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fiOUNTRY LUCK
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By JOHN HABBERTON,
Fi,.5' Jifte . .1
mutner et "neien s octuice,
.'rf
'CtyyiUlii'l fey Uw J. B- Upptoeeli Oempaay, Publishers, Philadelphia, and Pub-
llsfced, by Permission, through
aurtEn xm.
VRUJC TCT AFAtl OIT."
HINNKR nml
thinner became tlie
roll of bunk notes
iu Philip Hnyn's
pocket; nearer nnd
nearer came t h e
day when lie must
deport from tlie
citv denart with
out nny hee that j
be might ever re-
turn. The thought
was intolerable,
but what ceulil Ikj
dene te bin Mi It I
He might again,
and sevcral times,
make excuses te
tear borne and come fe New Yerk for a clay
car ttre, perhaps en 8el Mantring's loop, nml
hem up after a fashion the acquaintance bu
bad made, but te remain In the city any
length of time and spend money as he had
beeft doing, was net te be thought oft tbe
money could net be taken from tbe family
or fared in tiny way mat no ceuui ue-
Oh that be might speculate! Oh that the
people who had thought of Hayn farm as n
Ha for a cettage Tillage would make haste te .
decide and purchase, se the family's property
might fee In mnnry Instead of land wIIil
arts, which could net tie spent while in III .
earthy condition. Oh that he might nt least j
And occupation in New Yerk; he would deny ,
himself anything for the take of replacing j
himself en the farm by a laborer, who would
be fully as useful with two hands as be, If he '
might remain in the city. Why had be never ,
had the sense te study any business but fann
ing! There were two stores ami a factory nt
Hayn ten: bad he taken employment In either
of these, as be had l-m Invited te de, be
might hare learned something that would bu
of avail in New Yerk.
But, alasl It was tee Inte. He must go
back te the farm go nway from Lucia. Hew
should be say farewell te hert Could he ask
bar te accept an occasional letter from him
and te reply! Would the Tramlnys "ant te
spend the next summer nt Hayn farml be
wondered. Should they coma and Lucia tee
blra carrying a pall of pen pods te the pig
sty, or starting etr with oil skins nnd n big
block basket for n day's (Uhlirgeff ihere,
would net her pretty lip curl In dUdainf Or
If the family wanted te go te the beach for a
lath, would be ceme In from the fields In
faded cotton shirt nnd trousers nml bandlcus
old straw hat te drive them dewnt
Ne; nene of these things should occur. The
Tramlays should net ngnlu Until nt Hayn
farm, unless be could tnnnage In seme way te
be away from home nt the tlme. He would
oppose It with all hi might. And yet, what
could he say by way of explanation te his
parents! Thcre are teme things that oue
cannot explain net If one Is n young man
who bss suddenly bad his head turned by
chance of scene.
Bew he should say farewcll te I.ucln trou
bled him a great deal, artlrutarly as tlm
.time was approaching rapidly. Te tell her
Of bis love would be unmanly, while be was
unable te carry leve forward te Its natural
fruition; but, en the ether hand, would It bu
right for blm te take mere (Hemily leave af
ter having betrayed himself ever her hand nt
x&Tfi we carpae winnow i Aim ii nor inuiiiicsm
; -tiIfe'nf lealeusv at the Dlnen mrtv mi-ant
i&Sf anything mere thnn mere desire te nionepo
Use bis attention, would the net hate him if
he went away without seme expression of
tenderness!
The longer he cudgeled his wits the mere
tnactlre they became, Unresolved te call at
one and trust te chance, and pcrbnps n mer
ciful Providence., te help blm te n preier
tear taking. He wondered If she would be
at borne; he bad heard her rocr,rdtulate bsiio bsiie bsiio
estslon of engagements which termed te him
te, dispose of a week of afternoons nnd even
ings. He would seek her father nml usk lilm
when Lucia could be found at home.
Be acted at ence upon the impulse, but
Tramlay was net nt his office. As the time
was about neon, I'lill strolled te the rostau restau
rant te which tbe iron merchant had taken
nba. Tramlay was net there, se the young
man took a teat nnd ordered luncheon. Just
a It was served, Marge vied him, without
seeing blm, and ft young man at n table lie
bind Phil said te his companion i
"That Marge Is n lucky deg. Have you
heard that be's going te marry Tramlay's
daughter! She'll be rich ; Iren Is looking up."
,'lstbntie,"nsked tti ether. "When did
tt come out r"
"1 don't knew whethcr It's announced yet,"
was the reply, "but ene of the fullews at the
bank told me, and I supjiose be get It from
Marge; he knows him very well."
Phil's appetite departed ntoncei It seemed
te blm bis life would accemimny It. His
mind was hi a dare; his lieart was llke lead.
Bit feelings reached his face, nml, abstracted
ami stupid though he felt, be could net help
seeing that be was attracting attention, se
he paid his bill, went out, and hurried along
the street The first dlstbtet Impression of
which be was conscious w us that tbere need no
longer be any doubt nbeut hew te say good geed
by te Lucia; a forma) courteous nete would
suffice; he would net trust himself te meet
her. Could be blame her I Ne; be certainly
bad.ne claim Uen her heart, nor any reason
te really belleve she had regarded him us
mere than a pleasant acquaintance.. She
bad let bun kiss her hand; but had net she
herself taught blm that this was merely en
Old time form of salutation ( Sbohadtheright
te marry whom fche would, yet Marge-r
, The thought of that man that. zij, Itst
teS; cold, drBck HiH-'Geund for life te
a merry, serimivoseul bke Lucia drove blin
almost mad.
Well, the blew was a btmdug In ene way;
bow be could go back te the farm without
any fears or hesitation. Oe back! yes, be
would hasten back; he could net tee seen put
behind blm the. city and ull its memories.
After all, It was net the city be bad dreaded
te leave; it was Lucia, and w haterer through
her seemed neceary New that she mubt be
forgotten, all else might go. He Mould go
back te the hotel, ek his clothes hew bu
longed for the money they had cost lilml
write a Line te Lucia, and take the first trcin
for home. Heniel Hew shamefully be had
forgotten it bi the paxl fortnight! l'c-rhaps
this disappointment was bis punishment, if
se, although severe, tt was no mere than Jutt.
Heme I Why, be would rejoice te be once
mera Inside bis dirty oilskin fishing clothes
te obliterate the city mau he had been aping
for a fortnight Heaven bad evidently In
taaded blm te tie a drudge; well, heaven's
will should be done.
Thus reasoned the rplrlt; but the fluh did
net rapidly conform te Its leader's will. Phil's
teeth and lips were twitching; be felt it was
e; ha noticed that people stared at him, just
a they did while he wus in the restaurant
This at least he could cscape, and be would;
se be turned into the first side street, te avoid
the throng. Within a moment he feared be
was losing bis reason, for it seemed te hini
that people were pursuing him. Tbre cer
tainly was an unusual clatter of hurrying
feet behind blm, but pshaw! it was prob
ably a crowd running te a fire or u light
The noise Increased; sereral wilds yells arose,
ad some one shouted, "Step thief I" Then
Phil's heart stepped beating, for a heavy
hand fell en bis shoulder, lie started vlo vle
laatly aside, but tbere wus ue shaking elf the
grasp of that heavy baud; be looked wildly
aresad, and into the eyes of bis father.
