THE WEST SHORE.
207
" How uufortuuuto," said Joan, sitting down iw far
away from him as the width of the uiehe would allow.
" Quito the coutrary. Any puiu would bo welcome,
if it kopt you by my side."
" Compliment are wasted ou uto, Mr. Emerson," she
replied.
" Thnt was not a compliment truly, but the plain
truth."
" You are bo ruuoh given to small fictions," Joan said
with a quiet smile, " that I uovor know when you are
spoakiug truth. I am compelled to take refuge in bo
lioving uothing you any."
Emerson looked vexed and mortified.
"That is rather harsh. I dou't think I quite do
serve it"
Joan rose.
" I will go to the top," she said, " and you can join
ua on the way down."
" Don't go yet," he entreated, following her to the
rude staircase. " Do listen to ino for five miuutoB, won't
you?"
" I have hoard enough fiction for ouo day. I have a
great dislike to being taken in, Mr. Emorson."
" What do you moan? Oh! my anklo? Well, I'll
own that was a little bit of iuvoution of uiiuo to keep
you near"
She was already up some steps, so ho had to give up
the. idea of saying more. Ho stoixl for a minute, frowu
ing and silent, thou quickly bounded up iu pursuit
Some few days after this Joan Kennet was walking
homeward iu the cool oveuiug, after an afternoon smt
with a friend The lower odgo of the sun was just
touching the purple horizon, and the jiortioiis of the
landcaie that lay highest wore suffused with a ruddy
orango light
The lauo was a lonely one, but Joan was not nervous.
She lingered to let her eyes dwell on the soft alternation
of gold and purple tints, nor did she hurry wheu she
hoard behind her tho heavy tread of a man.
i i..,l,liinr. shulUintr tread it was, iU sound acoom-
paniod by a hoarse cougli. It camo nearer and nearer,
and theu sho was aware of a thick and husky voice ad
dressing her iu a fooblo, whining mouotono-
"l'oor mon-cau't get any Work -got any copers
to spare, kind lady? Wife and eight little childreu-
CU" Ws hand at once sought her pwlmt Hut before
she could produce anything therefrom her watch chain
was clutched; it snapped ai nor nasiy ,....,....,.
cape, but the man, a tramp by his appearance, made an-
other snatch. .... i i m.
Joan was hardly conscious of what she did Hlie
only remembered .forward that a hand wa. for a mo.
mout on her wrist; that she exerted all her aire ngth in
.fierce thrust; saw br adversary loa. bus-ting and
.tumble back into a ditch by the roa.L.ide; and that she
fled with all the apeed of which she waa capable.
Her assailant waa gathering himself up from among
tho nettles, when ho found himself grasped by tho throat,
and V'red T,erttrml1, brrathkia with luuuiun, pautod
"You cowardly rutHon-how daro you?"
A brief sculllo ensued Thou tho tramp was throwu
heavily to tho ground.
"You brute, Fred! You've half killed mo!" came
faintly from him.
Loutlmll started and stared.
" Emersou! " ho exclaimed, incredulously.
1 Imm wns no renlv. Stoonlnu lower, for the twilight
was increasing, ho could boo now that they wore indeed
tho feature of his friend His oyes weto olosod, and he
appeared iorfiMJtly unoousdiou.
" I don't pity you," muttered Intlmil, a ho chafed
tho other's hands aud loosened his neckcloth. Some
minutes elapsed without this treatment producing tho
sliglitest result
Half frightened, lionthall looked round for water.
There was nono to lie seen, but ho remembered that
lower ilown tho hill ou tho crest of which h stood, a'
little stream trickled from, tho bank.
No movement from Kane. Ho stooped again to
make sure, then picking up the shabby, slouched hut
that had hidden tho tramp's while brow, ho carried it
oil as a vessel to oouvey water, aud ran dowu tho loio.
At tho samo instant Kaue sprang up and shook his
fist after tho retreating figure.
" (lol my hat, bavo you, Master Eredl" said he, " well,
thero's uo one oomiug."
Ho hastily divested himself of a heavy, dark lsard,
flung it into tho ditch and storied off in the directiou
Joun Kennet had taken.
Sho was far ahead. He did ml overtake her until
sho was in sight of her own gate.
"Miss Kennet!"
Joan turned around with a pleased smile, on hearing
after her adventure, the voice of a friend. Al the first
glance hi uncovered hood and Uttered coat told her
tho truth. Her face ehnugod, and she walked on with
out a word.
" Mis KMinot," ho said again, " I hopi you were not
really alarmed."
So reply.
it Villi MH1 llfTlltklllHL I sen." said Emerson, keeping by
her side. " Well, I humbly epilogiA It was what
y.m said the other day that put tho Ides into my hood"
Still no rosKuso.
I wish I hadn't done It," he said gloomily, " I am
always putting my fool iu It with you. Do speak, unless
you wanl me to blow uiy brains out No, pray doii'l go
in yet-not till you have forgiveu ma."
If.. I..!. I timiil III! Ilia unto and held it shut wait-
llil inns mm m I II
ing for s reply. Hut Joan merely hkod him coldly
over, with an inward inclination to lough at hi 0.11 ap.
pearanoo.
- How could 1 tell you would take it so seriously?"
and Kane o,wud the gate, finding ah wa yet dumb.