The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1916-03-17
CHAPTER xil-Continued.

CHAPJEH &II-Cont1nueo.
Dawn turned away and went stalk
ing along the woodland path without a
backward glance. and Milt followed at
her heels. with Juanita, much amused.
bringing up the rear. The fastener
thought that these two young folks
made a splendid pair, specimens OF the
best of the mountains. as yet unbroken
by heavy harness. Then. as the
younger girl passed under a swinging
rope of wild grapevine. STOPPING low.
a tendrii caught in her hair.
Without word Young Milt bent for
ward and was freeing it. tingling
through his pulses as his fingers
touched the heavy black mass. but as
soon as she was loose the girl sprang
away and wheeled. her eyes blazing.
How dast We tech me?" she de-
manded. painting with wrath. How
dast ye?"
The boy laughed easily Il dast do
anything I wants." he told her.
For a moment they stood looking at
each other. then the girl dropped her
eyes. but the anger had died out Of
them. and Juanita saw that. despite
her condescending air. she was not
displeased.
Juanita. of course, knew nothing OF
5sb's suspicious that had led him Into
the laurel. but even without that In
formation. when Young lfxlt net them
marc often To- eelala - akeE1hnte1
60 chance on .th6ir Wa1hp AMI fan Int
the habit Of strolline back With them.
strong forebodings began TO trouble
her. g.
And ono morning these f0reb0dtngs
were verified In crisis for. while the
youthful McBriar lounged near the
porch OF Juanita's cabin talking with
Dawn. another shadow fell across the
sunlight: the shadow Of Jeb McNash.
He had come silently. and It was only
~ Young Milf. whose back had been
turned. shifted his position. that the
two boys recognized each other.
Juanita saw the start with which
Jeb's figure stifIened and grew taut.
She saw his hands clench themselves
and his face turn white ~ chalk: saw
his chest rise and fall under heavy
breathing that Kissed through clenched
teeth. and her own heart pounded with
wild anxiety.
But Milt McBriar's face showed
nothing. His fathers masklike calm
ness Of feature had come down to him.
and rs he read the meaning of the
other boys attitude he merely nodded
and said casually: "Howdy. Jeb."
Jeb did not answer. He could not
answer. He was training and punish
ing every fiber cruelty simply In
standing where he was and keeping
his hands at his sides. For . time
he remained stiff and white. breathing
spasmodically; then. without q word.
he turned and stalked away.
That moon = horseman brought .
note across the ridge, and as Juanita
Holland read 1t she felt that all her
dreams were Granddaughter the soul
Of them was paralyzed.
Il was q brief note. written in =
copybook hand. and it ran:
TIL have to ask you to send the McNash
children over to my house. Jeb doesn't
want them to be consorting with the Nc
Brfars. and can't blame him. He II the
head Of his family.
Respectfully.
xNsE HAvEx.
A stronger thing to Juanita Holland
than the personal disappointment
which had driven her 70 this work was
now her eager. nery interest In the
undertaking itself. In these months
she had di6abused herself Of many
prejudices. There remained that lin
gor1ng ono against the man with whom
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