People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1896 — THE PEOPLE’S PILOT, RENSSELAER. IND., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26. 1896. IN THE HEART OF THE HILLS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE PEOPLE’S PILOT, RENSSELAER. IND., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26. 1896.

IN THE HEART OF THE HILLS.

By SHERWIN CODY

klkl

CHAPTER L ALEC HOW* LEAVES HOME. Alexander Howe, Sr., had come to New York from the country 20 years before. He brongbt with him later a ii|r^»* < Jw>y.B, of whom the younger father and familiarly called Aleo. Mr. Howe had prospered aDd was now a successful and well to do merchant. After ten years his 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 mm. Aleo had been sent to oollege, and now 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 place in his business, with an ultimate partnership, but the confinement of the office did not agree with him. Besides, he did not altogether like his stepmother. She was a good woman in her way, but she said bis manners were vulgar; she tried to impose upon him habits j which were uncomfortable, and, worst of 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 not love him, and her only refuge was the authority of her superior position. She used it as gently as she could, for she meant to be kind and considerate, but the friction became greater and greater until Alec felt he could no longer bear the sheer discomfort of his position.

The elder brother had not gone to college, but had entered business early and dow was a partner in his father’s establishment, with a wife and family of his own. Mr. Howe was proud of him and wished Aleo to follow in his footsteps. But Mrs. Howe was a standing subject for disagreement. Mr. Howe liked her well enough, though he had not the passionate love for her he had cherished for his first wife, but be was ambitious to establish his family in the upper ranks of society, and she was the one means of doing it. Through her lay his ambition, and she, who bad been poor, shared his ambition with him. At jlrst tbe plan had been to make Aleo the sacialrepresentative of the family, the proud and shining star, and for that propose he had 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. Bnt Mr. Howe still clung to Alea “Father,” said Aleo 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 cf it I've stood it as long as I can.” Mr Howe was silent. “I can have chambers with Forbes—xny class in oOtlege, yon know. Things will go better at borne when I’m away, I fancy. ” Still there was silenoe where Mr. Howe sat and Aleo ventured to look at him. He saw a dark cloud on his father’s face and began to tremble. But he took oourage, and with sudden determination and fmpetnosity sprang to his feet, and turning his back cried:

“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 he spoke: “If you leave the business and your home, you need hot expect' that I shall foet your bills.’’ The old. gentleman walked uneasily tip and down. He was not hard hearted or obstinate, but he didn't know what to do, and Alec’s manner was highly disrespectful Mrs. Bewe entered. After staring at the two for a moment She exclaimed: “What in the world has Alec been doiiw new?*' “I shall not trouble you much longer. I have decided to go away, ” said Aleo, turning. “Go away? Where will you go? Do yea intend to lead an idle life at your father’s expense “I had intended to study law,” eaid Alec calmly. "I should think your father had spent enough money en your education already,” sneered Mrs. Howe, taking a seat on the corner of a sofa. “Do you approve at this move, Alexander?” she inquired of her husband. “If be leaves my business and my honse, I’ve told him that he must look out for himself hereafter.” The old man’s voioe 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

bouse, and it shall be on Monday morning. I bate it My life has been perfect misery hem, and I’ll stand it no more. Ever since I came home from college she has nagged me and nagged me till I've acme to bate this whole institution. I shall not put either of you under the painful necessity of turning me out I’ll go myself, and ask no favors or consideration of anybody.' ’ With that be turned on his heel and left the room. Then bis father and stepmother looked a* each other. She disliked the boy, and exulted at the idea ct being rid of him. But she sneered: him go. ▲ little of that sort of

I thing will do him good and may bring I 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 be come baok begging and cringiujgf. T T-‘jjgyldako bis livi g, r V&4acuity and thin and pale, i>uVise '«fld a TnTgbty determination and a vein of buoyant hope that usually oorried him through difficulties. Once in his own room be began to reflect on his position. Without money, the law must evidently be given up. He bad something less than $lO in his | pocket. From that he must make his j fortune. But how? Where? His deterj mination bad been taken 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 batter than any other place he knew, and bad gope to one or another part of them for four successive summers. At first he thought that his vacation must be postponed. Bnt 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 the hay cart around, now and then pitching on a forkful of boy, or dragging the big rake for the seatterings to help on the men a little. Ofoourse till now it had always been in fun, but why not do it for money, getting a delightful summer in the country and earning something besides?

