Westways

day, until weary but at last eager he followed her tireless lit

That's where the first James Penhallow lived. Uncle Jim ke

ow," said John. "I

ians attacked it once-that first James Penhallow and his wife

ilences, and now with some surprise at his evident interest followed

op-holes to shoot. Did

ehind the cabin. Uncle Jim se

zing the beleaguered cabin, the night of fear, the flashing

was afraid to come her

come here at nig

t night. I don't see what f

I woul

ohn? What wou

a deep desire to learn

ed, "I will tell y

you t

laughed as he slippe

at home about the school, and the afternoons were often free for lonely walks, when Leila went away on her mare and John was at liberty to read or to do as best pleased him. At times Leila bored him, and although with his well-taught courteous ways he was careful not to show impatience, he had the imaginative boy's capacity to enjoy being alone and a long repressed curiosity which now found indulgence among people who liked to answer questions and were pleased when he asked them. Very often, as he came into easier relations with his aunt, he was told to take some query she could not answer to Uncle James or the rector. A rather sensitive lad, he soon became aware that his uncle appeared to take no great interest in him, and, too, the boy's long cultivated though lessening reserve kept them apart. Meanwhile, Ann watched with pleasure his g

s not a matter for a child to discuss. The abolitionists at the Nort

abolitionist,

, "I will answer no more c

l she got her chance when Mrs. Ann would not answer

to be let off easily, found the needed book, and for a time they fell u

the forge, where persistently-curious John did learn from some one what hematite was. The life became to him steadily more and

he village. John's present from his uncle was a pair of skates, and then Leila saw a delightful chance to add another branch of education. Next morning, for this was holiday-week, she asked if he would l

now. Who c

d

u can't skate. You are just good for nothing.

ed than made curious.

rs up all the trash and Uncle Jim's old clothes (he hates that), and the village people they

o one wants. Then wh

e, I don

at I would f

ch," sh

had one of the brief bo

ly. "I'll bid for y

t this earliest indication of the fem

ut twenty-

and the price go up. Let us go an

, "but you will soon le

n the formal way which Ann liked and James Penhallow did not. He said,

ht Penhallow. "I have been thinking you must learn

he boy, with a grin whi

will te

e grip of a boy's admiration for a realized ideal-the worship, by the timid, of courage. Of the few things he did well, he thought little; and an invalid's fears had discouraged rough games until he had become like a timor

e of flying hair, burst into the Squire's den.

tch. I couldn't keep near him. He skated an

rinned at him. "I think, Leila, he w

he says, on

of G

u must chalk your right hand and you must mark with it the other fellow's right shoulder. It mus

ng, my dear? Oh! your aunt wi

-stick!" la

s coddled out of him, but he looks like his father. I have my own id

not, Un

ound of bonb

m to

es

rig

st? I did n

la. For some unknown reason s

ctor dine here,

st yesterday on the log cabin. They seemed all asle

at did

sting?'-I said: 'Tha

ot tell y

an obedient

meant to be a boy. Is there

alge

out," and

on of Leila who conveyed to her uncle a gratified sense of vi

"you have had this boy long enough to judge; it is time I heard what you think of him. You asked me to wait. The youngster is r

d Mrs. Ann, "and his manners are char

t's hear

ke?" asked

-room. I believe James woul

s consolations,"

f her unusual permission. "But you, Squire, have been close

hardly knows a h

said Mrs. Penhallow, "

husband. "By George

ch perfectly,"

t of Leila. I understand he t

ow Susan. She was as timid as a house-f

answered me in Latin and told me that at Budapest wh

vers. Is he well

st doggedly persistent fellow I have ever had to teach and I handled

e, James," s

Leila's care and a good out-of-door

hat, J

there is no shame in failure,

w he is afraid,

l see. He needs some rough boy-company. I don't like to have the village boys alone with Leila, but w

nners," said

will from Leila. I will take care of the r

hard on him, Jam

needs it. Let

?" asked Rivers. "Our politics, N

it as he saw Mrs. Ann sit up and drop on her lap the garment upon which her ever industrious hands were busy. Accepting Penhallow's hint, Rivers said quickly, "But

y he has," s

ppose," laughed Mrs. Ann. "It is m

ve satisfied Ann Grey," re

ft them, declaring that now they might smoke. The two men rose, and when alone began at once to talk of

d had in some ways been kept so much of a child as to astonish his aunt. Neither Leila nor any one could have failed to like him and his gentle ways, and as between him and the village boys she knew Leila preferred this clever, if too timid, cousin. So fa

ractical qualities, and thus to him and the Westways boys John Penhallow was simply an absurd Miss Nancy kind of lad, and it was long after the elders of the little town admired and liked him that the boys learned to respect him. It was easy to see why the generous, good-tempered and pleasant lad

cut when Tom McGregor

it a minute," said John

si

"Got a handle

Master John is

call you

Mister," said the barber

he shared. "Nonsense," he said. "Come up, Tom, this

. Too ea

returned Tom.

ast snow still lay on th

la in the stable-yard.

