Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-12

Then he is hiding for a purpose. my
boy. This petty business Of the letter
and the ours sneaking up to you In the
village today shows their hand Keep
your temper, and they'll quit. Yes,
Aldrich, look out for your temper to-
day. / don't like the sound of this
talk about posse. We're in the right
and hope God is going to send us
another kind of help"
He gazed away across the fields
once more, somberly, anxiously.
! Aldrich did not comment.
II will see you In the village be.
fore the convention opens" he in.
formed the patriarch. "I1l not go out
hunting for trouble, Mr.. Clifford. I'll
try to guard my temper"
He hurried away.
He did not return straight to the
village. A lane allowed him to make
detour toward the big hill on the
slope of which was Madame Quill
lette's cottage. He glanced at ms
watch. He had been up and about
early that morning; 1t was not yet
the hour at which the school assem-
oled on the hilltop.
He found Evangeline behind the
little arbor in the madame's garden;
she was arranging her bouquet for
the masters table
Aldrich drew her to him and kissed
her, for his emotions were tumul-
tuous at that moment; tenderness and
sympathy strove with the passion of
his love. His affection did not avail to
avert that constant persecution, and
this thought made his greeting of her
as wistful as it was joyous.
He did not profane that meeting by
reference to the SANDER of the letter
Her own attitude he understood from
what Representative Clifford had said
regarding the affair.
IL have tried again to find your
father, dear" he told her. He has
not come home. I will try again."
"The happy thought has come to
me that he is sorry" she said, gazing
up at him trustfully. 80 he has
barred the doors of the wicked place
and has gone away to make himself
right with our God He will come
back, Norman, and will understand
us better
They could look down through the
trees from Madame Ouillette's gar-
den and see the moving groups In the
long street and hear the dull muir
muir of far-off voices. In the dis
tance, along the highway and here
and there on the branch roads, BAN
ners of dust signaled the approach
of more wagons.
TT is the day of the great con-
vention to choose our representative;
I am sure the people will speak again
for Monsieur Clifford" she said. after
they had looked down in silence for a
time. I'VE have been talking much
of this day a. the school Master Don
.,am saws that we are to lead the chill
dren down the hill, and they will
sing their songs to the voters and
cheer for the good man who has
brought the school to Attegat.'
mo, the children must not come
down the hill today" he protested.
his face paling. Take that word to
the master, Evangeline. Make it a
very emphatic word. II you do not
think he will accept that message
through you, I must go myself. The
children must not come to the village.
And above all, do not come yourself
do not allow any of the teachers to
come"
She stared at him in surprise, for
he was earnest to the point OF appeal.
He had suddenly become somber and
formal, and the tenderness had gone
! out of his eyes.
"But we can do much, so Master
| Donham believes. The hearts of the
neople have been softened. They are
sad because Pere Leclair has been
sent away. They will rally now for
Representative Clifford, for he has al
ways been the good friend Of the
father"
"I insist. The children must not
come. This is not whim, dear.
cannot tell you all just now. There
there--will be danger. 1t is politics.
he went on, lamely. for her grave eyes
were upraised and were searching his
soul.