'"iUaas you, old boy, bow bow fast you de
walkT panted the old man. "1 was 'way up
en the ether side of the read when wbeu
Issiwyouiurnln'dewu here. Sal Uuntring
sssU I wJnldu't knew you If I saw you.
Why I knewed you al Erst sight"
'Wet' he dener bleated a small boy in
frestt, for the crowd bad already surrounded
tiiseeupU
What's who done Tasked the old man,
angrily, after be had looked around and sueu
.ha crowd. "Why, you tenia! luufers, can't
aa run down tbe read te catch uu with
jj
Etc.
the American Press Association.
nis 0n-n"5jiitiuiriilt yem IrinltTir tnere's
remethln' wrong! I've beerd Hint In New
Yerk cv'ry man suspects ev'ry ether man of
Iieln' a thief. Giteutl go about your busi
ness, If yeu've get nny."
The crowd, looking sadly disappointed nnd
disputed, slowly dispersed, ene very red
faced man remarking thntthoentlro proceed
ing had been "n dumed skin."
The father nnd son wnlked along until com
paratively nlenJ then the father wild!
"Semethin's wrong, old boy. What Is It!"
riill did net reply.
"Out of meney nn' ufrnld te send me
werdf"
"Ne," riill reiilled.
"Then It's her, elit"
Pbll nodded. His father ro,ueczed bis baud
and after a moment continued!
"Proposed te hcrnu' been refuted!"
"Ne," said Phil; "another man lias pro
posed ami lieen necepted.r
"Dearl clear 1" sighed the old man. "An'
Min's dead In leve with lilm, I s'hoheP'
"I never saw nny sign cif It," said I'lill, bis
face wrinkling. "I don't tee bow she ran;
he's n dry old stick."
"Rlchr
"Um-ra-l den't knew," said I'hIL
"liew lilml"
"Yen, n littles. Mr. Tramlay says he lives
en his ineeme,"
"Easy enough fern bachelor te de that In
New Yerk," said the old man, "uu' still net
have much."
They wnlked In silence n few minutes; then
tbe old man continued)
"Suroyeu weren't mistaken, buhl"
"Alieut wliatr
"Sure you reelly fell In love! Hiiro you
warn't only In n (It of iewcrful ndmlrntlenl
Iits of young fellers get took In that way
nn' spend n llfctlmu beln' sorry for It"
I'lill shook his bead.
"She'a mighty geed Inekln'; I knew It I
can tnke in the p'ints of a gnl as geed ns If
Miowanrelt Ueml stock In her, tee; Hint
father of hern Is full of grit nn' go, nn' her
mother's n lady. Btlll, you might have bu-n
kind e' ujisct, nn'tiiet laiened your own mind
ns well as you might"
"Knthcr," suiid I'lill, "you rememlier what
you've often said nlieut your berm lllack
llilly! 'There's only one lierwi In the world,
and that'" Hilly. Well, for me theiu's only
ennglrl iu the world Lucia."
"That's the Hayn bleed, all ever," said Iho
old man, with a laugh that grntcd linrshly
en Phil's ear.
"And I've lest her," I'lill continued. "Don't
let's talk nlmut her any mera Don't remind
no of her."
"Don't remind yeuf" shouted the old man,
Mopping short en the iklewnltc "Kee here,
young man," tbe father continued, Minking
his forefinger luiprnsilvcly, "If 1 was yen, an'
fell liknyeu, clnyeii knew what I'd de!"
"Ne." said I'lill. nmar.ed at thlileiiiontrn thlileiiientrn thlileiiiontrn
tlen by a man wliuei be scarcely ever had
seen exciUxL
"Well, sir, I'd stay right en the ground,
an' I'd cut that ether feller out, or I'd dle a
tryln'. You'll never Iw goeil for nnytliln' If
you don't de ene thing or t'ether."
Pbll smiled feebly and rcplle'li "Yen don't
understand; thcre uru u great tnnny obstacles
Hint I can't uxplaln."
" 'There's a lien in the way, says the sloth
ful man; I shall Ik slain,' " quoted the eM
man from the Heek which be hnd nccepted
nsnn all sulllclunt gutde te faith nnd pi no
tice, "I've mnde a feel of myself," said I'lill nil
lenly, "and 1 want te go home nnd tnke my
Imulshmcnt I wuut te go by the llr.t train
can get I've u long INt of things I've
premised te buy for clllTerent Mvple, but 1
can't endure New Yerk another day."
The old mnii studUxl bli son's face keenly
for a while, in they resumed their walk; then
he said, geutlyi
"Perhaps it's liest that nay. Oe ahead.
Olve me your ILt an' I'll 'lend te it I'll
take n day or two In New Yerk myself; It's
a long tlme since 1 liml c.i Clivuus tliu
Iit and get out"
1 I'lill fumbled in liU pecket9 fur the memo
randa that lie had neglected no long. Then n
uew fear came te him, and he snidi
'Father, you knew about everything, nnd
can de almost anything you attempt, but
don't go te trying te mend thU wretched
nffairef ininet If 1"
"Whatr Interrupted the old man. "lied "lied
dle ina leve siraiel lluve I get te Iu this
old te be suspected by ufy ru of liein' nn old
feel Ne, sir; 1 never did nny leve mnUIn'
ercept for myself, nn' I'm uet geln' te begin
new. Yeu go home an' brnce up; I reckon
you need n mouthful of country nlr te set
your bead light"
CllAITKR XIV.
QOI.Nn HOUR.
IIILII HAYN ne-
.couiited It n HHvlal
mercy of i'revl-
ilcnce Hint tlie liu-
puU te lcvive New
i m k had Ikvii se
timed thatthetrnln
w hlcli lie enught
would land bim nt
Iliiynten stnt Ien
lifter dark. Iledld
lint feel lll K'lng
old acquaintance
tlmt day;,be.ffrU
that his flfte win
lieillg n ierslst(nt,
detestnbli) telltale,
and Hint he could
lint train mid com
mand it while se
busy with his
thoughts. If seen
at nil, he Intended
te offer as few sug-
gestlens for remirk m viiliIe, se, lcfore
leaving Ills hotel, lie diveteil himself of every
vuible trace of city laimeut, uud rlethtsl liim-sx-if
In tli.i t-iunday suit wlilclillnyiiten had
scii often enough te without remark.
Hucnulil net i-stiire Id sliern -n jK-rllutty of
hair, but liHiigaln put en .!i bat which for u
year had Wva hl. bet nt beine, lie even
went se far as te leave for Ills fntliern new
trunk which he bad purchased, putting bis
own pjreunl property into tlie antique, car-pet-Uag
recdcarin-'t whicli the old farmer
bail brought down.
Lastly, that he might net apjicnr lu tbe
least liken city youth, be curriud with liiiu
two religious weeklies wlileb some society for
the reformation of hotel boarders had causixl
te be placed in bis box In the hotel office, and
he read them quite faithfully en the train.
Heminr'?rsef the old bfe te which he wns
returning came te him thick nnd fust when
the train get fairly out of the city. In n field
be saw a mau stripping tbe leaves from
standing corn stalks, and although the view
wus what photographers term "lustautauo "lustautaue "lustautauo
eus," it was leug enough te show the shabby
attire, brown fuce, shocking had hat, clumsy
beets, mid general air of resignation that
marked all farmers in the vicinity of Hamil
ton. Twe or three miles farther along he
saw a half grown boy picking up stones In n
field of thin soil ami adding them te piles
which were painfully lgniOcaut of much
similar work In past days.