There arose doubts about the summer being so delightfnl under such laborious conditions, bnt the more he thought of it the more the idea fascinated 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 old felt hat that had come from the country too. He had a knapsack, whidh he had used for tramping in times past, and this he filled with such necessaries as he had heard that genuine tramps carried, such as a tin dipper, a tin plate, a fork, a big pocketknife besides the smaller penknife he always carried, a teaspoon gonje pepper and salt and a few otner 'things. With the little money he had he would purchase a ticket to -the Rashes, and then he would have a little over $8 left to provide for living necessities till he oonid find work, which he thought would not be a difficult matter, as it was just about timefor haying to begin, and he 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 before or after his father and mother ate theirs, and bo they did not see him once all day. They did not believe be would go an Monday, as he had said he would, and hourly looked to see his penitent face. They knew he was dogged in his determination, but this Was bo extraordinary a proceeding that they oould not believe

it. Mrs. Howe feared that he would change his mind, and, as was his habit, Mr. Howe put the matter out of his thoughts to await developments. But he had been muoh 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

hands with each of his parents and hastily took bis leave. There was no such word as “Write to us," “If you get out of money, send to me,” or “I hope you won’t regret this step. ” Silence, only silence 1 Perhaps it was because Alqo was known to be quite able to take care of himself, Certainly neither Mr. nor Mrs. Howe had any fear that he would come to starvation, though perhaps they might have had had either known how very small a sum of money the lad was starting out on. But Aleo thought to himself that he was glad he had no more, for now he must work his way or starve, since he would have no money to come baclj on. He was burning the bridges behind him, and was happy in the thought. It added piquancy to the adventure, and his oourage and determination laughed at the danger.

CHAPTER IL H* FINDS MARTHA, JOHN, MTTLK JOHN AND GRANDPA. Alec arrived at the Rushes not long after noon, thoroughly tired out with the hard ride on the cava He had brought some biscuit and cold meat, on whioh he hmched, and he still had a few pieces remaining in his bag, whioh he 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 and pale face dressed as a tramp, with an old slouch hat on his head. So Aleo hurried off along the road that seemed to lead northward, for he had determined to direct bis course toward the

White mountains. The rough board cases sod cottages sod the general paraphernalia of a camping ground seemed a blemish on the beauty of the surrounding forests and of die broad, smooth lake stretching away between the bilk and islands as far as die eye could reach. Bnt he soon left them behind, and though the road was hot and dtuty it was a great relief from the jolting of the cars and the obnoxious crowd. Alee was fond of walking, and he swung along in aD easy stride, perhaps to get away from the oppressing sense of loneliness which he felt coming over him. He felt tench like a man who has put ont to sea in a rowboat. He had left tbs 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 his teeth that he would indeed starve before he would do that. He of getting work on a farm, vaguely realized his own incamand physical weakness. He was an athlete in college, but athletes 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 tail-pines and elms and chestnuts, now open to the pouring beat of the sun, and with only oocasional refreshing glimpses of the lake whose western border he was skirting, Aleo suddenly oaxne with delight upon a cool looking little spring beside the road, that came out in a email cold pool at the foot of a big pine tree, and then fell about 18 inches in a miniature cascade over a projecting stone, and ran off down the aide of the road to a little brook beyond. He threw himself on the soft, thick bed at pine needles, thoroughly tired out, and held his cup under the cascade till it was filled with water, which he drank at a single draft. It was cool and sweet and so refreshing. After watting a few minutes to rest he 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 came down and stood by the spring as if it were con-

templating 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 Alec with a questioning look. Then be took a quick little sip of ths water just where it fell over the edge of the stone, and suddenly hopped quite into the pool and splashed himself all over with the water, shaking bis feathers and fluttering his wings, and rolled around in the little earthy basin till it was all muddy. Then the bird bopped out and shook himself and stood for some time pluming his feathers. A striped squirrel came out on a branch directly above his head, and, sitting upright on its swaying seat so that Alec could barely see its breast and fore feet and nose, it began to crack a nut and drop down pieces of the shell. It was a butternut from last year, and was rather a tough nut to oraok apparently, and finally the squirrel lost its grip and the nut came tumbling down almost on to Aleo's face. He did not know how tired he was until he had stopped thinking about bis difficulties and had lost himself in the baby playings of the things in the woods. But now he discovered that his baok ached, his feet were sore, and his brain too weary even to try to think any more f The sun was going down and he did not know where he wonld sleep that night or where be 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 of 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 barn that was usually bigger and more modern and indeed less desolate look-

