Year: 1874

CHAPTER IL


The landscape that lay in smiling
beauty back of Stonehenge farm had
been terraced upon a grand scale by the
receding waters of long dead eras (; and
the successive benches of sand and loan
and gravel that marked these different
eras were now beautifully adorned with
stunted pines.


Great eOlonnades OF gray basalt, upon
which lazy Indians basked in the
autumn sunshine, but which were unin-
habitedduring thestill moonlight hours,
except by owls and bats, reared their
wierd, gigantic fronts over the steepest
bluffs and cast black shadows of impene-
trable darkness into the silent abysses
below.


Matte Armstrong lifted her hat from
her brow and swung il nervously by the
ribbons, as she heaved deep sigh of re-
lief over her temporary escape from the
noisy and uncomfortable barracks which
the little world that knew her called her
home.


"Of what are you thinking, Miss Arm
strong ?" queried her companion, as he
drew her arm within his own and bent
over her with look of tender concern.


III was just wondering why it is that
everything around US is so peaceful and
pleasant when there is nothing but tur-
moil and drudgery and misery at home.
Just lOokat those gray rocks. Nature
allows the mountain ivy to climb over
them and cover up their rude unsightli-
ness. The laughing waters ripple over the
toughest surfaces at the bottom of yonder
hollow; the trees take root in the shelly
ing soil and spread their leafy branches
as a covering over the Jagged sides Of the
bluff; ferns and brakes strive to hide
the unsightly boulders that lie in
heaped up masses at the head of that
ravine. Everything that can see is
taking on similitudes of loveliness, ex-
cept that unfinished old building which
my father calls home and which call
prison. Penitentiary would be the bet
ter name, for We are imprisoned there
at hard labor for which those of us who
do the work receive no compensation"


"You appear to be in a bitter mood
tonight, my friend. Ihad no idea when
1 met you the other evening at the party
in Stonehenge, that you could conjure
up such an array of misanthropic ideas"


'But haven't said anything except
what you know to be TRUTH" still toy
ing with the strings of her hat as she
whirled it before them, while passing
zephyr tossed her streaming hair and
blew it in the face Of her escort.


"The winds evidently imagine that
you are Hero and I Leander, but they
are quite Mistaken" laughed Amos
Harding, shaking his head to free his
eyes from the agreeable ENHANCEMENT


"They imagine that we are-0hdt ~
inquired the girl in an innocent man
ner. Evidently she was little versed in
classic lore.


'rNothing particular" and the gentle
man bit his lips in disgust.


al know you think Pm exceptionally
verdant," said the girl, flashing her eyes
upon him in the moonlight, "and 1
heartily coincide with your opinion"


''In truth 1 am a little astonished,
Miss Armstrong" and Amos Harding
stepped proudly and yet condescend-
ingly along the rustling pine leaves.


"The varied experiences of the cow
yard and kitchen are hardly conducive
TO the requirement of fmuch classic lore"
continued the girl. "And 1 have spent
the greater part Of my not protracted
life in dairy work and washing"


"Have you not spent some time in
boarding school ?"


"Oh, yes. 1 went away from home and
remained two years, attending the Brier
University for young ladies, where 1
learned a smattering Of French, some
gibberish which our teacher called Ger
man, little music and about half Of the
multiplication table. 1 knew how to
read and write before went there, else
l suppose / should be as ignorant OF
those requisites as ] am concerning
who were they? LerO and Hednder, did
you say?i and the girl broke into o
musical laugh that set her half-enamored
escort almost beside himself.


"Do you propose to return to school ?''
and the young man plucked nervously
at thistle that grew by the waysider
scattering its feathery petals in the all
as he paused for a reply.


"Why should I go back to school ?'i
said Matte impatiently. al was rea-
sonably well contented before l left
home at all, and now am so sick OF
home and its surroundings that can't
endure the very thought of staying in
the old barracks. If / should remain
away longer l should only dread all the
more to come in contact with home
when school days should be over. Re-
sides, what need have I of a finisba,I
education2 I can milk and churn and
wash and cook and sew and wash dishes
and make cheese, and all men saw that
woman is queen Of home when engaged
in such delightful exercises. The ex-
Periences I had at boarding school dis.
PEELED All the illusions of delight in
which had ever INDUCED over these
feminine occupations, and should