The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-08-12

his back like a lOuping trout, and
slid his foot, and clapped his hand
over his heart in the queerest way.
My mother stared. for she thought he
was making fun of her, but Cousin
Edie fell into 1t In an instant, as
though 1t had been game, and away
she went in a great. courtesy, until 1
thought she would have had to give
1t up. and sit down right there in the
middle of the kitchen foor. But no,
she was up again as light as piece
of fun. and we all drew up. our stools
and started on the .scones and milk
and porridge. 5ssr ,t.A{ TX M
Heshad wonderful way with wom-
en-, that man. Now II I.swere to do
1t, or Jim Horscroft. 1t would look as
II we were playing the fool. and the
girls would have laughed at us; but
with him it scanned to go with his
style of face and fashion of speech.
SO that one came at last to look for
1t. For when he spoke to my mother
or to Cousin Edie-and he was never
backward 10 speaking-it would al
ways be with a bow and a look as II
It would hardly be- worth their while
to listen to what he had to say; and
when they answered. he would put on
a face as though, every word they said
was to be treasured up and remem-
bered forever. Edie did not say much.
but she kept shooting little glances at
our visitor, and once or twice he
looked very hard at her.
~ 49, - to
breakfast, my father pulled out eight
golden pounds, and laid them on the
table.
"What think We of that. Martha?"
said he.
you've sold the two black tups
after all?''
mo, but it's months pay for
board and lodging from Jocks friend
and as much to come every four
weeks"
= But my mother shook her head when
she heard 1t. 1.-Two pounds a week
is overmuch." said she. "And 1t is
not when the poor gentleman is In
distress that we should put such a
price on his bit Of food"
"Why, woman. he's turned your
head wi his foreign trick Of speech"
cried my father.
l"Aye, and 1t would be good thing
II Scottish men had little more Of
that kindly way" she said. and that
was the first time in all my life that I
nad ever heard her answer him bnck.
ss Our visitor came down soon, and
asked me to come out. with him.
When we were in the sunshine he held
out a little cross made Of red stones.
one of the bOnniest things that ever
l had set eyes upon.
These are rubies." said he. "and I
got 1t at Tudela, In Spain. pray that
you will take this as memory of your
exceeding kindness to me yesterday.
1t will fashion into pin for your
cravat."'
1 could but thank him for the pres
ent, which was of more value than
anything had ever owned in my life
II am of to the upper muir to
count the lambs" said l. Maybe you
would care to come up with me and
see something Of the countryr
AAE hCHALatCu lOt tnOnlCuLt aAo
then he shook his head.
~ have some letters" he said
(which l ought to write as soon as
possible. think that will stay at
quiet this morning and get them writ
ten." 4s.
All forenoon 1 was wandering over
the links, and when got back he
looked as though he had been born
and bred in the steading. He sat In the
big wooden-armed single chair. with
the black cat on his knee. His arms
were out. and he held skein of
worsted from hand to hand, which my
mother was busily rolling into ball.
Cousin Edie was sitting near, and l
could see by her eyes that she had
been crying.
"Hullol Edie," said 1; "what's the
trouble?"
"Ahl mademoiselle, like all good and
true women, has soft heart" said
he; II didn't thought 1t would have
moved her, or should have been ST.
lent. I have been talking of the suf-
fering of some troops of which knew
something, when they were crossing
the Guadarama mountains in the win
ter Of 1908. All. yes, 1t was very bad,
for they were fine men and fine horses.
1t is strange to see men blown by
the wind over the precipices, but the
ground was SO slippy. and there was
nothing to which they could hold. So
companies all linked arms. and they
did better in that fashion; but one ar
tilleryman's hand came of as I held
1t, for he had had the frost bite for
three days." tirr a,-7 .rf
stood staring, with my mouth open.
e. ..And- the old ,grenadiers, too, who