Down In a marshy (tasture botlde the rail
way embankment two meu were dlgglug u
drainage ditch; they were tee far apart te be
company for each ether, and tee muddy te
be attractive te themselves, l'bll at once re
called much work of like nature he bad dene,
and mera that still depended upon his muscle
te make the entire acreage et Hayn farm
available for cultivaUea estimating accord
ing te past experience and newly acquired
knowledge, be found that the number of days
of work required, if paid for at the lowest
rate et common laborers In New Yerk, would
amount te twice as much as the value of the
land when improved. It was easy te see why
farmers never get rich. Htill, the farm was
bis natural sphere; lie bad been born te It,
Heaven, hi arranging bis life career, knew in
advance what be was fit ter, and bis own dif
ference of opinion would j'rebably be ex-
9 l-l:-
trnwr
rr2 . Cf',T p'ii
tmBr
piainen nwnr in ttme ey tne logte tii ercriU
which he could net foresca.
In a dusty read near a little station at
which the train stepped be saw two farmers'
wagons meet, step, and their owners engage
In conversation. Thus would be, the elr
server, seen be obtaining whatever news he
acquired; Instead of avcry morning opening
a nowpaper recording the previous day's do
ings throughout the civilized world, be would
be restricted te stories of bow Joddles' liorse,
who bad cast himself, was getting along with
bis ncrnped hip joint, and when llrsgfew
thought be might be likely te kill a beet it
he could find somobedy te take a fore quar
ter which liedn't been spoken for yet, the
chanrTcs of Nemy Terklns being "churched"
for calling Deacon Tbewser a sneaking old
thecp thief, and much mero Information
equally entertaining and Instructive, Well,
why net! What lietter news would be him
self be likely te offer! no was net going te
fall Inte the sin, warning of which bad been
given by ene of the apostles, of estecmlng
himself moreliighly than his neighbors; seme
jieople In the vicinity of Haynten did net
sm much better than feels, but probably
nene et them had ever been se idiotic as te
fall in leve with women far above them In
social station and consequently far beyond
their reach.
Farther and farther the train left the city
behind; mero and mero desolate the country
appeared. It was late October; all crops bail
been harvested, and many trees bail shed all
their leaves; the only green was that of grass
and evergreens, the latter looking almost
funereal under the overcast sky. The train
entered a region of plne barrens, through
eientngs in which seme sand dunes could oc
casionally be seen. At times wlssu the train
stepjttd tbe wind brought upthoseund of the
surf iieundlng tbe lach net far away, and
Iho noUe was net as cheering as Phil bad often
thought It In earlier days.
i Then empty seats In the cars became numer
ous. All city peeple who lived out of town
had already left the train, and the few who
get en afterward belonged In the vlcinnga.
Phil hail noted the change ns It gradually oc
curred, nnd te a well drossed ceuple, the last
'of thelr kind, who occupied seats net far In
front of blm, his gaze clung as mournfully ns
s tojier' eye when fixed upon tlie last drops
that bis bottle con glve him.
Pinally they tee disappeared, nnd their
place was taken by n sallow country woman
In a home made brown dress and n grny bon
net trimmed with green ribbons. He tried
te console himself with the thought Hint the
car would seen be tee dark for colors te be
annoying, nnd that Haynten was but an hour
distant Then the brilliant thought came te
him that be might chnnge the scene. He
ncUslupeu.lt, went Inte thoneitcar, nnd
took a sent The rutle in front et lilm turned
bis head, stared, nnd drawled;
"Orotaeshl L'f It ain't Phil Hnyn, then I'm
n clam shelll Well, I'd never have knewed ye
cf twa'n't fir your fatlirr's mouth en' chin."
Then the rustle deliberately gathered bis feet
nnd knees Inte bis sent, nnd twisted his body
until his shoulders wcronlinest squared te the
rear of the car) his whele nlr being that of n
nmn who had suddenly found a Jeb greatly te
bis liking, and ene te which lie Intended at
ouce te address himself with nil his might
"lleini down te Yerk, eh!" the rustie con
tinued, nftcr getting bis frnme satisfactorily
braced.
"Yes."
The rustle loekrjl se steadily, earnestly,
hungrily Inte the face before blm that I'lill
hastily looked through tlie window. Sema men
have In-cn Impressed by the historic "stony
llrltlsh stare," ethers have admired the wno wne
traling glance of the typical detective, or tliu
frontiersman "sizing tip" n new arrival; but
the Urlteu, the cletoctlve nnd the frontiers
man combined could net equal the stnre of
the countryman w hese tastes tend toward the
nffuirs of bli neighbors.
"Yerk's n geed deal of n town, I s'pose,"
the countryman remarked, nftcr seme ear
nest scrutiny.
"Yes."
"Kind nnylbln' te pay the 'xpeiwcs of the
trip!" This nftcr another beuUuI gaze
"Shouldn't wonder."
"Cnrpct ling seems roety well stuffed,"
said the tormenter, nftcr having transferred
bis glincu for it moment te tlie old satchel
Hint occupied halt of Phil's Beat
"Mether wnnted n few things that she
couldn't find at any of our stores," said PhlL
"See anybody ye knewed!" was the next
question, nftcr the stare hed returned tells
pi !nclal duty.
"Net much," I'lill replied, with a shudder,
well knowing te whom the man alluded.
"Hew did your turnips average en that new
ground, Mr, lllokel"
"Only se se. Yeput up at old what tbe
semethln' was bis name! eh, Trnmmcrly
ye stepped with blm, I smm!''
"Of ceurse net Mr. Tramlay doesn't tnke
boarders."
"Ort te bev liccn wlllln' te take ye In for it
few days, though, 1 should think, censljerln'.
Didn't he even offer te!"
"Ne. Why should he!" asked Pbll, begin
ning te lese bis lemiier. "He paid bU way
while be was bore; I paid initie in New
Yerk."
"Oil!" drawled the rustic; then bu put en n
judicial nlr nnd i!ovetod two or three
miniltaj te nnulyzliig I'hil's statement nml
logic Hither accepting both or mentally
noting nn exception for future una be cou ceu cou
tlnuedi "His gnl's ns poety ns ever, I s'KseP'
"Which onef
Tlie questioner's i;aze changed soniewluit;
by various complicated twitches lie slowly
worked the blanknch out of his face nud re
placed It by mi attempt at n smile; then be
slowly extended a long arm ever tbe back of
the scat, nud unfolded a mavdve forefinger,
which be thrust violently Inte the region of
Phil's vest eckct m with n leer lie ox ex
clalmed: "Keel"
"Deu't le a Jneknssl" exclaimed Phil,
frowning nugrlly at the fellow. Instead et
U'lug abashed the lioer seomel highly do de
llghtcd, and exclaimed, ill somewhat the ac
cent of the iinimal I'lill had named:
"Haw, haw, bawl Olvoye the mitten, did
she!"
"It'll 1 time for any girl te glve me tbe
mitten when I b'v" her the chance, Mr.