ing. There was no attempt at grading about the bouse, nor any lawn. A dump cart usually stood next the back door, and against the barn was piled a heap of useless old boards, which might once have served for a pigpen. Sometimes there was a wooden pump a rod or two from the house 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, by the barn. Once he saw a tin dipper hanging in a conspicuous place, and took the liberty of helping himself to a drink. As he did so a woman came to the door and stared at him threugh the fly screen, and Aleo wondered grimly if a dog would presently be let out upon him. But when he looked again the face of the woman

seemed quite benevolent and rather curious. Aleo was glad to get away, however. He didn't like the hardness of everything. Perhaps the next house would have a more oomfortable appearance. But they were all alike. There wasn't a sign of softness or oomfort anywhere. The people seemed not to have imagined the word. Even the bigger houses which had been fitted up for summer boarders and seemed to make certain pretensions to elegance had the same stiff, uncomfortable air, which settled down ever the poor fellow like a vast discouragement. But suddenly he came on a farmhouse that seemed more inviting, or be 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 the 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 the kitchen door. There were three men, or rather two men and a boy. It was the boy who was washing in the log trough. One of-the men was white haired and much bent. The other was perhaps 40 and had a long, ragged, sandy beard. But he was very rugged and upright and talked as if he were the head of the house.

As Alec approached the woman in the doorway she stood silently staring at him, bnt the 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 the strange lad. But none of them spoke. “I wanted to inquire,” Aleo said, “if I could perhaps got 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 to stay hdre tonight—if I paid a little something for it.” This Yankee bargaining did not come at all natural to him, but he added the sentence about pay when he saw no sign of interest or response on the faces of the four people —or rather the three, for the boy was behind him. “Gome from New York, have yon?” inquired the woman at last in a tone that was meant to be friendly. Aleo made no answer, for none seemed to be demanded. But be quaked inwardly as be wondered what they were going to do. ‘‘You didD’t walk all the way?” inquired the man. "I came on the cars to the Rushes, and this afternoon I have walked from there,” said Aleo quietly. “A good bit of a walk from the Rushes, ’ ’ remarked the old man. ‘‘Where be you going? Home?” The suggestion of going home seemed to Alec a very good one, and he promptly responded: “Yes, I’m going home. I’ve got to go up across Vermont to Lake Champlain, and I expect to walk most of the way. ” ‘‘Well, yon are a pluckyun,” remarked the old man, tnrning away, while Alec smiled in bis 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 aH these city lads.” “How long.yon been in the city?” he inquired, turning again to Alea “Pretty nearly all my life,” ww the answer. Martha stopped to ask more questions, and the man with the long beard asked some, finally Inviting Aleo to sit down on the bench and get rested. He inquired his name, and Alec gave it. “If you want supper as well as a bed, it will be It) cents extra,” said Martha, coming to the door. “I suppose you expeot to pay a qnarter for the bed. Ten cents is rather low for supper, but seeing you are going home 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 work he had spoken of. They seemed not to have any interest in him after they had satisfied their curiosity, and when he sat down to the table with the others nobody addressed him except to urge him to “have some more” of the hash car the stewed prunes or the rhubarb pie or the com 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 you?” said Martha. on don’t seem to have any appetite at aIL 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 sandy bearded man, whom they called John. But Alec protested so vigorously that Martha relnotantly gave up 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 feet 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, which stood in the middle of the room, was old fashioned, with four round posts that stood straight up at each corner, but with no pieces across at head or foot. The side pieces were round and did not support the slats, which 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 he 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 washf&tand, with a round hole in the tojyfor a bowl, but no bowl. The only adornment the room ooulfl be said te have was the bright paper, whioh 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 thia season it most be hot and stuffy. Bat Alec was so tired and so anxious to be alone after bis company at tea that he hastily assured his hostess that everything was exceedingly comfortable. Everything was certainly clean and as neat as wax. With some reluctance Martha backed out, leaving the candle on a corner of the wasbstand, and Alec crawled into bed as soon as he could undress. CHAPTER ILL HE GETS ▲ CHANCE TO EARN OT3 BOARD HOEING POTATOES. Alec was awakened next morning by a loud knock cm his door and the announcement in the voice of Martha that if he wanted some breakfast he would have to oome down right away. He hurriedly dressed and went down stairs, where he 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 oall him John even in his own thoughts) would invite him to go to work at good wages. In about ten minutes Martha announced that all was ready, and John invited the young man to “move up,” which he did. They did not have muoh to say to him, but they paid him a certain silent respect which flattered his 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 least Martha was. Instead of oatmeal or eggs there were fried bacon, potatoes with their «kirm on, rye rolls and green apple sance. 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 house which bore these apples. Alec was also offered another piece of the rhubarb pie he had for supper the night before and which he liked very much. After breakfast the men went directly to the barn without a word to him about work or on any other subject except a remark that it was a fine morning. Aleo stood around the dining room awkwardly for a time as Martha cleared off the table, hoping that something would be said, for he bad 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 your 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 ah 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 muoh help regular. If you had come along in a fortnight, now, when he had the upper field all cut and a shower was coming up 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.”

