The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-03-11
CHAPTER II-Continued


was as musical and care free as the
song sparrows. They were in that
wistful stage Of joyous, mutual dis
covery. The boy had found in her
eyes something which he could not
forget.
She was wiser than he, for he knew
nothing of that mysterious power In
the eyes and form and graceful move
ments Of a maiden which had pro-
duced the singular emotion now in his
breast. Yet he had the soul of poet,
its love of beauty and its quick per-
ception.
She told him of her school and her
studies.
"Oh-h!" he said wistfully. I'D like
to go to school like that an learn to
talk good like you an wear shiny
shoes an nice clothes. / want to be
a gentleman like yer father and Mr..
Converse"
She looked into his eyes, saying:
you are an interesting boy. ! never
saw anyone like you"
I'D just like to stay here" he said.
"If I had thousand dollars I'd give
1t to YOU"
"What fort"
II dunno. I'd just like to. That's
the way l feel. I'm not exactly sure
how it feels to be happy. I wouldn't
wonder if had got it."
"a This curious variety Of love-making
filled the most delightful day that
Shad had known. That evening Col
onel Blake returned. After supper the
colonel told Of his adventures in the
wild West hunting Apaches and grizzly
bears.
In the morning when the boy stood
with Colonel Blake by the buggy
which was to take them to town, Ruth
called to him from the door. He went
to her.
"Will you write me a letter." she
asked.
He promised to do so. She shook
his hand and ran away into the house.
She did not even say good-by.
Shad returned to the buggy blushing
and smiling; his blood was flowing
fast. The colonel laughed. Mrs.
Blake kissed her husband and the lad.
They'll watch you in that store"
she said. "Of course you'll work hard
and be strictly honest. We love you
and we want you to succeed"
Those were the best words that Shad
Morryson had ever heard. He did not
forget them. The first timber in the
real structure of his life had found
its place. Now for the first time hap
piness had come to him. He was no
longer lonely, discouraged, life-sick
lad. He was at last fully alive.
In town the colonel bought for Shad
a supply of shirts, socks and under
clothing and neckwear.
The Blakes had much to say of q
singular charm in the personality Of
| the lad who had thus come to them.
The colonel's inquiries soon led to the
discovery of an interesting fact The
boys mother was said to be a great,
| reat-granddaughter of that brother
| Of Napoleon Bonaparte who, late in
the Eighteenth century, had had q
hunting lodge in northern New York
and who for time had occupied the
| throne of Spain. 1t helped to explain
the mental keenness of the boy and
the noble shape of his head and the
beauty of his countenance.
| In his Office Colonel Blake was not
at all like the man Shad had met at
the farmhouse. He was dignified. The
| rude Yankee dialect which he had
used on the farm was dropped when
he entered the Office. Business was
mostly serious matter with him. In
his view the farm was a joke, and
there he played. A part of his play
was the rude dialect of the country
side.
He took Shad to the inner office.
and, calling a stenographer to his desk,
dictated letter Of introduction for
the boy to Mr.. Ephraim Smithers of
Amity Dam. When the letter was
typed and signed he put it in Shad's
hands. saying:
take a train to Ashfield at eleven.
When you get there inquire your way
to Amity Dam. 1t will be a fiye-mile
walk for you. Have you money!"
1--WE got twenty-one dollars in my
pocket" was the proud answer of the
boy. ''Mr. Converse give it to me-"
keep it secret and hang ON to it.
Good-by."
The boy had almost two hours to
spend before train time. He walked
around the village, to him a wonder
full place, with its town hall and
houses and stores that looked large
and important. He had never written
letter. He, had seen only three or
four letters in all his life.
II don't know how I'd go to work
to write a letter." he said to himself.
I'm too ignorant. I've got to learn
| aonofhinO Two OOf RI