People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1896 — IN THE HEART OF THE HILLS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IN THE HEART OF THE HILLS.

By SHERWIN CODY.

:, COPVC!CKI.IB%. BV THE atmtoft.

CHAPTER L AT.'Ey HOWS LBAVBS HOWE. Alexander Howe, Sr., had come to New York from the country 26 years before. He brought with him' later a faithful wife and two little boys, of whom the younger was named for his father and familiarly called Aleo. Mr. Howe had prospered and was now a successful and well to do merchant. After ten years bis wife had died, and he had taken another, a lady of some social pretensions, through whom in time he hoped to gain admission to the upper circles. By her he had another son, who was in a fair way to be spoiled by the doting attentions that were lavished upon him. Aleo had been sent to college, and cow for a whole year be had been a bachelor of arts, wondering what in the world he should do with the incumbrance. His father had offered him a placQ in his business, with an ultimate partnership, but the confinement of the office did not agree with him. Besides, be did not altogether like his stepmother. She was a good woman in her way, but ahe said his manners were vulgar; she tried to impose upon him habits which were uncomfortable, and, worst cf all, she did not give him the affeotion he longed for. For love’s sake he would have done anything she desired of him, but she did net love him, and her only refuge was the authority of her superior position. She used it as gently ea she conld, for she meant to be kind and considerate, but the friction became greater and greater until Aleo felt he could no longer bear the sheer discomfort of his position. The elder brotherhad not gone to colge, but had entered business early id now was a partner in his father’s tablishment, with a wife and family his own. Mr. Howe was proud of in and wished Alec to follow in his loteteps. But Mrs. Howe was a stand;g subject for disagreement. Mr. Howe ked her well enough, though he bad >t the passionate love for her he had lerished for his first •wife, but he was übitious to establish his family in the pper ranks of society, and she was the ae mean 3 o Awing it. Through her lay is ambition, and ebe, who had bean aor, shared b ; s ambition with him. At rat the plau had been to make Aleo ie social representative of the family, is proud and shining star, and for that » arpose he nad been given a good education. But he was disappointing expectations, and not unnaturally Mrs. Howe was thinking more and more of the prospects of her own child. But Mr. Howe sti 11 clung to Alec. “Father,” said Alec one evening, when they had come home from business, “I’m going to study law. I’m tired of business. I lead a dog’s life, and I'm tired of it. I’ve stood it as long as I can. ”

Mr Howe was silent. “I can have chambers with Forbes— ! my class in college, yon know. Things will go better at home when I’m away, I I fancy. ” Still there was silence where Mr. * flowe sat, and Alec ventured to look at him. He saw a dark cloud on his fa- j ther’s face and began to tremble. But i he took cour ige, and with sudden deter- j inination and impetuosity sprang to hia feet, and turning his back cried: j “I’ve made up my mind. I’m of age and mean to do as I like. ’ ’ Mr. Howe rose also and began walking about the room. At last be spoke: ‘‘ If you leave the business and your home, you need not expect that I shall foot yonr bills. ” The old gentleman walked uneasily up and down. He was not hard hearted or obstinate, but he didn’t know what todo, and Alec’s manner was highly disrespeotful. Mrs. Howe entered. After staring at the two for a moment she exclaimed : “What in the world has Aleo been doing now?” “I Bball not trouble you much longer. I have decided to go away, ” said Alec, turning. “Go away? Where will you go? Do you Intend to lead an idle life at your fa|iber’s expense?” “I had intended to study law,” said Aleo calmly. “1 should think your father had spent enough money on your education already,” sneered Mrs. Hbwe, taking a sea* on the comer of a sofa. “Do you approve of this move, Alexander?” she inquired of her husband. “If he leaves my business and my bouse, I've told him that be must look out for himself hereafter.” The old man’s voice wavered, and be would have been glad of the slightest excuse to recall his words, but in a moment Aleo had made that impossible. “Very well,” he cried, turning to face both his parents. “I will leave this boose, and it shall be on Monday morning. I bate it. My life has been perfect misery here, and I’ll stand it no more. Ever since I oame borne from college she has nagged me and nagged me till l*ve acme to hate this whole institution. X shall not put either of you under the painful necessity of turning me out I'll go myself, and ask no favors at consideration of anybody.” With that be turned on his heel and left the room. Then his father and stepmother looked at each other. She disliked the boy, and exulted at the idea of being rid of him. Bnt she sneered: “Let him go. A little of that sort of