Weke," said Phil, picking up bis bag und
starting toward another seat
"Oil, set down; I didn't think ye was the
kind e' feller te go an' git mad nt uu old
neighbor that's only show In' ii friendly In
terest in ye," said the man, in teues et re
proach. "Set down. Why, 1 hain't asked
j-e half what 1 want te; yeu've gene an' put
u let of it out of my head, tee, by lly In' off of
the handle lu that way."
"Haynten I" shouted tbe conductor, as the
trulu stepped with a crush. Pbll hastily rose;
i se did his tormenter, wbese face was nn ab-
I solute agony cf appeal as be saldi
, "Ix-nune help ye up te the heuse with yer
bag. I j'st remembered that Naemi has been
at me for u week te ask your mother some semo seme
I thin' when I druv by. Might cz well dolt
tonight as nuy tbue; then I cau glve ye a
friendly lift."
"I'm net going te walk out home," said
I Phil, hastily, "If 1 cau"
I "Well, I'd jest as lieve ride," said the man.
' "Twe men nnd n driver and n big lag
', aren't gWiS squeeze Inte a buggy with
seats for euly two, If I can help It," said PhlL
! "Say," whUpored the native, confidentially,
as the two reached the platform, "1 b'llcve
I I knew w here 1 can berry n team as easy as
fallin' oil or a leg. Ja-t you stand liere n
minute or two all the lieys Is dylu' te see
you un' I'll hook up an' be back."
The mau dUapieared with great rapidity
for n lieing of his structural peculiarities.
Phil looked quickly about, dashed across the
track and under soma sheltering trees in a
small uuligbted street, then he made a detour
I through the outskirts of the little village te
i reach, without being observed, the read te
' his father's farm. The sound of an approach
ing wagon caused bim te hide quickly behind
, a clump of -'Id blacklierries; but when he
' saw the drlvei was net his persecutor be
again took the iViad, muttering, as be pled-
ded along;
I "IUoke isn't half through with me yet, be
I said te hunself. And he is only oue of fifty
or sixty meu a geed deal like lilm te say
nethmg of wemenl 'My puuUUmeut Is
i greater tbau 1 can bear."' I
I Thanks te the charity of deep twilight,
there was nothing unsightly alieut the fa mil
1 lar read, and as 1'hll ucared the mass of I
shadow from which two lights gleamed fust J
as they bad done nightly ever since be bad
I first approached bli home after dark, his
i heart gave a mighty beumL Then his heart
i reproached him that be had thought se little
about bis mother during bis absence that be
bed net brought her even the simplest pros-
cut He would write back tebU father te get
I bim something which b knew would please
her; and in the mean tims be would irr te
give ncr mera love man ever batons. If he
could net have a certain new occupant for his
heart, be would at least be as much ns possi
ble te thes-e whom the Lord liad trlren him.
Once within the gate, bis Iwtter self took '
en tlie possesien of blm. Neither bis mother
nor bis brothers should find him ether than
be bad ever been affectionate, cheerful and
attentive. He stelo swiftly te n window of
the sitting room, te sea if the family were
alone.
He saw bli two little brothers absorbed In
agamoef checkers. Hi i mother tat by the
table, reading a letter w .cb Phil recognized
by the hotel's printed eadlng; It was bis
only letter home, written se many days nge
that It must have been received long before
Hint evening. Evidently she wns re-rcading
It the dear seull as people will sometimes
de with letters which contain tee little, as
well as theso which are full.
l'bll bad te keep back seme tears of re-
mersvj ns he sprang upon the veranda nnd J
threw the deer open. Down dropped the let
ter, ever went tlie checker table nnd ljeard,
two chairs, nnd ene small boy, nnd lu n
moment several country jioeplo were ns happy
as if the sea had given up its dead or n long
tlme wanderer had rotumed. Thcre are seme
glorious comiKiisatlens for being slmple
m bided.
CHAPTKH XV.
tnc TATTED CALF BUT THE KKIOntJOJU, TOO.
THOUGH TPUL
man ence remarked
that a Pieclal proof
of dlvine wisdom
was that the dear
old story of tlie
Prodigal Sen did
net repreduce nny
of the conversation
of the neighbors
with or regarding
the narighty boy.
for had this also
been given ns it
i eally occurred no
subsequent l-nl-tcnt
would ever
have dared te fel
low the amateur swineherd's example,
Philip Hayn was net n prodigal; be bad
spent nene of his Inheritance except as sjhv
dally ordered by bis father, nnd bis only
ground of self reproach was regarding nn
nlfalr about which tlie nclghliers bail no
means of obtaining Information; yet the
flieclal eirerts made by the family te mani
fest their Jey nt regaining blm were unequal
te the task of overcoming the disquieting
clfects of the neighbors' tongues.
The dreadful man who bad caught Thll en
the train bad sp cad the news of the he-y's
return, se next morning tlie read from
the vlilnge te Hayn Kami presented an np np
ienranee ns animated ns if en auction bad
been ntmounced in that vicinity, or if Eome
ene had Ik-cii found dead in tlie weeds. Men
old nud young, wives nnd maidens, nnd even
little children, devised nxcuws for visiting
the farm. People who came from the ether
direction were already supplied with the
standard excuse they wanted te borrow
something; these who bad really tiorrewcd be
often ns te doubt their welcome mnde licroie
efforts te return what they bad already bor
rowed. Toccniethoruccoasloii et vlsltersnt the
house Phil went tothe barn yard te sce n new
family et pigs et which his llttte brothers had
Informed htm, but Just nliove the feuce line
he saw two pairs of eyes with their attend
nut heads, of ceurse that had been lying In
wait for nn hour or two, nftcr the maimer of
that class of countrymen, nvkirntly among
the last offshoots from the brutes, who ap
parently have an Inherited animal apprehen
sion of harm should they enter thudeii etany
species higher than their own.
"Guess you didn't see nny pigs llke them
down te Yerk!" shouted the owner of ene
pair of eyes, while the ether pair opened as
if they would engulf tbe returned traveler.
1'hll nodded bis bead negatively nnd precipi
tately retreated te tbe barn, where be found
qulte a respectable old farmer studying the
beach wagon.
"Ileubcn reckoned mcblie he could glmme
n bargain it I'd take this elf bis hand," be
said, by way of explanation, "se 1 thought
I'd tnke n leek nt it." The old man shook
the wheels, tapped tlie bed, examined the
Iren work closely, remarking, ns hedld se;
"Ilecken, by his wantln' te dispose of It,
that them city folks ain't a cemln' here next
summer te be druv down te the liench, chl''
"I don't knew," said tbe unhappy youth.
He was grateful te the old fellow for net
looking him lu the eye, like n wltness tenter,
as he asked the question, yet he looped te
kick him out of the barn nnd lock the doers,
se that there would lie ene less place for the
enemy te lie In wait He returned te tlie
house, and entered tbe kitchen just In tlme
te hear a feminine neighbor seyi
"1 s'jwse he'll wear Ills new clothes them
that Sel Mantrlng fetched word alieut te
church en Sunday!"
1'hll abruptly get nn nx nnd went te the
weed let; Ills llrst imptilse was te take hU
gun, but half lu Jest nnd half In earuest he
told himself that he would net dare te have
arms In bis hands If the torment was te con
tinue. Yet even while In the depths of the
ancestral forest be wus net cafe, for, en the
hollow protense of tracking n deg who hnd
been stcnliui strop, n neighbor followed I'lill
te the weeds, feuud him by the tell talolileu'n
of the ax, nud hnd blm nt his mercy for n full
hour. Tlie visitor had mentally set nKifc a
half day for the work.
