threw HI;
hands over his face and sobbed and trembed all
Good Lord. Alma" Jessop strobe angrily for
ward. his face white. heavy creases between his
brow; What the devil you qHeern yourself this
Her father looked at him. slow and bitter smile
about his lips then he gave Little nod OF acrd COM
rotson dTo9pfa ms hands a5 from hi, ms
again he made il to spring at lessop and again
the old held him with those long. lean, blood:
You keep of this, nll Jcssop" he said in a
and Us. III settle with Won later. Alma you an
the question that was asked you. Are you the
same as when you left or not:'
Moments passed, and still Alma had not obeyed
that parental command. It was not repeated, which!
was e G1ito He merely , wsSd
own and unwaveringy met his gaze.
Am the same No, amt she said clearly.
le5op made step TOWARD her her With pFoet1E
thinking better or 1t, he stood negiSenty with
folded arms.
arm The time for emotion well as for further
interrogation was gone. All three men recognized
that This was the moment for action SIN in his
other glance a. Alma. This is mine; but you'll prob
ably get shot at him." and reached back to his hip
Look her, Gato,' cried lesson. still with his
folded u amt afraid OF either you or llotson
don't care a darn how soon you begin 90 shoot |
amt even got my gun with me, but ! been cleaning
and loading ii all morning. and If you two don't pm
air through out here, I'm going back TO the cabin
ara nHlSll lHc lOD nlEseiI, cause Won Say I''
without her. For some reason--God knows what
she's stringin YOU both. I've asked her to marry me
more than once since she came here, but she
wouldn't hear OF it
The Spanard, unhecding him, lifted the pistol and
took steady aim. 49,
Put up that gun. pop" Auas voice vas lifted
in mperous command She stepped lightly be-
tween Iessop and himself. There won't be any
shooting around here until ! say what got TO
Amt men the iools' Hands on her hips. the color
back in her checks the light in her eyes. her rer
cural spirits apparently restored, she swung he'
skirts and surveyed 1illotson and her father. hall
humorous mockcry in her santing gaze. "Yor
prancing up her trying to show of and ready ia
srirch my good name in the camp by shooting hole
in Bill Jessop. A nice Trick And you, pop to g
!. bringing thai suspicious lump OF dough with your
A contemptuous tilt of her elbow toward Tillotson
"And letting him ask such questions! Do 20,
i think I'd take it from either of You? My Lord
don't how the pair Of yous ever going to hole
UP your heads again" And her glance
, softened her head lifted higher yet, her voice rans
out exuantly. "Bll Jessop would never ask ny,
whether | good or bad and that's go
any sense would dare 10. Are you the samc?'
, mimicking their voices. mo, amt told you th
! truth when said that. Nothing's the same Lool
! around you; This is new earth and Pm new too