Aleo 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 but she had the ohange in her rag oarpet money, which Bbe 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 you was a poor boy and having to walk all the way home, and I won’t oharge yon 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 puttingelean sheets on his bed. “Ten cents for supper and 10 for breakfast and 25 for the bed makes 45 cents, and there is sl, and there is 60 cents, and I declare if I’ve got but 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 on his 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 ha came to. Surely somebody would employ him at something. The road was smooth euough, but on either side there were stretches and stretches of stones upon stones, in places hea'ped up apparently as a wall, in others heaped up 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 ia a field hoeing potatoes, and they seemed to be working very steadily. Cbere was a great field on one side of them that seemed quite grown up to weeds, while on the other oould be seen rows of potatoes they bad hoed out. Aleo had a mind to go ever and speak to them, and

be steed in the road a few lzTnutra looking at them, undecided. But at last be want to the bouse to inquire. A rather pretty but shy and awkward girl ih a very short, faded calico dress answered his knock at the kitchen door. He was so astonished to see her that be stammered for a minute and nearly asked if he could have something to eat before he managed to say: “I saw some men down in the field there, and I wondered if they didn’t want some one to help them a little. I’ve come up from New York city, and I have walked up from the Rushes, 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 my two half brothers regularly, and he’s got Mr. Condon to help him hoe, and I don’t think he needs anybody more. But you might go and ask him. He’s the old man with the smooth face with those men you saw hoeing down there. You ask for Mr. Bennett, and they will any of them tell you who he is. He is the oldest, exoept Mr. Condon, who has a beard.” Alec thanked her and went to find Mr. Bennett. His heart quaked a bit, but he didn’t mind that and boldly made his wishes known. Milo Bennett was a vary short man with a very big, flat, flabby faoe, but with rather good natnred blue eyea He threw himself back on bis boe the minute he saw Alee ooming, evidently glad of an opportunity to rest, even so early in the morning* “Well, sir, what can I do for you?” he inquired briskly, but not disagreeably. “I wanted to see if you wanted anybody to help you a few days, ” answered Aleo promptly. “What can you do?" the man inquired, with a light sneer, sizing the slim, young figure up from top to toe. “Your hands don’t look as if they had been right in hoeing up to the present time. Where do you come from, anyway?” “From New York,” answered Aleo in some fright, looking at his white

bands and realizing his physical incapacity to do anything very heavy. But he thought he oould hoe. He immediately stated this belief. “You’ll blister those pretty hands of yours inside of an hour, ” sneered the man, bat as before not unpleasantly. “I might try,” suggested Alec. “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. You oan find a hoe inside the barn up there. ” Alec stood undecided for a moment, but no one was paying the slightest attention to him, so he walked silently back to the house, and at last, with the help of the pretty girl, found tin 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 derided 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 same pains to show him how to manage his hoe, how to pull the weeds out from among the potatoes without pulling up the potato vines, too, and then how to hill the dirt up and make it oompact all around. It was more of a trick than he had imagined, and he took some interest in learning how to do it neatly and quickly. But as hisemployer had prophesied,' his hands were blistered inside of am hour, and he had to wind his handkerchief about the right one in order to keep it from becoming torturingly sore. Besides, bis back began to aohe prettyi soon, and before very long it ached so that it seemed as if he couldn’t keep at work. But he was determined not to give up for any snoh thing as that. Of course Aleo did not try to keep up with the others, whose bands were apparently as tough as iron and whose backs never ached, for they walked straight along, down one row, back another, the four of them abreast and. seeming to have a sort of pride in keeping even, though now and then one would drop behind for some reason or other. When at last be heard a great bell ring up at the house, and looking' up saw the pretty girl in the kitchen doorway ringing it, he knew it must be dinner time. Rpt he kept on working, not cotieing that the four man had dropped their hoes as suddenly at the sound of the bell as if they had been automatons. But Milo called out good naturedly: “Better oome along to dinner now. I guess you’ve earned it How are your hands?” The others said nothing, but together, and as they walked slowly up toward the house they glanced at Aleo every now and then in such a way that he felt uncomfortable. Only his pride made him affect an indifference that became him vfery well. No one paid any particular attention j to him, and as dinner was not quite! ready he waa glad enough to sit downl and rest. He saw coming and going!