"There's ene way e'gettln' rid of this raft,.
.' people," said Mrs. lluyu, who nyanlly lw-
came ns lndignnut as her son a'.'tlie ivrsist
ency with which people,.-brought Lucia's
name Inte conversatleuT. "One would s'pose
that the world bad get back te the way it
was iu old Father Adam's day, as far ns gals
was concerned, nn' there was only one female
that miybedy could tnke n notion te. They
ceme n-petcrlu' tlie life out e' me, just ns If
I knewed nny mero about It than they de
which I don't" Then the anxious mother
looked slyly, and somewhat reproachfully, .at
her son, who Hushed and said:
"Tell us the way of getting out of It,
mother, and nt least oneof your children will
nrlse and call you blessed."
"Why, it's te have the minister en' Ids wife
te tea. it's maimers, an' pretty much every
Imly knows it, net te disturb anybody the
day thoy're geln' te have the minister."
"Let's have him," said Phil, eagerly; "I'll
de anything te help you get leady beat
eggs, stene raisins anything but go te the
store for nutmegs and be caught by the pro
prietor and all his customers. Bay, mother,
why enu't you Invite the ether ministers tee,
en successive dnysf"
"Yeu will wear your new clothes, though,
wbeu the minister comes, won't yeuf asked
the old lady with some timidity. "Yeu knew
I hain't scen 'era en you yet, uu' I'm n-dyui'
te, tbeugli 1 hain't liked te put you te the
trouble of dressln' up en purpMe, knew m'
hew men hnte te try things en."
Phil premised; he could net resist bis
mother's npeallng eyes. As tlie old lady
prophesied, the family were net annoyed tbe
day of the supper te tbe minister. Phil's
conscience wns net easy lu anticipation of
the exjiected guest, for be knew he would lie
questioned ut the appearance of noted
New Yerk v Ines w horn he w euld be sup sup
jiesed te bave heard, whereas the only ser
vice he had attended was at the Tramlays'
church, the pastoref w hlch had.ne uoteriety
atalL
Perhaps It was te punish Ids youthful par par
Ublener for neglect of religious privileges
that the geed man questioned Phil quite
closely nbeut tbe Tramlay family and deliv
ered a thoughtful uualysisef the character of
the eldest daughter, with comments Uien the
probable effects of marriage en various qual
ities of her nature. After each statement be
eppealed te I'lill for corrulieratloii, and en
bis way home confided te bis wife that be Ik.
lieved be had fully prepared the dear young
brother f r w bat be m:,'lit exvt should be
take the inqieitaiit step iqmu winch 111 ull
probability he was tt.il.l
Phil ciulurnl w Itb Uv,ming fortitude the
minister' remarks al-ut Lucia, and the
whispered, but uet unh.-.nsl comments of the
minister's wife m the 'Mere clathes," which
bad been worn lu deference te Mrs. Hayu's
request He ate the three kinds of solid cake
without which ue supH-r te a Haynten min
ister was supjkMxl te le complete. He mad
unusual effort, his falaer Ivuig away, te
cause the visit one te be pleanutly remem
bered by the givxl luster He was rewarde
by discovering that liu trip te the city which
I he had beard called the "Modern Sodom"
and the "American llubylen" bad net do de
i stroyedor even weakened his Interest lu re-
llgleus subjects, and he wns prejiared te re
tire wiiii a mere ivaceuuie uiliui man no nail
known In tevetaldays Hut after the table
bad been, cleared and tbe uneaten pieces of
rake carefully put in an earthen Jar ngainst
tne next eundayi tea, and Pbll was about te
go te his room, hU mother saldi
"Dearie, 1 s'm you'll wear your new
block things te nieetln' Sunday tnernln',
won't yeuf
"Oh, mother," said Phil, with a frown
quickly niccwxled by a laugh, "nobody ever
wear tucb a coat te church. Kvcrybedy
would laugh at ma"
"Dear mol" said the old lady, svIdenUy dls dls dls
npliolnted qulte deeply. "I want te knewl
Then shen lie you geln' te wear ItP
"Never, 1 suppose," said Pbll, hii smlle
vanishing. "I wns nn extravagant feel te
buy that coat 111 never fergive myself for
it"
"Never!" the old lady bad echoed. "Then
your jKxir old mother, who loves yen better
than anyliedy in the world, U neVcr te see
you In Itf
"Hhe shan't wait another heurl" said Phil.
hurrying out of tbe room, nnd telling himself
that his mother cared mero for him than all
bis New Yerk friends combined. He dressed
himself anew, si 1th as much care, though net
ns much trepidation, ns when prewiring for
tbe Dlnen iarty; be even slipped out of doers
nnd by lighting two or three matches selected
n bud from a row bush which was carefully
covered from the frost every night He
dressed bis hair carefully, caressed bis mous meus mous
tache Inte the form a barber had told him
was most becoming te his style of face, and
squeezed bis feet Inte the low, tight, patent
leather shoes which a shoemaker had assured
blm were tbe only proper thing for even
ing dress. Then be came down stairs, whist
ling "Hall te the Chief."
Mrs. Hayn hastily ndjustcd tbe spectacles
she had been polishing, and as Phil entered
the room tlie threw up lieth bands In amaze
ment and delight It was worth the price of
a coat, thought Phil te himself, te enable that
dear, honest old face te express te much en
joyment As his mother gazed at blm, Pbll
went through the various jiescs which had
been demanded et blm when be was a child
even later and clothes were being fitted te
blm by Hie trustworthy Karah Tweege; he
turned around, presented ene slde view and
the ether, wnlked across the room and back,
nnd saluted bis mother with his most pro
found bow. Ills mother's delight knew no
1 bounds, i- many the geed old lady took both
j his hands, held blm at unm' length, looked
ns If she never could see enough of him; then
j sh- gnve him a motherly hug and exclaimed:
I "I should think she'd have fell dead In love
with you the ml unto she clapped her eyes en
l you with nil tho-se things en."
Phil rctlrsd hastily, and when he removed
I bis dress coat he savagely shook bis fist at It
CHAPTEft XVI.
I MOr.C NKW3 THAT VTAS NOT F.N0C01I.
ITTLH by little the
excitement ever
Phil's return nbat
csl, belug merged
In curiosity ns te
why bis father was
remaining In tbe
city. Lecal curi
osity wns somewl int
discouraged, tee,
uy a low sharp re ro re
terts te persons
who were Imiiertl
ncntly Inquisitive
nbeut the New
Yerk developments
et Phil's acquaint
ance with Lucia.
Tiiere was no lack
of stories, however,
regarding the cou ceu ceu
peo; in nny liart of
the civilized world, no matter bow stolid the
Inhabitants, thcre is imagination enough te
replace the nbscut links in n desired chain of
facts.
All that Haynten nnd Its vicinity really
knew nbeut the supposed Hnyn-Trumlay affair
was that the Tramlays had been nt Hayn
farm, that they had n daughter named Lucia
whose nge did uet differ much from Phil's,
that l'bll had been In New Yerk for mero
than n fortnight, that he had geno direct
from Sel Mantring's sleep te Tramlay's office,
that be had lieen seen In New Yerk In store
clothes, nud Hint he nilinltted having seen
Lucia ence or twice. Out of H1030 few facts,
which would have been nselee te even a do de do
tcctive were be unable te treat them ns mere
elews te be followed carefully, the enterpris
ing ieople of Haynten constructed a number
of stories, each of which hung together odinir edinir
ably. That they differed radically from ene
uiiether was net the fault of the local ro
mancers; they had honestly dene their best
with the material nt band.
