The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-10-30
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IAURIE's SCApEGRACE
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trees ana carried the neWs oscA W
the village.
Anybody come on the night train.
Waltz" she asked the express agent
at the little wooden depot
Walt recalled two. but they were
village people. He listened to her
news with . shrswd smile.
Guess they must have run up In
. machine. which one would ye rath-
ar Il was. Laurier'
Laurie flushed. and tossed her head
In much the same way ~ the mare did
when she was restive As though she
cared which one came up to the
Lodge, She knew what Walt meant.
For two summers. and In the long
hunting season. both OF the Gregory
brothers had made no secret OF their
reason for coming up to the Lodge.
II was not the deer that led them. nor
the partridge and quail II was Laurie
Carrolton.
When she reached her own home .
horse stood at the gate. unhitched. II
raised his head. whinnering TO Yer
mont Belle. Very deliberately Laurie
slipped down TO the stable door.
Standing within was Emf mons Gregory
talking to her young brother.
IT'S so mighty good to see you
again. Laurie" he said. taking both
her hands In his. She drew them
back.
Il saw the smoke above the uees
and knew someone was there"
And you wished II Was not me"
Under the bantering tone there was
an underlying touch Of bitterness.
Il didn't wish at all. ] only won
dered who was there"
Malcolm 10 with me and few OF the
men servants. We expect more the
end OF the week. Will you ride with
me along the river road after lunchr
II was on the tip Of her tongue 10
say no. but Hardy forestalled her.
He was only eighteen but he stood
two inches above Gregory's head.
Mother wants you. Laurie" he said
with q side glance at his sisters face.
I'm sorry. Mr.. Gregory. but ]
can't
You mean you won't" His tone
was almost rough Shall send Nal
eolmn down."
You can both keep away" Hardy
spoke up suddenly. his face darkening
with quick. boyish anger. what's II
to Laurie whether you come or gor'
when you get past the cub age.
you will understand that the issue lies
with her. not you. lad" smiled back
Emmons. with asgravating courtesy.
He raised his cap to Laurie. and vent
out to his mount Laurie stood watch
ing him ride up the road.
Something In her quiet facs. and the
expression Of her dark eyes CHECKED
Hardy's hilarity.
NO. I don't. not specially. but you'd
better keep out Of II. dear. I can
managed them both"
You'll have your hands full. then"
srumbled Hardy.
She smiled then at his emphasis.
but during the next few days his
words. boyish and crude a. they were.
came true. The Gregory boys. ~
everyone around Mount Ranzer called
them. had been left with plenty OF
money. and few restrictions. Their
father had treated them experimental
iy rather than with any Affection or
real interest They were twins. and
had come into their inheritance at
twenty-four. when their father died.
Five years had been granted them
under this will. II at the end Of that
time they had used their freedom
recklessly, and had squanderet their
money. q trust fund was to be set
aside for each. taking In all OF the
Gregory interests and properties and
limiting the boys to . moderate In
come each
There was one clause In the will
which had been held back. and WAS
not to be told until the expiration OF
the Ave years or In the event of either
one marrying.
Laurie had always felt a certain TO
sponsibility In the matter. She was
like her mother and II was well known
around Ranzer that Mollie Carrollton
COuiu nave mdffltu tuc Hniiloutue
even I'm her widowhood. They had
been sweethearts long before he had
found that fortunes grow from using
other peoples brains for fuel Yet
she had chosen Laurie's father. the
local editor Of the little four page
sheet. In preference. Laurie and
Hardy remained to her after their
fathers death. And oddly enough,
the twins whenever they were at
Mount Ranzer had come TO her with
all their boyish scrapes.
But now. In manhood. they fought
their battle out alone. Malcolm had
first right. He was the steadier OF
the two. and by far the better look
ing. Emmons seemed younger. some
way. His hair curled at the edges.
he was dark with tan and lean and
muscular with outdoor exercise. He
lacked Malcolm's balance Of charac-
ter and ease OF manner And be
tween the two was Laurie. winsome
and womanly, full Of grace and ear.
nestness.
Only her mother seemed to guess
at the struggle In her heart those last
few days. The two brothers were not
m aDea king terma vat neithar vouId