Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-12-07
CHAPTER II-continued.

HSheu Ine QueSllOu, OuNlu COulu nOL
forbear smiling. In spite of the mo-
mentary smile, the utter hopelessness
that returned to his cavernous eyes
almost frightened her. She felt as
though she had unwittingly knocked
at the door of q house that hid a
tragedy, and she was on the verge of
dismayed retreat. But under the
funny little nose there was a kind
little mouth and a square little chin;
all her colOrs.
1.-TWO pound ten yard"
'It's dollars not pounds here, you
know" she chlded. you're English,
aren't your"
His smile was frankly bitter now.
"rm done with England" he flashed
back.
"a Yankee thenY" even more in
credulously.
ayes, thank Godl" he burst forth.
She FASTENED to remove the impli-
cation of scOrn in her words.
swell, I suppose Wen be, too-fa-
Their and I. We Just arrived at Cory
don this morning. But I'm not thank
ing God especially for the prospect"
His silence seemed to discomfort
her. She may have been conscious
of something in her that imagined q
rebuke he did not intend. She bit
her lip and threw q backward glance.
"Three cheers for the PRESIDENT"
The candor in her eyes lent a SINGER
ity to her words. She turned and
beckoned to her father, who was chat
ting at the door. He seemed to be
used to her humors, for he came for
ward indulgently with, "Well, daugh-
teri"
He had the broad, red face Of
prosperous British farmer, q rudy
disk in 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 kindness
that David gave him instant trust. A
strange thing, for David knew 1t was
the farmers of England whose flour
made the threepenny loaves whose
price had made the weavers go hun
cry.
"Father, I want you to'-she turned
winsomely to the young storekeeper-
"What is your manner" q
The young man surrendered. 'Da-
yid Laurence"
'gThis is my father, Mr.. Job Gran
mer. Ny name is Lydia, and I'm his
only daughter and he does what I tell
him to, don't you, father~ And she
gave him a tug at his elbow.
The name Lydia instantly became
for David one Of those on the calen-
dar.
"Your daughter is very kind, Mr..
Crnnmer."
The girl FASTENED 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 farmer?" hazarded the
girl to David.
"No-I was a weaver"
"Ohl" said Cranmer, comprehend
ing, "then IL hasn't been all skittles
with you, hey, young manp
A wave of dark red swept over Da-
'Vid's face and he seemed unable to
answer.
nottingham way, maybe" pursued
his questioner.
"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'll" broke
from David's lips. He bowed his head
70 hide the tears he could not control.
Lydia turned to her father for ex-
Dlanation.
Likely this young man suffered
with the Luddites." he remarked.
'@Tel us" whispered Lydia, 1--WE are
sorry"
SAY, d---n England" clustered
Granmer. without an apology for the
oath.
David looked at the man intently.
There was something about him that
reused question.
Nottingham market place is a fair
sight" observed the farmer.
you've been there2"
SAY, one Whit-Monday feast"
Clifton groves were green then"
cried Lydia eagerly.
'sThere was blood on the parade at
Martinmas two years ago" David
burst forth, fire sIhoIdering in his eye.
"our people gathered first at market
gooSe-fair in October; maybe It was
the plenty we saw there then that
made us wild. My father and my
brother and had eaten but one meal
. DAY for weeks before. There were