FOR FREEDOM'S SAKE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue XXXXII, 29 January 1900, Page 4

FOR FREEDOM'S SAKE

Br tattm Patkbson, Attar d "A Hanoi Hb Word. 4 ''A Sen of the FWn" an, etc. totiwWWr Sdittaa JTna Tbas,Februzrjr-

OHAPTKRIV.—Continued, tHtowna Dow* thk udrui. The day wore on. The> sun, which bad been, Mitring all morning, retired behind daric banksof clouds befareife thnft The air was as still and warm as if it were midsummer. " Kr. HoMenoogh, if yoii work one urinate longer with suchfearful energy I shall have to take your hoe away and loakitnp. Redly, I do think I am the most selfish person in the world. I deooy you into spending the afternoon here on the pretence of wanting log to learn something practical about gardening, and the result is that yoa wtar yourself oat with hard work. Yoa will now be so very kind as to put on your coat immediately and rest in the moat comfortable rocking-chair our Indh contains until Un-le Elmore comes in—l aee him on the hill now—when sapper and a cigar shall reward your labours. Yon have been far too kind to me. _ Robert straightened his back with a little laugh. His blood was racing through his. veins. He could have hoed all nigtti "Do I link tired, Miss Winsford?" u Yoa are very hot." "A little, bat I do not want to rest." "Yoa will though, please. See, aunt is us." " Robert's face changed, as he gathered np his apparel without a word. Rath moved towards the gate. "Will yoa go on; I shall follow presently." Robert • bowed, and joined Mrs. Smote on the porch. Was it fancy or was it a cold current of air which made him fed suddenly weary and chill ? ft was the atmosphere, perhaps, often damp in these latitudes when a thunderstorm is brewing in early ■prisg. Whatever it was, something bow caused a reaction to «t in that spread through Robert's mind and body, as the dond that bad been in the west waa now creeping over the sky. "Yoa have worked hard, young ■an," remarked Mrs. Elmore, looking at his flashed bee. "Thankyon, I enjoyed it," Robert answered carelessly, taming away his bead. Then was something in Mrs. Elmore's sharp glance he did not like. "Yoa have worked hard, air," repeated Mrs. Elmore in a loader tone, u and to voy little purpose, I can assure yoa." "Puipoee, ma'am," rejoined Robert, pnrded by the meaning tone in which she spoke. "I am not sure that I understand you." "Doyou notr said Mrs. Elmore with aa near an approach to a smile as her face ooold assume. "Ah! men are extraordinary dense, or," with a suspicious glance, " maty them- - selves oat to be so." Robert bit his lip, but said nothing. His saw now clearly enough what Mrs.! Elmore meant, and felt so angry with Swthat he dared not speak for fear of aaying something unpardonably rude. Xhe shrewd woman read his thwighfrj and her tone softened. "I have not gone for to hurt your feelings, friend. I only speak straight. Rath will do uncommon little more gardening, I think. You heard, likely, that I mentioned a Captain Howlett. That is him walking now with my husband.. He is a particular friend of Roth's, a very particular friend, and he ■ has no interest io gardening whatever. Do you reckon to stay in Kansas? The question was asked in a tone as if Mrs. Elmore wished to change the subject. Robert said "Yes" rather cortly, and then remarked upon the coming storm. 1 Mrs. Elmore made no reply, and they stood in silence watching the others. Robert saw Rath meet her uncle at the gate, and counted the seconds while her uncle's companion held her They were lovers—Why not? It was nothing to him. Mr. Elmore, after giving his niece | a pat on the shoulder, walked briskly np and greeted Robert more cordially. lb. Elmore was bight and animated, and Robert saw him «miln at his wife, with a nod at the couple strolling after him. Captain Howlett was a well-built, square-shouldered man of thirty. He was under middle height, and beside Robert Holdenoqgh's six feet, looked ■nail and slight. But his military carnage, set off by a well-fitting grey tariform, his heavy moustache, swarthy complexion, exceedingly bright eyes, and regular features, contrasted favnonldy with the New Englander's bonv face and loosely-built figure, eiothed as it was in garments that wei e not so new as they hod been, and were ' then bought ready-made at a country Store. Nor did Robert hhow to advantage afterwards. Captain How lett had an easy well -bred manner, and was perfectly at home. He congratulated Rath laughingly upon the marveDoas progress she had mado with her gardening, and said he should etpect to see another half acre added to it before the week was out, if she had many mors lessons. In all this there was no direct allusion to Robert, it was U3sd simply as a pretty subject of badinage with Ruth. When this subject was exhausted, Howlett still held the conversation in his hands, I quoting extracts from a letter he had joat received from Virginia, and mak- , log every one laugh by a droll account •f a negro plantation party. Robert, meanwhile, ate his supper in silence and was not agreeable at all. The reaction from the excitement of fho afternoon was still upon him, and .ha felt depressed and irritable. He told Himself that it was mere stupid] jealousy of the Captain to whom he «md taken a dislike at first sight and woo, he fancied, viewed him with no favourable eye. But, though he tried, he ceald net throw the feeling off, and 1 Bath, quick to see the change in him, In vain started subject after subject of conversation in' which she thought he joijht take an interest. (Tobt continual.) I