Thurston of Orchard Valley

he observation when one morning the young man came striding down the steep street of a village in the North Country. The cluster of gray stone houses nestled beneath the scar

f sheep-cropped grass stretching up to the heather, which gave place in turn to rock out-crop on the shoulders of the

bred in t' bone of them, an' it's safer to counter an angry bull than a Thurston of

forehead and his brows were wrinkled over his eyes, while his carriage suggested strength of limb and energy. Tall in stature his frame looked wiry rather than heavily built. His face was resolute, for both square jaw and steady brown eyes suggested tenacity of purpose. The hands that swung at his sides had been roughened by labor with pick and drill. Yet in spite of t

There were, however, excuses for him. He was an ambitious man, and had studied mechanical science under a famous engineer. Perhaps, because the surface of the earth yielded a sustenance so grudgingly, a love of burrowing was born in the family. Copper was dear and the speculative public well disposed towards British mines. When current prices permitted it, a little c

all archway, stood beside a tarn that winked like polished steel. He sighed as his glance rested upon them. For many generations they had sheltered the Thurstons of Crosbie; but, unless he could stoop to soil his hands in a fas

e overalls, and Melhuish, the mining expert, held his candle so that its light fell upon his companion as well as upon the dripping surface of the rock. Moisture fell from the wet stone into the gloomy rift, and a faint monotonous splashing rose up from far below. M

of honor that when I advised you to push on the heading I never expected this. However, there it is, and unless you're willing to consider certain

on bore himself with a curious equanimity for a ruined man, did not see t

to-day to consider whether the ore already in sight would be worth reduction, and you say, 'No.' You can advis

tin. Besides, there's an average commercial probability that somebody will find good ore after going down far enough, and your part would be easy.

fault?" asked Geoffrey. Melhuish s

to error, and there are ways of framing a report without committing the person who makes it. May I repeat that it's a fair business risk, and whoever takes this mine should strike the lead

ish backward until they stood within a foot of the verge of the black rift. Melhuish's face was gray in the candle-light as he heard the dislodged pebbles splash sullenly into the

harmless joke intended to test them for you. There have been several spendthrifts and highly successful drunkards in my family, but, with the exception of my namesake

Melhuish answered somewhat shakily. "I'll take your word that you meant no harm, and I request

ive the answer under the open sunlight, and, if possible, with assistance near at hand, tu

of Geoffrey's neighbors had gathered on the indifferently-kept lawn to enjoy a tennis match. Miss Millicent Austin sat in an angle of the stone seat. Her little feet, encased in white shoes, reposed upon a cushion that one of the sportsmen had insisted on bringing to her. Her hands lay idly folded in her lap. The delicate han

ndon changed into a calculating woman, Geoffrey was bound up, mind and body, in his mine, and Millicent began to wonder whether, with her advantages, she might not do better than to marry a dalesman burdened by

woman to her companion as she laid by h

is a beauty in a mild way, he's a noble beast, one very likely to turn the tables upon a ra

l to wild beasts myself," remarked her comp

upon how they are led, because nobody could drive a Thurston. It is rather, I must confess, an instinctive prejudice against the

g that suggested deadly earnestness in his attitude, and the spectator assumed that Millicent Austin's head was turned away from him, because she possessed a fine p

from most disasters if one will look for it, you know, and if you came to terms with

sed that his fiancée, who had been away, should betray so acc

l me. You will agree with them,

his overcrowded country. As you know, certain property will revert to me eventually, but, remembering what is in our blood, I dare not trust myself to drag out a life of idleness or monotonous drudgery, waiting for the future here. The curse is a very real thing-and it would not be fair to you. Now

spoke with conviction. She knew that his power of effort and dogged obstinacy would carry him

o cheer me, in a new land under the open sun, I shall crush it utterly. Semi-poverty, with an ill-paid task that demanded but h

n of Crosbie asked help from anyone; but she had no wish to encourage Geoffrey in wh

, and, of course, I will not go with you. How could I help you to chase wild cattle? Now

down upon her with a fierce resentment in his look

ess transaction, and if these people are willing to buy the mi

ointed, and his forehead contracted as he struggled with as heavy a temptation as could have assailed the hono

e people would pay me with the general public's money, and when the mine proves prof

ficantly. "The investing public understands that, doesn't it

ction, but seldom in spee

ole of stolen money, I shall go down and down, dragging you with me. If you will come out to a new country with me, I know you will never regret it. Whatever is best worth winning over there, I will w

set-stubborn, vindictive, powerful. Though his strength was untrained, she knew that he was a man to trust-great in his very failings, with no meanness in his composition, and clearly born for risky enterpri

the ludicrous, and I have really no patience with your folly. A little period of cal

e an open window. It did not please him to see Millicent take her place before the net in the tennis court and to hear her laugh ring lightly acro

I suppose it's the mine, and would like to offer my sympathy. Might I recommend a bran

mbler at a gulp, and the soda frothed in the second, when he noticed a curious smile, for just a moment, in the eyes of his companion. The smile vanished immedi

e of that sort of consolation is considerably better than too much. You don't, however

, Thurston saw little of Millice

ey's, and he rode slowly with loose bridle. The bouquet of the brandy had awakened within him a longing that he dreaded, and though, hitherto, he had been too intent upon his task to trouble about his character, it was borne in upon him that he must stand fast now or never. But it was not the thought of his own future which first appealed to him. Those who had gone before him

ider, with a forced laugh. "I thought

ad for thee is coming with t' quarrymen to poach t' covers. Got the office from yan with a grudge against t' gan

th murderous intent, had brought a gun-butt down upon his unprotected skull. Excitement was at all times as wine to him, so, promisin