The Fourth Watch

C

n, living and sleeping apartments combined. It was warm, for the rough logs were well chinked with moss, while the snow lay thick upon the roof and banked up around the sides.

rth, and give him the thrashing he so well deserved. He would drive that impudent, sarcastic smile from his face, and make him take back his words. A voice seemed to say to him, "Do it. You must do it if you consider yourself a man. He insulted you to your face, and people will call you a coward if you allow it to pass." But always there came to him that gentle touch on his arm; he heard a voice pleading with him to be a man, and saw Nellie looking at him with those large, beseeching eyes, and his clenched hands would relax. And thus the battle raged; now this way, now that. Which side would win? When at length the fir

ound was covered with snow, what could he do? Once aroused, it was needful for him to set to work as soon as possible. Mechanically he picked up the weekly paper lying on a chair and glanced carelessly at the headlines set forth in bold type. As he did so his attention was arrested by two words "Logs Wanted." He read the article through which told how the price of lumber had su

d. They would chop while he hauled the logs to the brook. Mrs. Frenelle and Nora would do most of the cooking at home, and Stephen, would come for it at certain times. Thus a new spirit pervaded the house that day, and Mrs.

heart was light. Not only did he feel the zest of one who had grappled with life in the noble effort to do the best he could, but he had Nellie's approbation. He drank in the br

d from early days in woodland lore. One, old Henry, thoroughly enjoyed his work and at times sna

remarked, as he watched a monster spruce w

old way, an' afore he knew what he was doin' the tree 'ud be tumblin' down in the wrong place, an' mebbe right a-top of 'im at that. But I size things up a

d bother you sometim

pole of his axe marked off the length of the log. Then he moistened his

n't go agin it. Why, what's the use of goin' agin His will, an' it's all the same whether yer choppin' down a tree, or runnin' across the sea of Life fer

usy. But that night, after supper, as the old man

at the parson has head-winds? Do

laddie," was the slow resp

se,

in Glendow as human bellows to blow his vile wind aginst that m

nothing to do with Billy Fletcher

s done it. D'ye think I'd believe any yarn about a man that's been mor'n a father to me an' my family? Didn't I see 'im kneelin' by my little Bennie's bed, twenty years ago come next June, with the tears runnin' down his cheeks as he axed the Good Lord to spare the little lad to us a while longer. Mark my word, Stevie, them people who are tellin' sich stor

and a queer little man entered. A fur cap was pulled down over his ears, while across

aimed, "You look cold. Come

he reply. "My fingers a

night?" questioned Stephen, "I thought you liked th

rubbed his hands together, at the same

self, Pete, with all that rope about your b

e. There'd be no fun in that, a

ou were out on business,

is to pinch the Stickles' cow, an' the fun 'ill be to hear Stickles, Mrs. Stickle

ay the only cow the Stickles have

esn't mean fun, either. Nuthin' but bizn

and his eyes flashing. "Hasn't he any heart at all? To think of him taking the onl

y bizness, boss sez, only bizness. T

nness, that's what it is! And will

live, an' keep the missus an' kiddies.

winter time, Pete? Why doesn't he wait unti

a woman's tongue. That

an's t

auction. So the boss got mad as blazes, an' has sent me fer the cow to pay what the Stickles owe 'im. That's all I know about it, lad, so good-bye to yez both, fer I must be off. I'm to stay t