0E ¥P AZTECS. 



Dr. Edward J. Tucker. 



Chapter III. 



JESSIE. 



It was evening when I arrived home. 

 Father and Steve were at supper, but 

 neither spoke until I sat down and helped 

 myself to a cup of tea, when father in- 

 quired in a sullen voice: 



" Allen, what is this Steve has been 

 telling me of your desiring to study 

 medicine in York ?" 



I looked at Steve, whose face was 

 bent over his plate, and answered, 



4 I have been taunted so much lately 

 about leading an idle life, and eating 

 bread earned by you and Steve, that I 

 have determined on striking out for 

 myself in a line that will be more con- 

 genial than farming. It is useless to at- 

 tempt the latter, for though, physically, 

 1 am more capable of attending to the 

 work of a farm, than Steve is, it is dis- 

 tasteful to me ; but what is the use dis- 

 cussing it ? Steve says there is no money 

 to pay my educational expenses. By 

 the way, Steve, your important business 

 and haste to get to town did not prevent 

 you from going by way of Bromley's 

 Pike." 



A hot flush overspread the pale 

 features of my brother. He looked at 



me a moment in amazement and de- 

 manded. 



"Who told you I went by Bromleys 

 Pike }" 



u I saw you ; and I say, Steve, you 

 were a precious long time getting to the 

 Pike. Did you cast a shoe?" 



" Look here, Allen !" he exclaimed 

 angrily, " who appointed you to spy 

 on my movements ; and what business 

 have you to inquire why I take one 

 road in preference to another ? " 



" It was my business to inquire 

 whether you kept faith with me in as- 

 sisting the stranger to town." 



He meditated a moment, then rose 

 from the table and leaned on the back 

 of a chair. " I found the stranger so in- 

 teresting I did not notice the horse had 

 turned into Bromleys Pike until it would 

 have taken more time to retrace our steps 

 than to continue." 



I felt a chill at his words, and I knew 

 if it came to a question of rivalry, his 

 gentle dignity, his pale, delicate, hand- 

 some face, would, in a contest for such a 

 girl as Jessie Sheldon, be strongly in his 

 favor as against my rugged, healthy, 

 coarse, sunburnt face and rough country 

 manners. I was so painfully conscious 

 of the difference, I could not repress 



4 ii 