thing will do him good and may bring him to his senses. ’’ So Mr. Howe suppressed his paternal yearning, and Alec’s fate was decided. He would never eat his own words, nor would he come baok begging and cringing. He would make his living or die straggling. Physically he was slight and thin and pale, but be had a mighty determination and a vein of buoyant hope that usually carried him through difficulties. Once in his own room be began to reflect on bis position. Without money, the law must evidently be given up. He bad something less than $lO in his pocket. From that be must make his fortune. But bow? Where? His determination had been token suddenly, and he had no plans. The following week be was to have taken his summer vacation among the New Hampshire hills. He loved them perhaps better than any other place he knew, and had gone to one or another part of them for four successive summers. At first he thought that his vacation must be postponed. But then he thought, Why not go and work in the hayfield for the summer and take time to think matters over? He remembered what fun it had been to follow tbe bay cart around, now and then pitching on a forkful of bey, or dragging the big rake for the scatterings to help on tbe men a little, Of course till now it had always been in fun, but why Dot do it for money, getting a delightful 'summer in the country and earning something besides?

There arose doubts about the summer being so delightful under such laborious | conditions, but tbe more he thought of it tbe more the idea fascine tod him, and he immediately set to work to collect a tramping outfit. A rough, strong soft of clothes was selected, one which he bad formerly bought in the country, and he found an aid felt hat that had come from the country too. He had a knapsack, which he had used for tramping in times past, and this be filled with j such necessaries as he had heard that j genuine tramps carried, such as a tin i dipper, a tin plate, a fork, a big pooketkDife besides the smaller penknife he always carried, a teaspoon, some pepper and salt and a few other things. With the little money he had he would purchase a ticket to the Rushes, and then be would have a little over $2 left to provide for living necessities till he oooid find work, which he thought would not be a difficult matter, as it was just about timefor baying to begin, and be knew that extra hands were always in demand for haying. It was Saturday night when all these things happened, and Sunday was spent quietly in making preparations. He came to his meals either before or after his father and mother ate theirs, and bo they did not see him once all day. They i did not believe he would go on Mon- ! day, as be had said he would, and hotyr- : ly looked to see his penitent face. They knew he was dogged in his determina- ; tion, but this was so extraordinary a j proceeding that they could not believe 1 it. Mrs. Howe feared that he would change his mind, and, as was his habit, ; Mr. Howe put the matter out of his i thoughts to await developmenta But ‘ be had been much disturbed by the scene of Saturday evening.

Monday morning Aleo breakfasted with his parents, and when the meal was finished bade them a cheerful goodby, saying that as he intended to take his vacation in New Hampshire he had decided to try his fortune in those parts first He was filled with excitement and a strange, feverish expectation. His manner was somewhat mysterious, and not in the least confidential. Mrs. Howe treated him with great coldness, and his father remained neutral. Aleo Shook bands with each of his parents and hastily took his leave. There was no such word as “Write to us,” “If you get out of money, send to me,” or “I hope yon won’t regret this step.” Silence, only silence! Perhaps it was because Aleo was known to be quite able to take care of himself. Certainly neither Mr. nor Mrs. Howe had any fear that be would come to starvation, though perhaps they might have had bad either known how very small a sum of money the lad was starting out on. But Aleo thought to himself that he was glad be had no more, for now he must work his way or starve, since be would have no money to come back on. He was burning the bridges behind him, and was happy in the thought. It added piquancy to the adventure, and his courage and determination laughed at the danger. , CHAPTER IL HB FINDS HABTHA, JOHN, LITTLE JOHN AND GRANDPA. Alec arrived at the Bushes not long after noon, thoroughly tired out with the hard ride on the case. He had brought some biscuit and cold meat, an which he lunched, and be still had a few pieces remaining in hlB bag, which be thought he would eat at the first convenient point after leaving the train. There was a great crowd at the railway station, and they stared at him curiously. It was a strange sight to see a young man with white, delicate hands j and pale face dressed as a tramp, with |an old slonoh hat on bis head. So Aleo hurried off along the road that seemed I to lead northward, for he had determined to direct his coarse toward the

