Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-07-23

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then his tone changed to one of down
right command. You want to cut this
all out, tell you. won't have any
more of it, The boys up at the mill are
all talkin' about your interest in this
little whelp. and I'm getting the brand
ing iron from every one | meet Sam
saw you 70 into the barn with that
dude, and that would have been all
over the country tomorrow. if | hadn't
told him I'd sew his mouth up if he
said word about it. OF course don't
think you mean anything by this cod
dim"
"Oh. thank YOU" she interrupted,
with flaming, quick. indignant fury.
That's mighy nice of you. went to
the barn to show Mr.. Norcross where
to stall his horse. l didn't know Sam
was here
He sneered: No, bet you didn't"
She fired at this. Come now! Some
thing nasty is in your mind. Go on!
What have | done? What makes you
so hot?"
He began to weaken. II don't accuse
you of anything. but r.
Yes, you do--in your heart you dis
trust me-you just as much as said so!''
He was losing his high air of COM
mand. Never mind what l said, Ber
RE. T.
She was blazing now. But do
mind-l mind IL whole lotzI didn't
think it of YOU" she added as she re-
| allied his cheapness, his coarseness.
Il didn't suppose you could even think
such things of me. | don't like it,"
she repeated, and her tone hardened,
and | guess you'd better pull out of
here-for good. If you've no more
faith in me than that l want you to go
and never come back"
You don't mean that.''
Yes, | do. You've shown this vel
low streak before and I'm tired of it.
This is the limit. I'm done with YOU"
She stood between tears and benumb-
ing anger now. and he was scared.
Don't say that. Berrier' he pleaded,
trying to put his arm about her.
Keep away from mer She dashed
his hands aside. Il hate YOU | never
want to see you again. She ran into
her own room and slammed the door
behind her
Beden stood for long time with
his back against the wall, the heat of
his resentment utterly gone, an empty,
aching place i'll his heart He called
her twice, but she made no answer,
and so at last he mounted his horse
and rode away.
Young NOrcroSS. much us he admired
Berrie, was not seeking to exchange
her favor for her lovers enmity. and
he rode away with an uneasy feeling
or having innocently made trouble for
himself as well as for fine, true heart
ed CIR
! What good friendly talk we were
having" he said regretfully. "And to
think she is to marry that big, scowl-
ing brute! How could she turn Ian
don down for a savage like thatY
He was just leaving the outer gate
when Belden came Gathering up and
refined his horse across the path and
called out: "See here, you young skunk
You're a poor, white livered tender
foot, and l can't bust you as 1 would
a full grown man, but I reckon you
better not ride this trail any more.'
why not?' inquired Wayland.
Belden glared. Because / tell YOU
so. Your sympathy hunting game has
just about run into the ground. You've
worked this baby dodge about long
enough. You're not so almighty sick
as you put up to be, and you'd better
hunt some other cure for lonesomeness
or I'll just about cave your chest in"
All this was shockingly plain talk for
a slender young scholar to listen to,
but Norcross remained calm. II think
you're unnecessarily excited" he re-
marked. Il have no desire to make
trouble. I'm considering Miss Berea,
who is too fine to be worried by u.s.
His tone was conciliating, and the
cowman. in spite Of himself, respond
ed to it. That's why l advise you to
go. She was all right till you came.
Colorados a. big place, and there are
plenty other fine ranges for men of
your complaint. Why not try Routt
county? This is certain, you can't
stay in the same valley with my girl.
l serve notice of that"
you're making a prodigious ass of
yourself" observed Wayland, with
calm contempt
"You think so, do you? Well, I'll
make a jack rabbit out of you if |
find you on this ranch again. You've
worked on my girl in some way till
she's just about quit me. l don't see
how you did it, you measly little pup,
but you surely have turned her against
meW His rage burst into flame as he
thought of her last words. "If you
were so much as half man I'd break
you in two pieces right now, but you're
not. You're nothing but dead on the
hoof Hunger. and there's nothing to do
but run you out. So take this as your
/ final notice. You straddle horse and
head east and keep a-ridin', and If !
catch you with my girl again I'll deal
you a whole hatful of misery. Now,
that's rightr'
Thereupon with a final glance of
hate in his face. he whirled his horse
and galloped away, leaving Norcross
dumb with resentment. intermingled
/ with wonder.
Truly the west is dramatic coun-
try. nere | am involved in lovers
wrath and under sentence of Danish.
cnt all within a month. Well.
uppose there's nothing to do but car