witbin a tali, angular woman whom they called mother, bat she paid no more attention to him than did the others, though she had never seen him before. Milo oame around once as the pretty girl passed near by and said: “Maud, I want to introduce to you a young city swell from New York. What’s your name?” Alec answered. “She’s Maud. She’s my girL I call her my little duck. Do you think they have nicer girla in the city, now?” went on Milo after learning Alec’s name. Maud paused a moment and then went on with her work, apparently quite indifferent to the “young city swell.” Alee bad been standing before the little looking glass oombing his wet hair and would have been very much • embarrassed had be not bean invited at that moment to move np to the table, where, with the others, he partook of an ample dinner of baked beans and pork, oold brown bread, boiled beets, green peas, potatoes, radishes and baked rice padding, with cranberry tarts to top off. He found afterward that in this family baked beans and potatoes were the staple of every meal, and pie of some kind usually appeared far breakfast, supper and frequently for dinner too. They also had cold cider, but Milo and Mr. Condon were the only ones who partook of it, and consequently Alec felt impelled to refuse.

CHAPTER IV. HE TAKES MAUD TO THE CIRCUS. As they returned to the field in the afternoon the boys- laughed and joked with Aleo as they did with each other, and Milo seemed to wear a mildly indulgent expression, though he said noth - ing. Alec’s hands were rather sore, and his back ached without ceasing, bat life wore a more cheerful aspect. The prospect of immediate starvation was removed, and he was actually earning his board. During the afternoon be worked rather lees steadily than he had started out. Be was getting only his board, he said to himself, and Milo would respect him less rather than more if he did too xnuoh, though he had an impression that New England farmers would screw out of a man everything they oonld get and be greedy for more, and when he sat in the shade a full half hour after he had been working for two hours he could not help watching to see if Milo did not start in his direction to give him a little gentle warning. But Milo said nothing, and when the boys oame near him they joked him about the tenderness of his bands—fun which v?as meant good naturedly enough, but which pricked bis pride and set him to work quite as effectively as any authority of the boss. About a quarter to 6, though no supper bell had rung, Milo remarked that he guessed it was about time to quit and started off across the fields toward the barn alone. As they stood leisurely cleaning their hoes the boys laughed and

joked and called out to Alec that it was time to stop and put sweet oil on his .bands. Mr. Condon had promptly shouldered his hoe and started off across the fields in the opposite direction toward his own home, while the two boys and 'Alec leisurely walked around by the road to the house and big barn on the hill. As they came up to the kitchen door they found Maud standing there, and she said supper was ready. Aleo could not help admiring her. She was so straight, and her cheeks were so ross, and her features seemed made for sweetness had not necessity pat in the firm, stiff lines. She evidently got no tenderness from any one. Her mother was a tall, angular woman and known as a great worker. Aleo smiled to himself as he guessed what a reputation in that way she must have. She worked all the time with a muscular steadiness that was truly surprising in a woman, and she kept Maud at work quite as steadily. Evidently the girl had been used to it all her life and expected nothing else. Milo was evidently fond of her, but his wife did not think his indulgent manner was good for Maud, so he had to be tender at a distance, as it were, and Maud had been too rigidly brought up to encourage his awkward kindness in any way except by passive gratitude. The next day hoeing went more easily, though Alec’s hands were rather sore, and his back was stiff. He felt unspeakably tired when he woke up in the morning, but he noticed that Dally, the younger of the two boys, seemed tired, too, and Jerry, who was usually full of dry jokes, seemed rather glum. When be got into the held, he began to learn the art of taking his work more easily, though be kept at it rather more steadily than be had the previous afternoon. He saw by observing the of the ethers that it wasn't necessary to be so thorough and painstaking, quite as he bad been, and there were a number of ways in which the dirtoooM be shuffled over the weeds without digging them out, as be had done before. Two months later Milo observed that the few rows Aleo had hoed that first day had very few weeds in them, while the others were badly grown up. But Aleo never knew that, for his labors for Mr. Bennett were destined to end five days later because of an unforeseen contingency. They finished the hoeing the following Monday. The next day was the Fourth of July, and the day after that they were to begin baying. , The boys talked about it constantly, for they were exceedingly happy to get out of the dirt of the potato patch into the dean, sweet work of handling the dried grass. On every farm a change is looked forward to with expectancy, but haying is particularly attractive, and the men probably enjoy it better than anything else. Daily had privately oonflded to Alec that be had no doubt Milo would employ him and give hhn $1 a day, the full prioe being $1.50. Aleo already regarded this as a settled thing and pnt all bis personal worries out of his mind. When the? finished supper on Monday night, they ail sat around the table listlessly and planned what they would do to celebrate he Fourth. The Fourth is a great day in the country, a genuine