Wbft* mountefaa. Tbe rough board cases and cottages and tbe general paraphernalia of a camping ground seemed a blemish on tbe beauty of the surrounding forests and of the broad, smooth lake stretching away between the hills and islands as far ae tbe eye conld reach. But be soon left them behind, and though the road was hot and dusty it was a great relief from the jolting of tbe oars and tbe obnoxious crowd. Aleo was fond of walking, and he swung along in an easy stride, perhaps trying to get away from the oppressing sense of loneliness which he felt ooming over him. He felt much like a man who has put out to sea in a rowboat. He had left the world behind, and had only a $8 bill between him and starvation. To be sure he might send to his father, but he thought between bis teeth that he would indeed starve before he would do that He thought of getting work on a farm, bnt he vaguely realised his own incompetence and physical weakness. He was an athlete in college, but athletic strength does not seem to help a farmer much. Still if It were work or starve, no doubt he would manage in-some way to work. When he had walked about five miles along a road now shut in by tall-pines and elms and chestnuts, now open to the pouring beat of the sun, and with only occasional refreshing glimpses of the lako whose western border be was skirting, Aleo suddenly oame with delight upon a cool looking little spring beside the road, that came out In a small odd poo* at the foot of a big pine tree, and then fell about 18 inches in a miniature oaaoade over a projecting stone, and ran off down tbesfde of tbe road to a little brook beyond. Ho threw himself on tbe soft, thick bed of pine needles, thoroughly tired oat, and held bis cup under the oosoade tin It was filled with water, which be drank at a single draft It was cool and sweet and so refreshing. After wafting afew minutes to rest ne took out his remaining biscuit and cold meat and ate them, and winding his blanket about him lay down for a nap on the pine needles. Pretty soon a robin oame down and stood by the spring as if it were contemplating the possibility of taking a drink. It stood solemnly upright -for a few moments, as if listening profoundly for any possible danger, and seemed to eye Aleo with a questioning look. Then he took a quick little sip of the water just where it fell over the edge of (he stone, and suddenly hopped quite into the pool and splasned himself all over with the water, shaking bis feathers and flattering his wings, and roUad around in the little earthy basin till it was all muddy. Then the bird hopped out and shook himself and stood for some time pluming his feathers. A striped squirrel oame out on a branch direotly above his head, and, sitting upright on its swaying seat so that Aleo could barely see its breast and fore feet and nose, it began to crack a nr.j and drop down pieces of the shell It was a butternut from last year, and was rather a tough nut to crack apparently, and finally the squirrel lost its grip and the nut oame tumbling down almost on to Aleo's face.

He did not know bow tired hewas until he bad stopped thinking aborffc his difficulties and had lost himself in Che baby playings of the things in the woods. But now he discovered that his back ached, his feet were sore, and his brain too weary even to try to think any more. The sun was going down and hedifl not know where he would sleep that night or where he could get anything more to eat. He was hungry, for biscuit and cold meat are not altogether satisfying to one who has lived under so good a cook as Mr. Howe employed. Aleo hastily folded up his blanket and put it in his bag, and after taking a little drink of water from the spring set out hurriedly along the road. In the course at a mile he passed several houses, but they all seemed extremely desolate to his eyes. They were very low and without any eaves to speak of, all on the plain, square model, with a long shed reaching out behind to a bam that was usually bigger and more modem and indeed less desolate look-

tug. There was no attempt at grading about the bouse, nor any lawn. A dump cart uspally fftood next the back door, and against'the bam was piled aheap of useless old boards, which might once have aerved'for a pigpen. Sometimes there was a wooden pump a rod or two from the bouse in the middle of the yard, which was shut in on one side by the house and rambling shed behind it and on the back fay the bam. Once he saw a tin dipper hanging in a conspicuous place, and took the liberty of helping himself to a drink. As he did sea woman oame to the door and stared at him thveogh the fly soreen, and Aleo wondered grimly IX a dog would presently be let out upon him. Bnt when be looked again the face of the woman

