Four Canadian Highwaymen | Page 2

fell from the heads in the tying
of the sheaves; many a shower of the golden grain had fallen as the
load, drawn by slow oxen, lurched and swayed along the uneven
ground.

Nestling in a grove of primeval pines that sentinelled the placid,
shining waters of the Don stood a low, wide-eaved cottage. It was
completely clad in ivy; and upon the eastern side there was a dull
copper tinge through the matted masses of the Virginia creeper.
Many of the earlier flowers had faded; but the pinks and the poppies
were still rich in blood; and the sunflower sturdily held up its yellow
face like 'a wizened sorcerer of old,' as a fair and gifted friend of my
acquaintance puts it. The cottage and the grounds about it were the
property of an English gentleman of taste and means. The nearest
dwelling had an air of luxury, and round about it stretched wide areas
of land from which the harvest of wheat and oats had been taken. Here
and there in the distance a group of boys might be seen with their
fishing rods in their hands; for at that day the Don stream was not foul
by the drainage of fields, and shrunken from the downpour of the sun,
and from the loss of its sheltering forest. Trout and often salmon-trout
went into its quiet retreats in the face of the spring freshets; and many a
congregation of foam bubbles did it hold upon its breast to screen the
greedy, vigilant speckled trout.
In a little summer house through whose latticed sides the gadding vines
were so interlocked and twined, as to remind you of the legend of
Salmacis and Hermes' son, sat a girl. Her wide-brimmed hat rested
upon the seat beside her, and round about it was a double girdle of ivy,
as if twining there. Looking through the door of the dainty place you
could not see the girl's face; for she had turned her head, and her chin
was resting upon her slim, white hands, as she read from a book that
lay upon her lap.
Her hair you could see, for it hung over her shoulders and down her
white dress, like 'a gold flag over a sail.' For myself I usually prefer
dark hair for women; but ah! who could have gainsaid the glory of
those luxurious coils that hung over that sweet neck and draping the
curving shoulders! Through the open doorway the sun streamed upon it;
and the soft tangles gleamed like ruddy gold. Hence you will see that
the colour was not that insipid 'blonde' with which shallow girls may
adorn their heads for the sum of ten cents.

But although her face could not be seen, anyone looking at the balance
of the head, the statuesque neck, would have surmised that it was
beautiful.
A tall, lithe, well-built young man, who had a few moments before
entered the cottage, walked into the garden from the back door. His eye
was one that the casual observer would describe as 'full of mischief;'
but behind the sunny brightness was a pensive cast. He walked softly
towards the arbour, and stood for several seconds looking at its
beautiful occupant. Then, in moving his foot, the dry branch of a
rose-bush snapped, and the girl turned her head.
'Ah, it is you, Roland--pardon me, Mr. Gray.'
'Yes; I have come here to eat your apples and your peaches; and to
despoil the grove of their woodcock.'
'Papa said you were coming some time soon; but I did not know when.'
'Why, I met him this morning at the Don Mills, and told him he would
have me during the afternoon and evening. I sent that message
distinctly to you, Miss Aster.'
A faint shadow passed over her face; and it was plain that she was a
little confused, as she stammered:
'Papa must have misunderstood you.'
'Perhaps, Miss Aster; but--well, I hope he did.' At this moment another
person entered the garden. He did not come with the graceful motion,
and the easy tread of Roland Gray; but moved wily a pompous stride,
swinging his arms almost at right angles with his body. His air you
could only describe by the word 'howling'; and he was just the man to
immediately catch the attention of a vulgar girl. His hair was as dark as
a crow's; and it was as coarse as the bristles of a hog. He was short and
rather stout of build; was somewhat 'horsey' in makeup; and had a face
rather handsome. But that he was low-bred, there could not be the
shadow of a doubt.

'I thought you had eluded me, Aster,' he said in the most familiar way;
'thought you had stolen away up the river with that