1'hll did uet regard the matter in Hits light
When day by day ills llttle brothers returned
from school with tales they had be., d from
clay mates nnd wondered greatly that they
had net first beard them at home, Phil's tem
per breke loeso te suddeuly that the boys al
most feared te rc)ieat nil they had beard.
The wrathful young man learned that he had
proposed te Lucia and been refused, that be
bad hueii uccvpted, npjiarently nt the tame
lutervlew, that Tramlay was te build a baud
Mine bouseon the water front of Hayn Karm
for bis daughter as a wedding present, that
1'hll took his refusal se seriously te heart
Hint hn wns going te st-vly for the ministry,
and that while In New Yerk he had fallen
into drinking habits se deeply that Tramlay
had been ebiiged te write Parmer Hayn te
hurry te the city and remove his uutortuuule
son from the scene of temptation.
Phil grumbled and stormed; lie even vowed
ttvit. If i-nssin nlmuthim did linteml he wnnlil
B0 te sea. He thought seriously of publishing
I u ut of denials iu tlie weekly paiier, edited
in the county town, which devoted a column
or two te Haynten news. Then he wondered
whether he might net makoacenfldautof the
mbiUtcr and Ug that n sermon be preached
en the slufuliicA of gossip; but this plan dls dls dls
npponred nbruptly when tlie statement of bis
approaching marriage was traced, almost
with certainty, te the minister himself.
Hut the worst trial of all remained. On
Sunday he met nt church nnd In the young
people's llible class nil the girls who lived at
or near Haynten. Some of them lioleugod te
churches ether than that which included the
Hayn family among IU members, but for ence
they waived denominational preferences and
went te the First church, nnd net only te see
Phil's new clothes nnd enne, of which Sel
Mantrlng had brought such usteuishbig re-lirt-c
They were ns geed and sweet hearted, these
Haynten girls, as uny et their sex en the face
of tbe earth. Fushiens ii tritle old and lack
of professional advice as te hew best te en
hance their natural charms by borrowing
from nrt could net di-giiise the fact that
some of them were qulte pretty. It was net
their fault that Phil's heart had geue else
where for a mate, hut that tbe young man
himself was greatly te blame for such a
ceurse was the general opinion nmeng them,
nnd they would have nt least the consolation
of seeing hew lie had been nffocted by a step
se unusual nmeng Haynten youth. And
what questions these girls' eyes did askl
There was no need that they should put any
of them Inte words; Phil understood them
all, with the result that never before en Sun
day had lie heard se little of sermon, hymn
or prayer, or betrayed se feeble n grasp of
the topic of the day In the Hible class.
Se seriously was his mind disturbed that be
held himself sharply te account, "examined
bisevIdcuccVin tbe time honored and ortho
dox maimer, and resolved that lack of occu eccu occu
pitlen was at the liottem of his trouble. He
would liegin bright and early Monday morn
ing nu extension of tlie big ditch in the
marsh land; If the mud nnd stones nml roots
and quickhaiids, the tugging nnd straining
nnd icrplrmg, sure te lie incident te the
work would net cure him. he grimly told
himself, then hi case was hopeless Indeed.
Bravely be kept his word At sunrise he
was already en his way te the marsh, and by
tbe middle of the morning a single sensation
encompassed liu entile n.md. it was that
ditching was the b-.nl '. dntiM, forleruest
work that ovei Ml te u runner's let He
dragged one lu-avily lH"icd font after the
ether from the iue, l.imil en tits spade nnd
offered himself Ilvo iuiiiii:-' rest
He looked wearily along the prolongation
of the line of tticiiitcti uu-endy completed,
ami wondered hew nmnv hundred days tbe
entire improvement w 'ild require. IJefore
he decided Ins ealculali ti v.vre disturbed by
the sound of the fa ml) dinner belL He
looked at the sun, which was lu only time
piece while at work, and wondered what
could have U fallen the hitherto faithful
family clock. Again the Ml sounded, and
when be looked in the direction of tbe beuse
he saw, en tbe brew nf the hill behind the
orchard, his mother waving her apron te
bim. Something wt-st'-e matter wbut could
it bel a tramp'--n -" i jt lightning red
man! HelHiriu-.lt. iu i ir lieui?. uud soeu
taw that his mother wa waving also some
thing that looked Uku a handkerchief and
mmJd
WW
Sp1
men use a piece et paper. A uttis nearer
and be beard his mother tbeutlngt
"Father's writ WeVegetalettern
Phil ran nearly nil the way up the hill; be
bad net performed that difficult feat since he
nnd another boy bad raced op, In coasting
time, In wild ttrlfe as te which should capture
a popular girl nnd Uke her down en bis Med.
A letter from bis father was Indeed an unu
sual event, for the old man bad net been
away from borne before, except when en jury
dutr In the ceuntv town. In manr Tears, vet
from the old lady's manner It seemed tbe let-
tcr must contain something unusual. As he
reached the bill top bU mother placed the ,
sheet In bis band, saying! I
"I thought mebbe you'd better sea It at
ence.'' I
Phil took tt and read aloud, as follews: I
"Dcaji Old OmtyYoer husband is about
as usual, though the well water in this town I
ain't fit for decent cattle te drink. Pve seen
some of the tights, and wished mera than
once that I had you along; If things turn out
as they leek, though, I'll bring you down' in
style yet Pve run against the folks that
looked at our south ridge with a view te
making a cottage village, and, as luck would
bave It, they knew Mr. Tramlay, who's rolled
up bis sleeves and done bis best te help clinch
things and make a geed thing out of It ferme.
I need Phil; Mr. Tramlay wants him tee; and
1 wish you'd tell him te pack bis bag and get
back here as seen as he can. The boys can
take care of tbe animals, and .there's nothing
else en the farm but can wait till I get back.
"The Lord be with you all, se no mero at
present, from your loving husband,
"HKunKX."
"P. S. That gal ain't no mere engaged
than I am."
Phil took off his hat, rubbed his eyes, look
ed away in the direction of the ditch exten
sion, and made a face at the faithful old
spade,
"I s'pose you'd better lx thlnkln' about got get
tln' off nt once," said his mother.
"Father's will is law," said Fhil, In the
calmest tone be could command. "De you
think the boys and Carle can help you take
care of the place for a few days!"
