Thurston of Orchard Valley

all that had happened. Geoffrey rose to greet Savine, glancing at his employer with some curiosity, for he had not met him before. Savine was a man of quick, re

ul speculator in mining and industrial enterprises. Nevertheless, Geoff

e with a smile, adding when Thurston made a solemn bow, "There, I've been sufficiently civil, and I see you would rather I talked business. I'm co

Thurston answered. "As I did the work without any orders you would b

note whenever you hand it in at Vancouver. I'll also endorse your contract for payment if you will give it me. Further, I want to say that I've been to look at your work, and it please

me note." He mentioned a name, and Savine, who looked at him critically, nodded as if in

ay you ought to do," Sav

," said Thurston, a

is no trouble about getting them by the car load from the East or the Old Country, but the man for me must know how to use his muscles, if necessary, and handle ax an

ervant, and of late I have not done badly fighting for my own hand. Therefore, while I thank you, and

ed good humor. "Still, what you suggest might suit me. I have rather more work at present than I can hold on to with both hands, and

is profession-and he showed his feeling as he answered

eyes again. "I will, however, give you one piece of advice before I forget it. My sister-in-law might be there, and if she wa

He knew the mountain valleys of the Cumberland, and had wandered, sometimes footsore and hungry, under the giant ramparts of the Selkirks and the Rockies, but

of oak rolled down to a breadth of milk-white pebbles and a stretch of silver sand, past which clear green water shoaling from shade to shade wound inland. Threads of glancing spray quivere

ntly swarded, lawns, was pleasant to look upon, but Thurston found more pleasure in the sight of its young mistress, w

image had presented itself as she first saw him-ragged, hungry, and grim, a worthy descendant of the wild Thurstons about whom Musker had discoursed. Now, in spite of his weather-beaten face and hardened hands, he appeared what he was, a man of education and some refinement, and his resolute expression, erect carriage, and muscular frame, rendered lithe an

tly waited upon at a table glittering with silver and gay with flowers. Mrs. Thomas Savine sat opposite him, between her husband and the host, and Hel

the opposite side of the question. It may be that those men, whose task is evidently highly dangerous, have wives an

mployé should consider that he was underpaid for the risk he ran, and should say so civilly, I should listen to hi

shut one big brown hand. It was a trifling action, and he was, perhaps, unconscious of it, but Helen, who no

ntler policy in your profession? Must the weak always be trampled

but his sister-in-law, who had remained silent, but not unobservant, broke

ome extent," answered Geoffr

t in your ancestral home? There was a man there who ought to belong to the feudal ages. He was called Musker, and he told us quaint stories abou

romantic nonsense. Crosbie Ghyll is no longer mine. I hope you passed a pleasant night there." Mrs. Savine became elo

told me about that p

at respect for her aunt's perceptions, decided that if the similitude had stru

f the land we sprang from belongs to us as well as you," Mrs. Savine said. "So, if it is not an intrusi

perty or seizing that of their neighbors! But, at least, when they fought, they seem to have fought for the losing side, and, according to tradition, paid for it dearly. However,

s of those shortcomings or virtues?"

rstitious habitants way back in old-world Quebec, as his folks had done since the first French colonization. That explains my daughter's views on soc

fore, but that one afterwards remembered her father's words and took them as a clue to the woman's character. He discovere

d day, made great advances in the estimation of Mrs. Thomas Savine. Bicycles were not so common a woman's possession in Canada, or elsewhere, then. In fact, there were few roads in British Columbia fit to propel one on. An American friend had sent Miss Savine a wheel which, after a fe

rston," he said. "The local blacksmith shakes his head over it, and sent it back the last time worse than ever, with several neces

d in cane chairs, encouraging him over their cigars. The dismantling was comparatively simple, but when the time for reassembling came, Thurston, who found that certain cups could not by any legitimate means be induced to screw home into their places, was perforce obliged to rest t

at you never make that invention of hi

mistaking the reason, felt hurt; he determined to conquer the bicycle or remain beneath it all night. When at last he succeeded in putting th

rhaps, you might be more successful after luncheon. I have noticed that

lines. He used up several of my best Cubanos and a bottle of claret each time, bef

avine. "Mending bicycles frequently leads to an accumulatio

like to be vanquished by an affair of this kind," said Geoffrey with emph

that there were oil and red dust, besides many somber smears, upon the operat

se as well as admiration when the wheels revolved freely without click or groan. Juliu

nd the mental excitement. Such things are often followed by dangerous consequences, a

f impatience. His brother laughed, while Helen

tally excited over a bicycle. I feel pe

broke in the amateur dispenser, who rarely relaxed her efforts until she

little boot-heel into the grasses, deliberately turned away. Mrs. Savine, however, cheerfully departed to find the bottle, an

ly better the moment

making a wry face, heroically swallowed the bitter drau

te differentl

dd that he had felt perfectly well before and had

eally ashamed when my aunt insisted on doctoring you, but you must take it as a compliment, because

s Savine. "When I see that bottle, I just vacate the lo

n't worry much about references. Your work speaks for itself, and the Roads and Trails surveyor has been talking about you. I'll take you, as you'll have to take me, on trust. I keep my eye on rising young men, a

doing so," said Geoffr

fferers, including provincial representatives and railroad directors, for to my horror she physicked a very famous one the last time he came. He did not suffer with your equanimity. In fact, he was

ghed, and hi

deserve a holiday-I know I do-so I shall retain you here for a wee