Under the Country Sky

nd in the business part of the village, encountered James Stuart. This had been a not infrequent happening in days past, but since Jeannet

k! At last I get you to myself for half a wink without a soul around. Where are you go

that?" queri

tain her guests. And there had been, as she was obliged to confess to herself, a sense that if he had been very anxious not to lose altogether her society he would have manage

r course toward a side street leading away, instead of toward, the centre she had been approaching. She protested, but he was laughingly determined and she yielded. It was good, undeniably go

sweets, contrary to the usual prohibitions of the medical men for the husky male! Do you think I have no appetite for the good substantial food? Parties

, and nothing for the hungry youth but plain br

turkey and cranberry sauce! A fellow can live on them. But n

ous, and you don't mean it. I wouldn't

ot-if she'd have me, which she wouldn't-me, a farmer! She dazzles me, bewitches me, makes me all but lose my head. And then I look at my

, and Stuart joined her. "How absolutely ridiculous! I sound lik

edly. "And when I'm with you I have no hankering aft

as good to feel. It was all she wanted. If she had been guilty of a creeping sense of jealousy as she watched Stuart and Jeannette together, so evidently enjoying each other's society to the full, it was because it made her suddenly and unpleasantly understand what it would be to her to live her days in this commonplace little village without Stuart at her right hand.

uld have been a month ago, before Jeannette came-she had told Stuart of Mr. Jefferson's offer. If the truth must be confessed, after suffering the mood whi

e of James Stuart's characteristics, open-hearted though he was in every other way. He stopped short in the snowy path, regarding her sternly while she

d hours every day working with E. C. Jefferson? Not a bit

arth should you object?" Georgiana's tone was rich an

and I won't have you going into par

aries and stenograph

ernard Shaw with you. And you'd drink it all in with those eyes of yours and make him think--" Georgiana's uncontrollable laughter halted but did not stop him. "What's his work, anyhow? Writing

seldom speaks of art in any form-except literary art, of c

ty libraries or hunting scientific stuff over in Vienna? Vienna's the place for him. I

of notebooks and papers on file. His handwriting is a fright; that

at's what he needs if he writes an

necessary. I've oft

orge-you needn't turn away. Nobody could ever fancy you coming at any man's whistle. I'm just seeing red, that's all,

ittle boy. And you know I can't afford to lose a chan

ean you're s

e prices are very g

go into copying manuscript by hand. S

ay. He thinks it too hard work f

elf in similar fashion in the past. As was to have been expe

know what affair it is of his. You know well enough

tell me to

want you pulling that back-breaking thing. I don't want you to have to hustle for money any sort of

surd! That's not a brot

ying," retorted Stuart under his breath. "You kno

d. It was quite settled long ago that you and I were to be brother and sister, 'world without end.' And I know you m

ow long he expects to be at

do

o this work in. He came in January; this is April. Do you wonder I'm a bit upset at the n

a long period of such work as she dearly loved, had some ado to keep her state of mind from showin

for a side partner. A ma

r as our lodger is concerned, you need have no fear of any but the most businesslike relati

f. He's human, if his mind is bent on

ting worn too deep to-night. Come-let's hurry h

orge, are you going

ourse

how I fee

, do you think you

na, I-lo

so much as all that. You ha

sn't hurt; this does," w

call it out you think it's-something quite different," explained Georgiana rather lamely. "You know perfectly that you and I fit best

come unsettled,"

to me as a brother, friend, chum-whichever you like, an

here. I don't fancy what

ome, Jimps, give me your

d her in a certain secluded spot just where the snowy path was

? Make it a

e the 'never-never' clause out. I'll agree to any terms of friends

h they had later exchanged for the more carefully considered terms of the warm but less sentimental friendship which had now existed for some years. That Stuart was really dearer to her, more a necessary part of her life than she had realized, had been made disconcertingly clear to her by the totally unexpected pangs she had suffered during the

finally. "It isn't best to say 'ne

k me to say it?" H

don't want

anything surer than that

t. "All ri

warm hands clasped. "Here's our everlasting friendship," he said, with a l

not the old c

Isn't it sufficiently

ch too a

ake it p

ve it as it is," she admi

you

the man whose presence in her life meant warmth and light and even happiness on the hard road of everyday routine, and then have somehow besides the contentment

ntented," she said radia

ood. I wi

ould ma

your money making rugs

ou cou

uld l

aven't time, if there

iana's errand, no more was said until they were once again on their way homeward. They walked i

s she stood on the step above him, leading t

nd. There's no reason in the world I could give Mr. Jefferson for refusing to help him when he needs it, and w

on't come in to-night,"

er, then ran in and closed the door. The mood which held