holiday far everybody. There was the circus to go to at Pavonia, five miles away. Maud evidently wanted to go to the circus and said she had never been. But Dally said he didn’t care a rap far the circus. He had been the year before. This year be wanted to go fishing over in Beaver pond. He had heard that there were some fine pickerel and pout over there, ami he meant to have a try at tibe pickerel in the morning and at the pout in the evening. Jerry said nothing whatever about his plana, but Aleo was privately informed by Dally that Jerry was going over “to take his girl to the Baptist picnio. ” It seemed that, though the Bennetts were orthodox, Melly Seaton’s folks were Baptists. But naturally that made no difference to a devoted lover like Jerry, who was quite willing to become a Baptist for Melly’s sake. Aleo oonld not help laughing at the idea of the tall, ungainly, droll fellow in the role of lover. But be had na doubt that Jerry and Melly managed it perfectly. Maud complained that she was always left out and never oonld go anywhere, for the boys wouldn’t take her. Her mother said she bad plenty to do at home, and there was no need of her going off to the circus or anywhere else. Milo said he would have taken her to the circus himself if he didn’t have to go over to see Plimpton Jones’ colt, which be was thinking of baying to pair with Jerry, a namesake of his stepson, He said they must have an extra team for baying, since toe old white horse John had died. Mrs. Bennett seemed to have no idea of doing anything but stay at home and work, as she was always working. A holiday would have appeared to her a sheer waste of so much time. Aleo wondered at first what be would do himself, but finally took pity on Mand and decided to apk her if she wouldn’t go to the oirous with him. He hardly knsw whether Milo would let him have a horse and buggy; but, considering the old gentleman’s tender feeling toward Mand,he presumed be wonld. It was also a question whether Mrs. Bennett wonld permit her daughter to go off for the whole day with a stranger like himself, and this was his most doubtful point of all. He decided to speak to Milo first: He followed the boss, as the boys familiarly called their stepfather, when he went to the barn with a big milk pail in each hand, and as the sturdy old gentleman sat down on his three legged stool, and, leaning his forehead against the side of the cow, began sending long, steady streams of milk rattling against the sides of the tin, Alec ventured to say: “It has occurred to me, Mr. Bennett, that if yon were willing to let me take your third horse and the open buggy Miss Mand might go over to Pavonia with me tomorrow. ’ ’ Mr. Bennett seemed to he meditating, for he did not reply immediately. Aleo thought perhaps the noise of the milk had prevented him from hearing, but that was not so. “Have you spoken to the girl?” he inquired at last. “I thought I’d better ask you about ! the horse first,” replied Alec, feeling | that there was something in the other's mind which he had not anticipated. There was another pause, varied on It | by tho steady swish of the long streams j of milk, bat at last Mr. Bennett said somewhat slowly: “Well, I guess you can hev the horse. But I wouldn’t mention nothin about goin to the circus to the women folks. I’ll speak to the girl about it when I git done milking. You’ll hev to start pretty early in the morning, but if it’s a pleasant day, as it looks like tonight, I guess you’ll get along air right. I can tell mother after yon git started.” Alec appreciated the situation immediately and judiciously walked away. He felt as if he ought to obat with Maud a little, but he didn't feel like sitting in the kitchen again after Mrs. Bennett’s dismissal of the first evening. So he lay down on a long wagon seat and decided to let Mr. Bennett manage the whole thing and said nothing to any one until Milo had broached the subject again himself. Just before he went to bed that night Milo said to him in a confidential tone that they had better start about 7 o’clock, and he wonld see that the horse and buggy were ready. That was all that was said until he drove away with Maud the next morning. It was plain that Milo had managed the whole affair, spurred on by the desire to give his daughter a pleasant holiday. When they got fairly started, Aleo had an opportunity to observe his fair oompanion. As for himself, be had borrowed a better suit of clothes than his tramp suit (the only one he bad) from Dally. It was very ill fitting and cheap, but it was of a sensible brown, and be flattered himself it made him look like a genuine country boy. Maud was dressed very demurely and simply in a gray oalico dress, with red and green ivy leaves dotted over it The skirt was a full, round one, with a belt of toe same material, and at her neck and in her sleeves the girl wore simple white ruching. She bad on a broad leghorn bat trimmed with white lawn in the simplest style. Her rosy cheeks, steady gray eyes and brown, healthy bands completed the picture. Aleo felt awkward and rough beside her and, wished be had been better dressed. But Maud was apparently not displeased with him, for she talked simply and cheerfully of a thousand commonplace little subjects, such as the hoeing, the haying, the daisies, toe brooks and the people of the village whom Aleo did not know, but about whom shetold him. He had never heard her talk before, and her simple little effort to entertain him was altogether agreeable. He did his best to keep np his end and told her a good many things, which evidently seemed to her wonderful, and gave her an insight into his previous condition, wbioh be bad not meant at this point to betray. Bat he solaced himself by thinking that he bad confidence in her discretion. The drive of five miles to the town