Tom was

it in turn. Tom's hand came out on t

rying out, "You're tagged," seized her boy-cap and t

the girl. "You are a rude b

et the stable-

John, "Pleas

n I?" h

rap door. You can slide d

might

said Tom grinning. John

d away into

a little regretful of his r

ide down the soft snow until, seizing her cap, she set her feet on the roof gutter, crying out, "Get a ladder quick." Alar

ard, Tom McGregor, and you too, John Penhall

Tom; "any of the men c

her dark mass of hair and moving away

go and tell the Squire,"

a tell-tale nor a coward. 'Tell-tale pick a nail and hang him to a cow's tail!'" an

tell," s

n't," s

said Tom, and left J

most dis

is sleeve. A sudden remembrance of how good she had been to him, how loyally silent, added to his distress. He longed for a chance to prove that he was not that-that-Eager and yet distrustful, he got

w saw that the boy was less happy than usual and suspected some mild difficulty with Leila, but in her wise way said nothing and began to use him for some of her many errands of helpfulness in the village and on the farms, where always he made friends. Seeing at last that the boy was too silent and

a compliment, and was singularly open to the approval his lessons wo

unwonted shyness, "The woods are very nice to-d

r propitiatory advance, "It will soon be tim

?" said Mrs. Ann; "

al history," said

bad as Lei

me?" asked th

at I have an engagement

prim manner he

urmured Penhal

ding-dress. "Wait till I get you on a horse, my Lord Chesterfield," he muttered.

leased, John called for the rector. They

ere the first Penhallow had his In

John. "Leila told me, an

r." They lay down, and

I like stories." He had

the boy

ave grown here since. That was at dusk. They barred the door and cut loop-holes between the logs. N

that?" ask

in until her man was wounded, th

s!" echoe

ing, hel

you know

d the rest-well, sir, I sa

ed young face. "Would you li

N

y n

Then quickly, "I suppose he was;

, most of all. But there

ck

ted. Then the boy broke out, "Leila

at! That wasn't like her,

ts, carefully, as if to have it exact were essential. Mark Rivers watched him through his pipe smoke, trying to think of what he could or should

afraid of horses and dogs, of exposure to rain, and generally of being hurt, until-Well, Jack, if your mother had not been an invalid, she would not ha

"You have the courage of truth. That's moral courage. Tom would have explained or denied, or

aid John. "I'm sor

ou trusted a man who is your friend. Let

"Oh! this must be that arbutus Leila talks about, just pee

th of the fragrance o

weet it is! It does

many other good an

dismounting after her ride. John said,

was afraid. He put aside this trouble for a time, and the wood sports with Leila were once more resumed. What thought of his failure the girl still kept in mind, if sh

" he went into the stable and out of the hay-loft on to the sloping roof. He did not dare to wait, but let himself slide down the frozen snow, seized his cap, and knew of a sudden that the smooth ice-coating was an unsuspected peril. He rolled over on his face, straightened himself, and slid to the e

ho?" th

hn, he'

howling, got on his feet. His hands were torn and bleeding, but he was n

appened. Leila white to the lips was leaning against a pillar. John calle

not dead!" and fl

Mrs. Ann, "sit dow

t's all this row about, Ann? I heard Billy-Oh, so yo

the stable

questions, to John's relief, but said, "Your h

stamp-or-so-Come, Leila, the horses are here. Run upstairs and get my riding-whip. That fool brought me down in a hurry. When the

e boy alon

Leila,"

n't ride to-d

wife sent him on his way

y errands

ent no sugar-and tell Mrs. Saul I want her. If Pole is in, y

r in mischief. By and by, Ann will have it out of the boy, and-I must stop that. Now she will be too full of surgery. She is sure to think Leila had something to do with it." He saw of late that Ann was resolute as to what to him would be a sad loss. Leila was to be sent to school before long-accomplishments! "Damn accomplishments! I have tried to make a boy out of her-now the inevita

was he sorry to be alone. No one had been too curious. He recognized this as a reasonable habit of the family. And Leila? He was of no mind to be frank with her; and this he had done was a debt paid to John Penhallow! He may not have so put it, but he woul

your cap on the roof and

a, but how d

w, John. I am sorry for what I said, a

u thin

landing let it fall. At dinner, the Squir

," and th

he motives which combined to bring about an act of rashness. The rector had some sympathy with the boy and liked him for choosin

anted to see the polite girl-boy brought to shame. In fact, even the straightforward Squire, with all his ready cordiality, at times found John's extreme politeness ridiculous at his age, but knew it to be the result of absurd training an