seemed quite benevolent and rather curioos. Aleo was glad to get away, however. Be didn’t like tbe hardness of everything. Perhaps the next house would have a more comfortable appearance. But they were all alike. There wasn’t a sign of softness or oomfort anywhere. The people seemed not to have Imagined tbe ward. Even the bigger houses which had been fitted up for summer boarders and seemed to make certain pretensions to elegance had tbe same stiff, uncomfortable air, which settled down over the poor fellow like a vast discouragement But suddenly he oame on a farmhouse that seemed more inviting, or he was so tired now that he saw what he wanted to see. There was a wide yard, and back of it a big barn with wide open doors. On the left was the long, low house, and in tbe kitchen doorway stood a very fat, presumably benevolent looking woman, who seemed to be waiting supper for the men who were washing in the log trough before the pump or in washbasins on a low bench beside tbe kitchen door. There were three men, or rather two men and a boy. It was tbe boy who wag washing in the log trough. One of toe men was white haired and ranch bent Tbe other was perhaps 40 and bad a long, ragged, sandy beard. But he was very rugged and upright and talked as if he Were the head of tbe house. As Alec approached tbe woman in the doorway she stood silently staring at him, bnt five men went on washing, though they stared out of the corners of their eyes, and as they wiped the water off on the single long towel they held between them they all looked critically at tbe strange lad. Bnt none of them spoke. “I wanted to inquire,” Aleo said, “if I could perhaps get a night’s lodging—l mean some work here. I’ve come from New York, and I thought you might need some help, or I could be allowed Id stay here tonight—if I paid a little something for it. ” This Yankee bargaining did not come at all natural to him, but be added the sentence about pay when he saw no sign of interest or response on the faces of tbe four people —or rather the three, for the boy was behind him.

“Come from New York, have yon?” inquired the woman at last in a tone that was meant to be friendly. Alec made no answer, for none seemed to be demanded. But be quaked inwardly as he wondered what they were going to do. “Yon didn’t walk all the way?” inquired the man. “I came on the cars to the Rashes, and this afternoon I have walked from there, ’ ’ said Aleo quietly. “A good bit of a walk from the ' Rashes, ’ ’ remarked the old man. "Where be you going? Home?” The suggestion of going home seemed to Aleo a very good one, and he promptly responded: "Yes, I’m going home. I’ve got to go np across Vermont to Lake Champlain, and I expect to <7alk most of the way. ” "Well, yon are a plncky un, ” remarked the old man, turning away, while Aleo smiled In his sleeve at his own Simple mendacity. "Take the lad in, Martha, and give him a bite to eat,” the old man went on. "He looks pale, like all these eifcy lads.” "How long.yon been in the city?” he inquired, turning again to Aleo. Pretty nearly all my life,” was the answer. Martha stopped to ask more questions, and the man with the long beard asked some, finally inviting Alec to sit down on the benoh and get rested. He inquired bis name, and Aleo gave it. ”ts you want supper as well as a bed, it will be 10 cents extra,” said Martha, oamtng to the door. "I suppose you expect to pay a quarter for the bed. Ten cents is rather low for supper, but seeing you are going borne and have to walk all the way I thought I’d make it kind of reasonable. ” Alec grunted a weary assent, but his heart sank within him that none of them had said anything about the v ork he bad spokea of. They seemed not to have any interest in him after they had satisfied their onriosity, and when he sat down to the table with the others nobody addressed him except to nrge him to “have some more” of the hash or the stewed prunes or the rhubarb pie or the corn bread. They said that if he didn’t eat more he would die of starvation before he got borne and piled food on his plate until he sickened at the sight.

"You aren’t sick, are yon?" said Martha. “You don't seem to have any appetite at all. I never saw the like in a boy of your size. But you do look awfully pale." "Perhaps, mother, you’d better fix up some ginger tea for him,' ’ suggested the 6andy bearded man, whom they called John. But Alec protested so vigorously that Martha reluctantly gave np the idea and soon after tea showed Alec to his room, saying he had better go to bed and get rested, and maybe that would do him good, but these city boys were always white looking. The room was in the attic and only about six test high, though tolerably wide and long. The door was perfectly bare and had been painted once, though the paint was now nearly worn off. There Was one window in the room, with small panes of glass, and the lower sash was held np by a button. The bedstead, whioh stood in the middle of the room, was old fashioned, with four round posts that stood straight up at each corner, bnt with no pieces across at head or foot. The side pieoes were round and did not support the slats, whioh were laid on wires strung on each side from head to foot. There was a big, stuffy, straw filled mattress, which lay so high Alec wondered how in the world be could climb on to it. Over all was an old fashioned patchwork quilt. In the room there were an old fashioned painted wooden chair and a little washstand, with a round hole in the top for a bowl, but no bowl. The only adornment the room oould be said to have was the bright paper, which show-