was to* pleasantest part of the day. They arrived in Pavonia about 0 o’clock, and Mand told Alec where he could pat up bis horse in a stable and have him fed for 25 cents. By the time the horse was disposed of the parade of brightly colored wagons supposed to be filled with animals was about to start from the circus tents, toward which they went. There were soma beautiful white horses, with nodding plnmes on their heads, and several elephants and camels and a few less common animals snch as the llama Mand seemed qnietly drinking in everything and followed about close beside her escort, saying little. Alec was quite as much interested in the crowd of people. The girls were simple, and in a rustic way pretty and well dressed, and Aleo wondered again and again how they could put up with such awkward, hulking fellows as invariably escorted them. These young men all seemed to have bard, homy bands, grimy with their labors, trousers two inches too short for them and plain gingham shirts garnished by neckties that looked much out of plaoe or else they had on white shirts that seemed to make them excessively uncomfortable. They were all out in holiday costnme and evidently having a good time. They walked about in crowds, saying little apparently to eaoh other, bnt looking cnrioosly at everything, fairly drinking

in the circus. Aleo was perfectly astonished at the number of people. It seemed as if every one for 16 miles around wns there, old and young alike, bent old men and little children and grandmothers and a good many pairs of young men and women ranging in age from 18 to 45. There was one pair that looked fully 46, and Aleo was sure they were on their honeymoon. At 2 o’clock the performance began, and they had quite a jolly time watching it. Afterward they spent some time in looking at the animate, which Maud seemed to study with a serious interest, for she evidently felt that here was some really useful knowledge which would keep the day from being entirely wasted.. Aleo was weary and in a hurry to get away, but sbe looked at eaoh object with none the less conscientious curi-sity. Ike drive home was a silent one, for they were both tired. Alec felt very well content. Maud seemed to him an agreeable sort of girl, thongh she did not inspire tbe least sentimental feeling in his breast. He had bad .£ pleasant day with hei* which had made him quite forget his own hardships and doubts. Tomorrow he hoped to be earning f 1 a day, and that amply consoled him for not having a single cent in his pocket. Bnt disaster awaited his arrival at the house of the Bennetts. It was nearly 9 o’clock when the tired horse walked slovsjy up to the barn, where Milo came promptly forward to meet them and take charge of the horse. He inquired if the animal had been fed, and if they had driven fast coming home, and finally if they had had a good time. Aleo jumped out to help the young lady over the wheel, bnt before he knew jnst bow she did it he found she was herself on the ground on the other side. She went direotly into the house, and he followed her at a little distance. “Well, Miss Petted Bennett,” he heard a sharp voice say as Maud entered the kitohen, “have yon enjoyed going off and disgracing yourself with a strange young man without thinking your own mother good enough to know what you were doing? Yon shall find out who rules this house. This house belongs to me. It belonged to my own husband, and now it is my bouse, and while yon are under my roof you are not going to do as yon please without suffering for it. Besides, Mr. Bennett has promised to send your fine young city swell paoking tomorrow, ooming around fooling with my daughter without saying nothing to nobody. It’s a disgrace I”

CHAPTER V. MBS. HBVM9H TUBBS HIM OCT OF THE HOUSE. When Aleo came down to breakfast the next morning after a good night’s sleep and with only a vague remembrance of what he bad beard the night before, every one was remarkably quiet. Maud said good morning in answer to his greeting, bat Mrs. Bennett did not, and Milo seemed very much depressed. Jerry made one or two forlorn droll remarks, and Dally bad something to say about his look at fishing. They, too, had not heard the news, but very soon they felt the suffocation of the atmosphere and were silent too. There they sat at table, all as silent as the grave. Aleo felt the first oppression of fear and doubt and rebeihon come over him, for he knew that be was being put out of the bouse as much as if Milo were driving him with a stick and kicks. Had Milo been putting him out that was the way he would have done it, but this was the woman’s way. It was Mrs. Bennett who was putting him out, not

