the Muses chose to send him subject matter for his weekly letter to the Guardian. The window was open, and the cool airs from the mountain spruces mingled with

e when he was so moved without saying good night. Presently Jethro lifted his chin, and dropp

He glanced at Jethro, who did not move, and then he went to the door and shot back the great forged bo

n!" exclaimed t

d seemed about to step off the porch again. It was, indeed, the first cit

you?" he asked. "Have

," and then he was startled by another voice in h

sed his way a great de

took a couple

one," he remarked, addressing Jethro

idn't say so, did

ington, "any other time wil

leam in his eye as Mr. Worthington turned away. The mill-owner, in fact,

to discuss with you is

" he

lated," s

ly, and then Mr. Worthington came as far as the door, where he stood looki

ician, Will?

aid Wet

busines

he sai

lks what you hear

er answered; "I'm not interest

Jethro. "Guess y

re to stay," We

me-stay to oblig

" Wetherell said, beginning to get

's object was in this matte

with ill-disguised impatience du

at a conference in which he has no manner of concern. I thin

ed that I know o

. Worthington,

or me to come to you some oth

store. Jethro parted his coat tails, and sat down again in the armchair. Wetherell, not wishin

er time?" J

me," said Mr.

other

ted Mr. Worthington, stri

orrow night,

about is of the utmost importance," said

ght," said Jethro.

t ti

aid Jethr

Mr. Worthingt

d chairs, and Jonah Winch's clock ticked and ticked, and Wetherell's pen scratched and scratched on his weekly letter to Mr. Willard, although he knew that he was writing the sheerest nonsense. As a matter of fact, he tore up the sheets th

rowing section of the state-that the people hereabouts are every day dema

mill owner, has

n. "I wish to put the matter on broader grounds. Men like you and me ought not to be so much concerned with our own affair

, do you-have to be jus

-wh

ro, blankly, until he decided how to take it. Then h

that it will appeal to you in the same light. If the spirit which imbued the founders of this nation means anything, Mr. Bass, it means that the able men who are given a c

ced at Jethro, and started for Jethro had sunk down on the small of his back, his chin on his chest, in an attitude of lassitude if n

d Jethro, without mo

d Mr. Worthingto

nday-school,"

. It suddenly came over the storekeeper that the predicament in which Mr. Worthington found himself whateve

uro Road, hain't you,

thout look

es

l stockholde

s neither here

y-r-road don't

ainly do

it went to Bramp

of this section to get the road through. I am not prepared to say wh

ion?" said Jethro, from

to a franchise, and in my opinion the General Court are behaving disgracefully in refusing us one. I will not say all I

get a franch

We tried to get it by every legitimate means

idn't sign his re

ington was supposed to have made to that gentleman, who had at length acknowledged his inability to oblige, and had advised Mr. Worthington to go to headquarters. And Mr.

to his feet, and flung

ir," he cried; "I defy you

o still s

ritable organizati

ught better of the lawmakers of my state. I'll tell you plain

ave, hain't you

lf of the people of your section to allow that f

eal, have you-c

name of the farmers and merchants of this region-your neighbors,-to use your influence to get

in the name of the fa

is Speaker o

ected him," remarked Jethro

ngton

made a mistake in going

atch a pike, w-woul

after a pause, "that Sutton could not have b

remained sunk in his chair. To all a

and merchants to get that road thr

Worthington sat very still, his face drawn

he said, and though he tried to speak firmly his

up and turned it down, and the first citizen was still standing in the doorway. His back was toward them, but the fingers of his left hand-working convulsively caught Wetherell's eye and held it; sa

d, "we've got to h

frightened the storekeeper, revolted him, and yet its drama held him fascinated. By some subtle process which he had actually beheld, but could not fathom, this cold Mr.

ice? Name it, f

the bill-hadn't you? b-bette

t the franch

he capital soon?

g down on

in and see me

Thursday." And then, without another word to either of them, he swung

not trust his voice to speak. Although Jethro had never mentioned Isaac Worthing

of the wheels had died awa

d he, Will? Didn't

, who himself had never been fu

laughed," said Jethro, "if he'd laughed j

went out of the store