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Show . . . hi r- A P'v'T' - ATTovd.'c'-.': TOLLiVER Q ' . Coryrt-r.t.l. fry Jbel3isiaierTUiTte;X ; - g SirifiJiwrinnnr""""nr'"nnJLItnnnr",r'n"r"1n" i"irinnnnnn nrv" r CHAPTER XXV.-Contlnued. r -. Thafs what if thought." Silas assented as-sented with a grunt; and with that, he turned abruptly away, and went in the direction of his house. . "I'll tell you what's the fact." remarked re-marked Mr. Sanders, as he watched the shabby and shrunken figure retreat, "I'm about to change my mind about Silas. I used to think he was mean all through; but he's got a nice warm place in his heart for that son of hls'n. . I declare de-clare I feel right.sorry for the man." Before Cephas went away, he was not too busy learning the lessons Mr. Sanders San-ders had set for him to forget to hunt up Nan Dorrington and tell her- the wonderful news. . .. . . - - "WelL" said Nan, drawing herself up a little stiffly, "What is that to me?" Unfortunately, Cephas had come upon the girl when she was talking with Eugenia Eu-genia Claiborne. . Cephas looked at her hard a moment, and then bis freckled face- turned red. He was properly angry. "Well, whatever what-ever It may-be to-you, it's a heap to me," he said. ' "Cephas, will you see Paul Tomlin?" asked Kugenia. "If you do, tell him that one of his friends sent him her love." "Is It sure enough love?" Inquired Cephas. - "Yes, Cephas, It Is," replied Eugenia, simply and seriously but her face was very red. "Tell him that Eugenia Claiborne Clai-borne sent him her love." "All right," said Cephas, and turned sway without looking at Nan. This turn of affairs didn't suit Nan at all. She ran after Cephas and caught him by the arm. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Cephas, to treat me so? How could I tell you anything before others? If you see Gabriel tell htm oh, I don't know what to say. If I was to tell you what I want to, you'd say that Nan Dorrington had lost her mind. No, I'll not send any word, Cephas. If he asks about me Just tell him that I am well and happy." ... She turned away. In response to a call from Eugenia, but she kept her eyes on Cephas for seme time. Evidently she wished to send a message, but was afraid to. "Don't be angry with me. Cephas," Ce-phas," she said, before the youngster got out of hearing. Cephas made no reply, but trudged on stolidly. He was st the age when a boy Is easily disgusted dis-gusted with girle and young women. As Cephas went along It suddenly occurred oc-curred to him that he had done wrong to say anything about his proposed journey, and tbe thought took away all his resentment. He whirled in bis tracks and ran back to where he had left the girls. He saw Eugenia Claiborne Clai-borne sauntering along the street, but Nan was nowhere In sight. He had no trouble In pledging Miss Claiborne to secrecy,' for she was very fond of all sorts of secrets, and could keep them as well as another girl. -. Nan. she informed Cephas, has ex pressed a determination to visit him at his own home, and In fact - Cephas found her there. She was as sweet as sugar, and was not at aU tbe same Nan who had drawn herself up proudly and as good as told Cephas that it was nothing noth-ing to her that he was going to see Gabriel. Ga-briel. No; this was another Nan, and she had a troubled look In her-eyes. that Cephas had never seen there before. . "I came to see If you were still angry, Cephas," she said, by way of explanation. explana-tion. "I wasn't very nice to you, was IV . .. "Well. I hope you don't mind, -Ce-' phas," said the lad's mother, "If -you do, he'll keep you guessing. Has. he been rude to you, Nan?" And it was-then that Cephas heard praise poured on his name in a steady . stream. Cephas rude! Cephas saucy! A thousand-times no! Why. he waa the best, the kindest and the brightest child In town. Nan was so much in earnest that Cephas bad to blush. . "I didn't know," said his mothers "He has been going with those larger boys so much that I was afraid he was gtf-4 ting too big for his breeches.".' Shri loved her son, but she had no Illusion! about the nature of boys; she knewT them well. ' "Are you still' angry. Cephas?? .Nan asked. She appeared very anxious to be be sure on that score. . . "N-o-o." replied Cephas, - somewhat doubtfully. "Yes you are." said Nan, "and t think it ia very unkind of you. I. am sorry you misunderstood me; .- If you only knew bow I really feel., and how much trouble I have, you would be sorry. instead in-stead of angry." : i "I am the one to blame."' said Cephas, Ce-phas, penitently. "Gabriel says you dislike dis-like him, and I thought he was . only guessing.' But he knew better than I did." Nan caught her breath. .'Did Gabriel say I disliked him?" "He didn't say that word, replied Cephas. Ce-phas. "I think he said you deteated him, and I told him he didn't know what he was talking about.. But he did; he knew a great deal better-than I did." "But. Cephas!" cried Nan, "what could have ' put such an idea In his head?" Cephas's mother was now busy about the house. "I didn't know then, but I know now." remarked the boy stolidly. . . "Don't be unkind, Cephas. It you knew me better you'd be sorry for me. You and Gabriel are terribly mistaken, I'm very fond of both of you." "Oh, I don't count in this game," Cephas Ce-phas declared. "Oh, yes. you do." said Nan. "You are one of my dearest friends, and so is GabrieL" "AU right. said Cephas. "If you treat all your dearest friends as you do Gabriel, I'm very sosy-y for them." . (Continued Monday. ' - j- |