"Te be sure," said bis mother, "an a pow
erful tight e' clays besides, if it's geln' te save
your father from drudgin' away tbe rest et
Lis days. An' I ain't nbove say In' that I'd
stand a geed deal of loneliness it I thought
'tweuld end In my steppln' trettln' around in
a pint pet day in an' day out An' you,"
said the old lady, looking ether son, "I want
te see the tune ceme when 1 can take them
old beets out te a brush heap an' burn 'em
out e' tight an' knowledge. Hut what does
your father mean about that gal net bein'
engaged I Is It that Tramlay gal 1"
"I suppese se," said Pbll, carelessly, though
bis manner was the result of prodigious ef
fort "Wheu he found ine he asked me nbeut
her, nleng w-Ith tlie ether folks, and 1 told
mm, jusi ns in nearu, inai sua was cngegea
te be married. Father must have been ask
ing seme pointed questions alieut her. It
does bent everything the interest that old
men sometimes take In young women who
aren't kith nor kin te them, doesn't it! I i
guess It's about as well that I'm going back,
If only te keep the old gentleman's country
curiosity within proper bounds. Deu't you
think sol" '
"She ain't engaged," said Mrs. nayn, Ig- '
nerlng her son's explanation and his attempt
at joking. "She ain't engaged," the old lady '
repented; se you"
Tbe sentence was net completed, but Phil's
face flushed and he looked down at hU muddy
beets. Fer the first time sluce bis return be I
bad heard nn allusion te Lucia that did uet
make him uncomfortable. .
Within two hours Haynten wns shaken
from center the railway station te clrcum- i
ference by the announcement that Phil
Hayn, in bis stere clothes, bad bought a '
tlcket for New Yerk and was already well j
en his lournev. Meanw Idle, at Ilavn Farm. '
un old woman as deeply Interested as any
ene in tlie business and ether possibilities
that bad been foreshadowed was doing all in
her power te further thorn; the was spending
the afternoon ou ber knees at her bedside.
CnAPTEH XVIL
r A TII Ell AND SON.
OUTH has seme ad
vantages peculiarly
Its own In the gen
eral battle for fame
and fortune and In
capacity for enjoy
ment, but for ills ills
ceverbig all that
may be pleasing In
whatever Is nearest
at hand it Is left far
behlud by age. Tli3
school girl does net
care for dainty flavors unless they have candy
for a basis; her mother, with a palate which
has lieen In training for half a century, will
get truer enjoyment out of a neighbor's leaf
of home made cake than the girl can find in
a shop full of boubens. A boy will ram Lie
rhreugn an orchard lu search of the tree
which Is fullest nnd has the largest fruit; bis
father, in late autumn, w 111 find higher llarer,
and mcre of it, in the late windfalls which
his stick discovers among the dead I saves.
Fanner Ilavn wns old nnd wenrr- h "-is
aloue iu hU rambles about the metropolis,
and bu kept close guard en bis pocketbook;
but no country youth who ever hurried te
the city te squander his patrimony could
have bad se geed a time. He saw everything
that the local guide books called nttentien te,
"'d much els.
iromtei whom
and se much else which was interesting that
he had occasion te see for a
few minutes each day, said ene morning at
the breakfast table:
"I wish, my dear, that I could steal a week
or two from business, se that you nud I could
ke nbeut New Yerk, personally conducted
by that old farmer."
"F-dgarl" exclaimed Mrs. Tramlay, "I
sometimes fear that old nge Is taking sudden
jiossessien of you, you get such queer notions.
Tlie Idea of New Yerk people seeing their own
city witli a countryman for a guidal"
"There's nothing queer about facts, my
dear," replied Tramlay, "except that they
may lie right under our eyes for years with
out lieing seen. A few years nge you and I
eieut nearly a thousand dollars In visiting
seme Eureiean tutttleflelds. Today that old
fellow has carefully done the ItevoluUenary
battlefields of New Yerk and Brooklyn, at a
total expense of n quarter of n dollar; even
then he bad a penny left te glve te a beg
gar." "I never beard of a battlefield In New Yerk
or Brooklyn," said Mrs. Tramlay.
"Ner I," ber husband replied; "at least net
lu se long a tlme that I'd forgotten the local
ities. But that old fellow knows all about
them, when 1 drew Idm out a little he made
me plans of each, with pencil en the back of an
envelope, nnd explained bow we lest Leng
Island nud New Verk, as well as nearly two
thousand men, when men were far scarcer
than they are new. Here" the merchant
drew a mass of letters from his pocket and
extracted from tbemascrnpef paper "here's
the way It hapiencd, let me explaln"
"I'm net Interested In these stupid old
times," said Mrs. Trnmlay, with a depreca
tory wave of her hand. "I've beard that iu
these dnys there wasn't a bouse above Wall
street, no park te drive In, and parties began
Iwfere sunset"
"Ahl te be sure," said Tramlay, with a
sigh. "But old Hayn has seen inedeni New
Yerk tee; I was intensely interested In his
description of the work being clone In some of
the industrial schools, where hundreds of lit
tle street Aralis are coaxed iu by a premise
et full stomachs, and taught te be geed for
something; the lieys learn hew te use tools,
nnd the girls are taught every branch of
housekeeping. "
"I really don't see," said Mrs. Tramlay, as
she nibbled a roll, "what there Is te interest
us iu the doings of such people."
"They're the (iceple," said her husband,
raising bU voice n little, " who generally
supply us with patqiers aud criminals, Uiey
lieing untaught at home, and consequeutly
having te lieg or steal for a living. It is be
cause of such people that we have iron bars
en our dining room windows and area deer,
and biro a detective whenever we gire a
party, and put a chain en our deer mat and
pay taxes te build jails and asylums and"
"Ob, Edgar," said Mrs. Tramlay, plaint
ively, "our mbilster told us all this in a ser
mon nearly a year age. I'm sure I listened
patiently te it then; 1 don't thbik it's very
kind of you te go all ever it again."
"Ne, I suppese net," sighed the merchant,
hastily kissing his family geed-by and start
ing for his office. Iu a moment be returned,
and said:
"Just a word with you, my dear. It's
nothing about farmers, or battles, or Indus
trial Say," be wbiered, as bis wife
joined him iu tbe hall, "deu't you think I'd
better have the doctor drop in te see Lucia I
I'm afraid sbe's going te be tick, She's, locked
puottyter nays, ana aeMbT teest te hats
any spirit''
"I'm sure she's lively roeagh when she's out
of temper," said Mrs. Tramlay, "which she
Is nearly all the while, She's snapped at tbe
children until they hate the sight of her, and
I cant rpcak te her without being greeted by
flood et tears. Margts seems the only en
who can de anything with her,"
"Umphl" muttered tee merchant, taking
much tlme te arrange bU bat before the mir
ror of the bat rack.
Meanwhile tbe old farmer and bis son were
having a long chat in a hotel bedroom.
"Se you see hew the land lies," Said tbe
old man. "Though I never held that part of
the farm at ever two hundred an acre, the
tell bein' thinner than tbe lower lyin' land,
an' requlrln' a geed deal mera manure te
make decent crops, Tramlay says It'll fetch a
clean two thousand an acre when It's cut up,
It the set .-me takes bold ns It's likely te.
That's why be advised me te retain an in
tercst, Instead of seUin' out an' out I'm te
get five thousand In cash for tbe forty acres,
an' have a quarter interest in all sales; that
means twenty thousand In the end, if things
turn out as Tramlay thinks."
"My!" ejaculated Phil, bis eyes opening
very wide, and going Inte a brown study.
The old man contemplated Idm for soma
time with a smlle of supreme satisfaction.
Finally be.saldt i
"Makes you feel a little bit as It you was a
rich man's son, don't It, old boy P
"Indeed It does," Phil replied. "Dutldent
see hew I can help you about it" i
"Don't, ehl Well, PU tell you," said tha
old man, eyeing hU son closely. "That forty
acres Is about quarter of tbe farm land In
value, I calculate, counting out the house an'
ether buildlu's. If I was makin' my will an'
dividln' things up among the family, I'd
leave just about that much land te you, with
an interest In the beuse, stock, etcetery,
when tbe Lord tecs fit te call your mother.
