Lucky | Page 9

chap will inherit
the earth some day six feet of it. He's as blindly meek as an ox. Isn't
Nana an odd name for a girl brought up by the Roysters?"
"Yes, so soft and refined. She's a remarkably graceful child and more
than pretty. They ought to be proud of her."
"Why bless you she's not a Royster! She's a child they're just keeping
for some reason or other. How her eyes did open when I told her I had a
personal acquaintance with old Hornie! A Royster wouldn't have
flinched they are distant connections of his, you know. Bub is a family
name. It's shortened from Beelzebub."
"Lucky, do learn to curb your imagination a trifle at least. Do you know,
you are getting quite a reputation in the settlement for that sort of

thing?"
"What! Wouldst rob thy gentle brother of his only joy?"
"Nonsense!"
"Not at all. I like to lie. I believe I have a talent for it. We must
cultivate our talents. Everybody says we must."
"Well, the consequences be upon your own head."
"I have often thought of reforming. I will reform, sis, now see if I don't,
just to please you. But it is a great sacrifice. You remember the story of
the sick lady who died when her looking-glass was broken, because it
was all she had to live on. Now what if"
"Well, there's oats in the bin worth thirty dollars, and we can have a
pretty respectable funeral in these parts for that amount. Hadn't we
better step up a bit? It is almost noon."
When the Fieldings had passed out of sight, Lund and Nana, who had
been watching them eagerly, turned and looked at each other.
"The new neighbors," said Nana.
"Yes, over in the new house. Mis' Royster says they're awfully stuck up.
I've seen the feller before, but not the girl. They've only been here two
months. Slip's the one somebody they think it was Bub Royster tried to
rob one night when she was ridin' home a horseback."
"I remember," said Nana.
"She's as pretty as a picture," said Lund. " But look, Nane, at them
cows away off there. Good-bye."
Lund mounted his horse, which was grazing quietly near, and was
gone.
Nana went back to the pools where her ducks were sporting, to dream

away the remaining hours of the forenoon. Her mind was full of the
new neighbors. She wondered when she would see them again, and
what they would say to her.
CHAPTER IV.
BUB AND ROSE.
"ONE of Royster's steers is mired!" shouted Joe Slocum one chilly
spring day, darting into the yard of Farmer Dolby on his wiry little
mustang.
"Sakes alive!" exclaimed a rosy young girl, who stood in front of the
house, scattering crumbs of corn bread to a crowd of noisy fowls which
surrounded her. "How did it happen? Ma, hear that! One of Royster's
steers is mired! Get your bonnet, and come quick!"
"The men folks aint to home," said Mrs. Dolby, bustling out upon the
scene with a shawl and hood in her hand. "They have gone to mill, but
me and Rose will go over."
"So the men folks aint to home. Then I must look otherwheres for help.
But you and Rose go on as you say. Down at the North Pond, mind you.
Mis' Royster and Mis' Blake and the gals be all there. Bub and his pa be
there too, I guess." This with a side glance at Rose.
The miring of an animal was quite a social event in these regions. It
was all that balls, receptions, and races are to their city cousins. So,
when Mrs. Dolby and her daughter arrived at the pond, they found a
very sociable group gathered on its banks. I do not mean to say they
enjoyed the discomfort of the poor brute who stood knee deep in the
soft mud, from which he could not extricate himself; but when such
circumstances occurred, they made the best of them.
event which was to bring her in contact with the one she admired above
all others, did not obliterate her pity for the unfortunate animal. Her
cheeks burned with a ruddy glow, and her pretty lids were becomingly

dewy, when Bub arrived. She was the first object his eyes fell upon,
and his rough heart gave a quick, jerky thump under his brown ducking
jacket. No matter how cruel and unrelenting a man may be, he likes a
soft-hearted woman; and Rose was a perfect picture of sweet sympathy.
Bub's face gave no sign as he looked at Rose. He thought sentiment
weak, and his highest ambition was to be considered strong. So he