«d dimly in the candlelight the infinite repetition of a picture of a lad and a maid by a rustic bridge, with a castle in the distance. Tbs room seemed a cold, desolate place, though in the daytime at this season it must be hot and stuffy. But Aleo was so tired and so anxious to be alone after his company at tea that he hastily assured his hostess that everything was exceedingly comfortable. Everything was certainly dean and as neat as wax. With some reluctance Martha backed out, leaving the candle on a corner of the washstand, and Alec crawled into bed as soon as he could undress. CHAPTER 111 HB GETS A CHANCE TO BAKU HIS BOARD HOEING POTATOES. Alec was awakened next morning by a loud knock on his door and the announcement in the voice of Martha that if he wanted some breakfast he would have to come down right away. He hurriedly dressed and went down stairs, where be followed the example of little John (as he discovered the young man was called) and washed in the horse trough. He wondered if the man with the sandy beard (he didn’t dare to call him John even in his own thoughts) would invite him to go to work at good wages. In about terminates Martha announced that all was ready, and John invited the young man to “move up,” which be did. They did not have much to Bay to him, but they paid him a certain silent respect which flattered hie vanity a little, and they watched his plate most closely to see that he had enough to eat and seemed greatly troubled that he didn't eat more—at feast Martha was. Instead of oatmeal or eggs there were fried baoon, potatoes with their skins on, rye rolls and green apple sauce. Little John, speaking for the first time to Alec, explained that they had one particularly early variety of apple tree somewhere in the hollow back of the honse which bore these apples. Aleo was also offered another pieoe of the rhubarb pie he had for supper the night before and which be liked very much.

After breakfast the men went directly to the bam without a word to him about wqrk or on any other subject except a remark that it was a fine morning. Aleo stood aronnd the dining room awkwardly for a time as Martha cleared off the table, hoping that something would be said, for he had distinctly spoken of work the night before and felt that they could not have misunderstood his desires. But Martha only said:’ "You’ll find this a right smart morning for your walk. If I was in yonr place, I’d get started early and then rest in the shade somewhere along about noon. It’s awfully tiring to walk in the hot sun, I think. ” "But I didn't know but Mr. er —er might want somebody to work for him a little,” stammered Aleo at this speech, which seemed to him much like an invitation -to be going along. "Well, you see," explained Martha, “little John is about as good as a man now, and gran’pa is right smart in spite of his white hair. So John manages to get along without hiring very much help regular. If you had come along in a fortnight, now, when he had the upper field all cut and a shower was ooming np and he wanted to get the hay in, I presume he might give you half a day. But he ain’t going to out any hay till after the Fourth. Folks up here don’t begin to hay much before the Fourth.” Alec decided in his own mind as he patiently listened to this speech that he would better pay for his lodging and start on his way. So he offered Martha his, $2 bill, secretly hoping she would take out of it only 85 cents. That was all she had spoken of the night before, and he hoped breakfast might be thrown in. Martha took the bill, and explaining that she didn't know bnt she had the change in her rag carpet money, which she kept in her sitting room bureau drawer, left him alone for a few minutes. In about five minutes she returned. “I said last night I would let you have supper for 10 cents, seeing yon was a poor boy and having to walk all the way home, and I won’t charge you no more than that for breakfast, either, though by good rights I ought to have 25 cents for each meal and 25 cents for the bed, which will all have to be washed unless I put little John up there for one week instead of putting-clean sheets on his bed. "Ten cents for supper and 10 for breakfast and 25 for the bed makes 46 cents, and there is sl, and there is 60 oents, and I declare if I’ve got bnt 4 cents more to my name, so I guess I'll have to charge you a cent extra for making change,’’she said, with a laugh that was almost merry. Aleo thought Martha might have been induced to let him stay and work for his board for a time, if nothing more. But he did not venture to mention that. He took his $1.54, said goodby, put on his old slouch hat and went oo hie way. Aleo felt less lonely and less worried this morning and less repelled by the farmhouses. They did not seem so desolate now, and he no longer dreaded them. He did think with a pang that 46 cents of his $2 was already gone, and this realization made him resolve that he would inquire for work at every house he came to. Surely somebody would employ him at something. The road was smooth enongh, but on either side there were stretches and stretches of stones upon stones, in plaoes heaped up apparently as a wall, in others heaped, np for no purpose, but because of their abundance, and scattered all about, even over a grassy plot that seemed to be a hayfield. As he approached the next house, which seemed more substantial and larger, he saw a number of men in a field hoeing potatoes, and they seemed to be working very steadily. There was a great field on one side of them that seemed quite grown up to weeds, while on the other could be seen rows of potatoes they had hoed ont. Aleo had a mind to go over and speak to thefu, and