Se" here the old man Intensified bis gaze
"I've arranged te give my quarter Interest
in tbe enterprise te you, as your Inheritance;
that'll make you a director In tbe cemp'ny,
with as much' say as anybody else, "It'll
keep you In Yerk a geed deal, though."
"Fatberl" exclaimed Phil
"An'," continued tbe old man, dropping bis
eyes as seen as hi son looked at bun, and
putting en the countenance In which ba
usually dlscussed the ordinary affairs of the
farm, "as it may need seme meney for you te
keep up proper style with the people whom
you'll have te deal with, I propose te put tha
ilve thousand In bank here te our joint ac
count, se you can draw whenever you need
cash."
The old man liegan te pare flne shavings
from the teeth pick which he bad cherished
ever sluce he left the dining room, but Phil
enmnnllml n i.ntwnfttnn nf ftulliutrtr for mil.
,ncut j.y going ever te his father's chair and
pressing the grn
gray bead te bis breast
'Tbe ether principal stockholders," said
the old man, ns seen as he was able te resume;
bis whittling, "are Tramlay an' a man named
Marge."
"Margel" Phil echoed.
"Yeu secm te knew hlin," said the farmer,
loektug up from under bis eyebrows.
"Itheuld think se." said Phil, frowning
and twitching bis lip3 a great deal. "Ue's
tbe man"
"Well!" asked tbe old man, for Pbll had
net finished bis sentence. Tbere was no re
ply, se he continued!
"The man you thought bad caught the gal P'
Phil nodded nffirmathely.
"New you see w hat c nes of geln' off at
half cock," tald the fan. or. "Lest your ax
jienses two ways, te say iiethln' of peace e'
mind."
"1 beard ene man telling another it," seldj
Phil, qulte humbly; "se what was 1 t
think I"
"If you liclleve ev'rythin' you bear about
men nn' women, my boy, you'll be off, your
ceurse all your life long.
'InUe a geed grip
, en that"
Again Phil went Inte a brown study, from
which be emerged suddenly te say:
I "It's just w bat you did when you supposed
you learned she wasn't engaged, isn't it! Yeu
believed it and w rote tt nt ence te me."
j "Oh, no I" tald tbn old man, with an airjef
superiority, as lie put a very sharp polnt'en
what remained of tlie toothpick. "Net
much. I've Icarned nlwnys te go te brad
'quarters for Information."
I "Why, father," Phil exclaimed, excitedly,
"you cieii't mean te say, nfter what you
premised me, thrj; you went nnd and"
' "Poked my nese Inte ether peeple's busi
ness! Net 1. Mr. Tramlay took me home
te dinner say, what an outlandish way these
city folks have get of net cat In' dinner till
nigh onto bedtimel an' nftcr tbe mel, 'long
about the edge e' the cvenln', when Tramlay
bad geno for seme papers te show me, nn' the
old lady was out of tbe room for semethln', I
took 'casien te congratulate the gal en her
engagement; that's the proper thing In such
cases made an' purvldcd, you knew. Sba
looked kind e' flabbergasted, an' at Inst tlie
said 'twos the fust she'd hecrd of it I tried
j te git out of it by sayln' If It wa'n't true it
e i 10 ue, ii yeuu men in l ersr uau eyes in
their beads. Hut It didn't seem te work. She
asked hew I heerd of it, mi' 1 had te say that
somebody in Hie city liad told my son about
it"
' . i'lill frowned.
: "Then," continued tbe old mau, "she bust
out crylu'."
I ' "Oh, dear!" sighed Phil.
I "Well," said the old mau, "I see semethlu'
had te be done, se I put my arms around
, ber"
"Why, father!" said Phil, In alarm.
, "I put my arms around ber, nn' said that
when a gal wns cry In' she ort te havener
parents te comfort ber, an', as neither of
'em was present, I bejied she'd make b'lkive
for a niluute or two that I was her grand
father. Se the took my advice; an' it teemed
te de her a sight e' geed."
"What advice did you glve her!" asked
Phil.
"None In words," said tks old man.
"Walt till yeu're my age; then you'll under
stand." i "I don't see," said .Pbll, after a moment or
two of stlenca, "that things nre much better
1 than they were. Perhaps she's net engaged;
but that fellow Marge is hanging about ber
all the time. Frem what I've beard poeplj
remark, he's been jeying attention te ber for
a year or two. When the family were nt our
house last summer be was the only man she
I talked alieut I'm pretty sure, tee, from
; what Pve seeu, that her mother favors blm.
Se, putting everything together, and think
ing about it a geed deal, as I've had te de In
( spite of myself tinea I've been up home, I've
. made up my mind that it's a foregone con
clusion." "Se you're geln' te flop like a stuck pig au'
let it go en, are yeul Just liecause you've)
thought semethln' you're geln' te de nethln'.
If I'd thought that of you I deu't b'lieve I'd
have brought you dewii here te be a bushiest
man In the city. A fullew that hain't get
the grit te fight for n gal that be want U
likely te make a mighty KKr fist of it figbtin'
for a fortune Ne, sir; you're net geln' te
knuckle under w bile yeu've get a father te
egg you en. 1 don't say the's in ev'r'y way
the gal I'd have picked out for you, but any
gal that'll live up te tbe best that's Iu ber Is
geed enough for nny man alive. It you cara
as much for her as you thought you did
wbeu I met you In tbe street that day, that
gal Is the one for you te tie te, unless the
breaks the rope, A man sometimes gets a
bad lickin' Iu a love light, an' a ewerful big
tear besides, but both together don't de lilm
as much barm as luckin' out uu' playtn'
coward."
"I'm net a coward, father," protested Phil,
and hU eyes Hashed as If be meant it.
"Yeu don't meau te be, my boy," said ths
old man, with a (iat ou bis ten's shoulder,
, "but ev'rythin' in this affair Is new te y
an' yeu're In the dark ubeut some things, that
! mebbe leek bigger tbau they nre. Tfcijfl sort
j of thing'll make cowards out of the best of
! men, if they give lu te it; that's the reason
1 Pin crackln' the whip sd you."
I "I wonder what Mr. Tramlay wants of
me," said Pbll, a moment later.
"Becken you'd lietter go down und End
out," tbe old mau replied.
f"i micif iicj-fl Aiit 'ay,
XTOTICK TO Tltisl.VSSKitSANll. (,UN
.L NKltS. All persons are hereby forbidden
te tresmiss en uuviiftlielaiula of the l-emuuii
I .nd speedwell estates In I.ctianen or Lancaster
Hinuc, wneiner incioseu or unineiesecl, either
ferthepurpci-e of sheeting or tubing, at tbe
law will be rlcldly enforced against all tret-
fnssin: en said lauds of tbe unilerslgned arte
his notice.
WM. COLEMAN PIIEEMAN
11. 1'KKCYALliKN.
EDW.U.KHEK.MAN,
ltr!-nv for H. W Cnlen.m,'. n(rH
COLI.AHS AND CUFFS w TUB I, VTFST
tlieinetclei.lnible,Hti4 me-t comfortable
shapes and styles any size, ut KltlsM Os"k
Genu' Furnishing Sieri, a 'm KinJr iiwt.
HMW"-.f'-