The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-12-22
CHAPTER ii-continued.

she wrinkled up her nose as she
asked the question, David could not
(orbear smiling. In spite Of the mo-
lnentary smile, the utter hopeessness
that returned TO his cayernous eyes
almost frightened her. She felt as
though she had unwittingly knocked
at the door of house that hid a
tragedy. and she was on the verge of
1ismayed retreat. But under the
funny little nose there was kind
little mouth and a square little chin {;
20 she drew in her breath and ran up
all her cOlors.
Two, pound ten a yard"
Its dollars not pounds here, you
SNOW she chided. You're English
aren't you"
His smile was frankly bitter now.
I'm done with England" he flashed
back.
~ Yankee then?" even more in
.Credul.rlsly.
"Yes, thank God !" he burst forth.
She FASTENED To remove the impli-
cation of scorn in her words.
"Weil, I suppose Wen be, too-fa-
L.
Ion this morning. But I'm not thank
ing God especially for the prospect"
His silence seemed TO disconcert
her. She may have been conscious
Of something i'm her that imagined
rebuke he did not intend. She bit
her lip and threw a backward glance.
Three cheers for the president :"
lty to her words. She turned and
oeckoned to her father, who was chat
ding ut the door. He seemed to be
used To her humors, for he came for
ward indulgently with, "Well, daugh-
ter?"
He had the broad, red face Of
prosperous British farmer, a ruddy
disk I'm which you might discern no
sun-spot of guile. Heartiness radi-
ated from him as from the maturing
sun. His shrewd little eyes looked
on David with so honest kindliness
chat David gave him instant trust. A
strange thing, for David knew ii was
Ehe farmers of England whose -four
made the threepenny loaves whose
price had made the weavers go hun
CRY.
Father. I want you to"-she turned
winsome;y to the young storekeeper-.
"What is your name?"
The young man surrendered. 'Da-
yid Laurence"
'"This is my father, Mr.. Job Gran
mer. My name is Lydia, and I'm his
only daughter and he does what / tell
aim to, don't you, father?" And she
gave him a tug at his elbow.
The name Lydia instantly became
COR David one of those on the calen-
1ar.
"Your daughter Is very kind, Mr..
Cranmer."
The girl hastened to impart the one
piece of information she had CLEANED
about her countryman.
"He says he is going to live here"
"a fine country, this, young man."
approved Mr.. Cranmer heartily. II
mean to settle here myself. They tell
me land Is as cheap here on the will
derness border as Goals in Newcastle
I'm a farming man."
you're no farmerT hazarded the
girl ts David.
Mo- was a weaver"
"0hw said Cranmer, comprehend
Ing. then IL hasn't been all skittles
with you. hey, young man?
A wave of dark red swept over Da
Sid's face and he seemed unable To
answer.
Nottingham way, maybe?" pursued
ais auestioner.
"yes." he assented, and choked over
The word.
"Your people have been hard trod-
den, haven't they?" pressed Cranmer
Kindly.
"Oh, do not mind me OF IT." broke
from David's lips. He bowed his head
to hide the tears he could not control.
Lydia turned TO her father for ex-
Dlanatlon.
Likely this young man suffered
With tine Luddites," he remarked.
Tell u.s." whispered Lydia, "we are
sorry"
cay. d-n England" clustered
Cranmer with~A an apology for the
oath.
David looked at the man intently.
There was something about him that
'oused question.
Nottingham market place is a fair
sight" observed the farmer.
You've been thereT"
cay. one Whit-Monday feast"
"Chfton groves were green then"
cried Lydia eagerly.
There was blood on the parade az
Nartinmas two years ngo." David
burst forth. fire smolderlng In his eye.
"Our people gathered first at market
soOse-fnir 10 October: maybe IL was
the plenty we saw there then that
made Us wild. My father and my
brother and had eaten but one meal
day foI weeks before. There were