be stood In the road a few mtniit— looking at them, undecided. Bnt at feat ha went to the honse to inquire. A rather pretty but shy and auk wnd girl in a very short, faded oalioe dress answered his knock at the kitchen door. He was so astonished to see her that be stammered for a minute and nearly f»ked if he could have something to eat before he managed to say: “I saw some men down in the Debt there, and I wandered if they didn't want some one to help them a little. I’ve oome up from Hew York oity, and I have walked up from the Boshes, and I haven’t very much money and would like to earn a little if I could to help me get home ’’ She looked at him with a very blank expression that seemed to doubt his veracity even. But she said: “I think my father has all the help he wants. He hires vaj two-half brothers regularly, and he’s got Mr. Condon to help him hoe, and X don't think he needs anybody more. But you might go and ask him. Hers the old man with the smooth faoe With those men yon saw hoeing down there. Ton ask for Mr. Bennett, and they will any of them tell you who he is. He is the oldest, except Mr. Condon, who has a beard. ” Aleo thanked ber and went to find Mr. Bennett His heart qnafced a bit, but be didn't mind that and boldly made his wishes known. Milo Bennett was a very short man with a very- big, flat, flabby faoe, hot with rather good natured blue eyes. Be threw bimsetf back on bis boe the min ate be saw A fee ooming, evidently glad of an opportunity to rest, even so early in the morning. "Well, sir, what can I do for you?” be inquired briskly, bnt not disagreeably. “I wanted to see if you wanted anybody to help you a few days, “ answered A leo -promptly. "What oan you do?” the man inquired, with a light sneer, siring the slim, yonng figure up from top to toe. “Ycmr hands don’t look as if they had been right in hoeing up to the present tune. Where do you Oome from, anyway?” “From New York,” answered Aleo In some fright, looking at his white

hands and realizing his physical incapacity to do anything very heavy. But he thought be could noe. He immediately stated this belief. “You’ll blister those pretty hands of yours inside-of an hour,” sneered the man, but as before not unpleasantly. “I might try," suggested Aleo. “Well, maybe you can earn your board,” said Milo, turning to work again, for the others had stopped the moment he did. “I wouldn’t pay you a cent for what you would do the first day. Yon oan find a hoe inside the barn np there. ” Alec stood undecided for a moment, but no one was paying the slightest attention to him, so he walked silently baok to the house, and at last, with the help of the pretty girl, found the hoe. He rebelled at the idea of working merely for bis board, but the fear of having to draw again so heavily on his very small amount of cash decided him to work one day at least. If he only earned his board, they certainly would not expect him to work very hard. Mr. Bennett, or Milo, as they called him, even the boys, took some pains to show him how to manage his hoe, bow to pull the weeds out from among the potatoes without pulling np the potato vines, too, and then how to hill the dirt np and make it compact all aronnd. It was more of a trick than he had imagined, and be took some interest in learning how to do it neatly and quiobly. Bnt as his employer had prophesied, his hands were blistered inside of an hour, and be bad to wind bis handkerchief about the right one in order to keep it from beooming torturingly sore. Besides, hie back began to ache pretty soon, and before very long k ached so that it seemed as if he couldn’t keep at work. But he was determined not to give up for any sqph thing as that. Of course Aleo did not try to keep up with the others, whose hands were apparently as tough as iron and whose backs never ached, for they walked straight along, down one row, baok another, the four of them abreast and seeming to have a sort of pride in keeping eves, though now and then one would drop behind for some reason or other. When at last be heard a great bell ring op at the house, and looking up saw the pretty girl in the kitchen doorway ringing it, he knew it mast be dinner time. But be kept on working, not noticing that the four men had dropped their hoes as soudenly at the sound of the bell as if they had been automatons. Bnt Milo called out good natured ly: 4 4 Better come along to dinner now. I guess you’ve earned it. How are your hands?” The others said nothing, but lmghed together, and as they walked slowly up toward the house they glanced at Aleo ' every now and then in such a way that he feh uncomfortable. Only his pride made him affect an indifferenoethat became him very well. (TO BE CONTINUED.)

Thanksgiving day comeson the 26th.

So Alec h[?]rried off.

“ John manages to get along without hiring very very mush help.”