Mila Aleo looked at the old man and saw that he was really miserable, though stolid enough about it, and he had a vague thought of doing or saying something to break the oppressive silence and cheer the others np. He tried one or two remarks, bnt they did not go. There sat Mrs. Bennett at the other end of the table, and she was master of toe situation. As soon as breakfast was finished Milo and toe boys eeoaped to the barn. Alec would have gone, too, but Mrs. Bennett detained him and at the same time sent Mand to do the chamber work a full hour before the regular time. “I wish to say that we will not need your services any further,” began Mra Bennett, standing like a soldier, a hand on eaoh hip, terror in her eyes. “A miserable, pioked faced brat out of the slums of New York to oome here and pretend to be somebody and disgrace me and my family”— She had counted evidently on pouring out all her wrath and vituperation for at least once in her life, bnt Alec felt his'blood rising, his recent meekness seemed to slip from him, and to the utter astonishment of the angry woman before him he took on an air of wounded dignity of a sort qoitft new to Mrs. Bennett and mid: “Madam, excuse me. I will not trouble you further. ” With that he walked away like a king. Hurrying up the baok stairs three steps at a time, be snatched from his room his little rnbber bag, with the blanket tied to it, jnst as it was when he came a week before, and huiAed out of the house. As he went he looked about for Maud, but she was nowhere to be seen. He was sorry for her and partly angry at Mrs. Bennett on her account, for the attitude the woman had taken seemed to him to refleot on her daughter far more than It did on him, and if in any way he oould have avenged the innocent child he wonld have done so. But hd saw nothing for it bat to go away.

It was a clear, cool morning, like the one on which he had first come, and in his present condition of mind walking was a genuine pleasure. He felt as if he oould walk at least 26 miles, since 26 miles would be so far away from the house he hated so. As the sun rose ooDtinually higher the day grew warmer, bnt the air was not sultry, and Aleo rather enjoyed the exercise of walking, thongh the perspiration streamed from every pore and the dust rose and stuck to his hands and face until they were quite black. He felt stronger and more vigorous in body than when he set ont, and, though he had not a cent in his pooket, be felt more secure by far than on that first day. Moreover, his pride was up with his auger, and he could not very well mourn in discouragemeut over the possibility of starving. That was too ridiculous. His plan was to walk as far as be could and then inquire for work, or at least bejc a night’s lodging and promise to wcrk.it out o.u the morrow. The people seemed hospitable enough, and he felt that his simple, earnest manner was convincing proof of his honesty. Bnt he did wonder that Milo and the boys should seem to have turned against him so suddenly, as if be had indeed committed a fault for which he could be blamed. Tbe thought of that whole affair rankled so in his breast that he resolutely put it entirely aside and allowed himself to enjoy as well as he could the beautiful soenery through which he was passing. Far in the distance he could see from a hilltop now and then the faint outlines of the White mountains cut vaguely against the sky like hazy clouds. Behind him was tbe lake, of whose shining water he caught stray glimpses between the hills and through the trees. About him on every side were hills and valleys innumerable, long level slopes with sheep grazing on them or scarred, bush grown hillsides from which tbe timber had been ont not many years before or granite ledges standing out bare and white. And at every step the scene shifted. Here there was a beautiful little glen overgrown with young box and maple, while ont of its bosom poured a little stream that ran down into a meadow, where cattle were standing to their knees in the cooling mud and water. Again it was a broad view of a valley following the course of a larger stream, along which lay towns and villages at scattered intervals, and yonder to the left on tbe horizon were the dim outlines of the Green mountains, and between, out of sight, flowed the Connecticut. It was past noon, and the young man felt so hot and weary that he decided to rest. At a farmhouse be was passing he stopped for a drink, and, though it was hateful to him to think of begging, he asked for something to eat, frankly stating that be bad no money. Bnt the rather well dressed woman who came to the door curtly refused. The sting revived his anger of tbe morning, but he turned doggodly away. Just beyond the bouse, however, was a fine garden. He oonld see ripe strawberries and some lettuce. Be paused a moment, looking at it, and rapidly thought that since the woman had refused his honest request he would not scruple to help himself. The garden was hidden from tbe bouse by some thick trees, so be leaped the fence, and sitting down in toe shade at one side of the strawberry bed began to pick and eat. (TO BE CONTINUED.)

So Alec hurried off.

“John manages to get along without hiring very much help."

Maud seemed quietly drinking In everything.