The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

The maple, of all the trees in the forest, was the only one so far frost- smitten and sun struck. The har- vests had been gather, and the only tenants of the fields were flocks of pigeons that came to feed among the stubble; for many a ripe ear fell from the heads in the tying of the sheaves; many a shower of golden grain had fallen as the load, drawn by slow ox- en, lurched and swayed along the un- even ground. THE FOUR CANADIAN HIGHWAYMEN OR The Robbers of Markham Swamp. CHAPTER I The Pretty Aster and Mr. Ham It was the autumn of the year, and the dress of the Canadian wvoods at that season, forty years ago, differed little from the gaudy garbs of now. Near a small village not far from the town of Little York, I choose as the place for the opening of this true story. Nestling‘ in a grove of primevall pines that sentinelled the placid, shin- I ing waters of the Don stood a low wide-caved cottage. It was complet- ely clad in ivy; and upon the eastern side there was a dull copper tingel through the matted mases of Virgin- ‘ ia creeper. I Many of the earlier flowers had faded; but the pinks and the poppies were still rich in blood; and the sun- flower sturdily held up its yellow face like ‘a wizened sorcerer of old,’ as a fair and gifted friend of my acq- uaintance puts it. The property and the grounds about it were the prop- erty 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 by the down- pour of sun, and from the loss of its sheltering forest. rout and often salmon trout went into its quiet re- treats in the face of the spring~ fresh- ets; 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 thro- ugh the door at the dainty place you could not see the girls 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 in her lap. ‘ Her hair you could see, for it hung over her shoulders and down her’ white dress, like ‘a gold flag over a 1 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 door- way’the sun streamed upon it; and the soft tangles gleamed like ruddy- gold. Hence you will see that the color was not that insipid ‘blonde’ with which shallow girls may adorn their heads for the sum of ten ‘cents. BY EDMUND COLLINS The following story is founded on fact and as the author aptly said “everyone in this part of the country who is not deaf has heard of the gang at Markham Swamp.” The story was first published in 1886. It will run as a continued story in The Liberal. 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 enter- ed the cottage, walked from the back door. His eye as the casual observer would describe as ‘full of niischief;’ but behind the sunny brightness was a pensive cast. He walked softly to- wards the arbour, and stood for sev- eral seconds looking at its beautiful occupant. Then, in moving his foot, the dry branch of a rose bush snap- ped, and the girl turned her head. ‘Ah, it is you. Rolandâ€"pardon me, Mr. Gray.’ ‘Yes I have come to eat your apples and your peaches; and to despail the grove of their woodcock.’ ‘Papa said you were coming som time soon; but I did not know when ‘Why I met him this morning a the Do The Robbers of Markham Swamp Mills 501118 at I ‘Oh, indeed. I have been reading 'here during the greater part of the Qafternoon. Mr. Gray let me intro- 'ducc to you Mr. Ham; Mr. Ham, Mr. lGray.’ Roland bowed with much 'politeness; but Ham’s stiff pompous -bend was an assertion of superiority, did not come with the graceful motion and easy tread of Roland Gray; but moved with pompous stride, swing- ing his arms almost at right angles to 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 make-up; and had a face rather handsome. But he was low-bred, there could not be the shadow of a doubt. ‘I thought you had eluded me, As- ter,’ he said in the most familiar way, ‘thought you had stolen away up the river with that book.’ “I have broken in upon your tete- a-tete with the young man, Aster; so I’ll take a turn out and have a jaw with your guv’nor.’ In a moment he was gone. “This is your next d< presume, Miss Aster?’ ‘Yesv he and papa ai'el‘great friends. He consults papa on nearly everyâ€" thing that he does ‘upon his farm; and papa in turn consults him concerning our afi'airs.’ ‘ ‘I suspected as much. I presume that he and you are intimate friends. I observe that he calls you “Aster.” ‘I did not ask him to ‘do so; and since he chooses to adopt this fam- iliar fashion I cannot well rebuke him papa and he are such great friends.’ ‘Then do you-permit me to call x'nn Aci‘nr?’ open his eyes if any other person should have the temerity to ask for Miss Aster.’ ‘Then would you be really glad to see these two farms joined in o e? To see me marry Mr. Ham‘?’ gler tremulous eyes questioned his face eagerly. When she began her quer- ies there was in them a flash of mock- ing mirth; but that had disappeared, and there was now only to be observ- ed a grave questioning expression there. My reader is probably desirous of hearing something about Asber’s face, notwithstanding the assumption that it was beautiful. As a rule we expect to find chestnut eyes with ruddy golden hair; but this was not the fact in Aster’s case. Her eyes were the color which men like Theoâ€" phile Gauthier attribute Venus: they were not blue, neither were they brown; but they presented in the most fascinating ensemble a grey which at night was‘a fathomless dusk and by day that green which you perceive where the sea is a hundred fathoms deep. With the light upon her eye there was a glint of emerald, that witghing glare that made Becky Sharps irresistible. Now imagine an eyebrow, dark as the raven’s quill, overarching such an eye, and con- trasting itself with the burning gold of the hair, and skin of Parisian white and purity. Then contemplate a softness beside which the velvet upon the petal of a pansy would seem rigid and this eye large and timorous, and fringed with long, dark lashes! I do not like the work of catalogu- you ine wares, espec1 ate estim crude and m: with the ideal nose was it door neighbor, I 711115 when m .qu « 2L H dwm I ‘Well, to tell you the truth, Aster. Ithink you are twenty times too gone for this fellow Ham; and therefore i should not like to see you marry him: to see the two farms become one.’ sape from the enquiring, unflinching stare was out of the question; so he said mystering all the courage that he could: ‘Oh, I did not think that you conâ€" sidered me in any sense a superior‘ girl; and I must feel highly flattered that you put a higher price upon that superiority than upon the splendid property adjoining my father’s.’ There was now the merest hint of mischief in her glance; and she was evidently ' desirous that Mr. Gray should be more explicit in his objection to the match. ‘Does Mr. ,Gray realize wha‘. a great compliment he has paid me. a poor rustic, an untutored country girl, with a little knowledge about bees and clover, and some cunning: as to the tricks of breachy cattle‘. Do I know more about the Englis- authors; or the French ones than hi, does? Am I more gifted in math( matical insight; or do I know more about the history of kings and an- cient wars? I can paint the meres; bit; and my music is attuned for lit- tle else than the heavy heels of rustic ' swain‘s and clumsy lass 5. Now, Mr. Ham is more skilled in painting than I. and more learned in all things acqu- ired from books: pray where, then, is the force. of your objection to this joining of hands and farms upon in- tellectual grounds? I think you are twenty times too good Aster. You cannot sum up the sup- eriority of character by counting the ; lhevrt as you stoop over it to drii its perfume and gloat upon its bea 13:. But you ask me to be definit ~..ill you take offence, if, upon sor points which present themselves me. I lie-come quite definite?’ “570; by any means Mr. Gray. two very anxious to hear everythii xiii-at you may have to say.’ l ‘Wcll, Aster. I do not admire yo l'u-u-ml llr. Ham. Ithink he is snob; and under an exteri ul’ hrusquc frankness I believe he downhill andâ€"cowardly. I shou consider your union with such a pc monstrous sacrifice.’ "Would you have me wait un man who reaches your ids came and asked father for my ham ‘Or would you have me advertise William Lyon Mackenzie’s newspapt l0]. still another and final alternatii I you have me bloom in tl ;.~‘\w-vt place all my days in celibacy i ‘I simply would not have you in; l I FUdI‘SQ S‘Wll i SUIIII \w-u ld ry that person, Ham.’ ‘No other definite wish with respe to me?‘ Her head was bowed no land liergnischievous, upward glan Jwasz \ery fascinating. ‘l have;‘but I would prefer for t present to keep it to myself.’ i (To Be Continued Next Week.) mzmm warm What we want are good pictures of historic sites in the County of York Sites such as Col. Moodie’s grave, the Eckhardts homestead and Sharon’s Temple, St. John’s Church, Heise Hill Cemetery, etc. In every community there are houses, schools, churches, mills, halls and scenes that recall the history of York. If you have a good distinct photo, or a collection of such photos, preferably 4 inches by Sinches or larger, either snapshots or time exposures, in black-and-White, ferrotype or gloss finish, mounted or unmountedâ€"send them in. Mark clearly on the back of each photo submit ted your name and address and description of the place pictured. Pictures not bearing this information will be disqualified The help of our readers is sought by the Liberal in conjunction with Mr. E. A. James in assembling a collection of photographs of points of historic interest in the county of York. 1â€"Photos any size may be entered, but the best size is 4 inches by 5 inches, or larger. Smaller pictures are difficult to reproduce in print. 2 â€"Name and address of contestant and exact descrip- tion of the scene illustrated must be clearly written on the back of each photo submitted. 3â€"A11 entries should be carefully wrapped to avoid damage in the mails. 4â€"It is not necessa’ry to mount photos. Any finishes may be submitted, although black 11d whit-e. ferro- tVDe or gloss finishes are L“::~"§ a: reproduction PURPOE @F CONTEST FIRST PRIZE-“FIVE DOLLARS IN CASH SECOND PREEE-m-THREE DOLLARS IN CASH THIRD PRIZE-"TEES? DOLLARS IN CASH Also three additionai prizes of ONE DOLLAR EACH. CONDITIONS I ‘ Va", A ifriond Mr Ivoarsc sm vol' in'usqu‘ (ieceitfull consider I) items as you “take stock" in a trades- man's store. The highest and most captivating points in human charac- ter, especially in a woman’s, often have such an evasive sublety of out- line that you can no more define mam. than you could the message which some blossom, blooming in a, wild. far place, has for the human heart as you stoop over it to drink its perfume and gloat upon its beau- ty. But you ask me to be definite: will you take offence, if, upon some points which present themselves to me. I become quite definite?’ '.\'ot by any means Mr. Gray. I :un very anxious to hear everything Lhat ynu may have to say.’ ‘\\'c‘|l. Aster, I do not admire your i‘I-imul Mr. Ham. I think he is a rouse snob; and under an exterior of hrusque frankness I believe he is dowitt‘ull andâ€"cowardly. I should cnnsider your union with such a per- .«m ‘. monstrous sacrifice.’ ‘Would you have me wait until sum.» man who reaches your ideal came and asked father for my hand? Or would you have me advertise in William Lyon Mackenzie’s newspaper. 0:, still another and final alternative, would you have me bloom in this Swvfit place all my days in celibacy?’ ‘I simply would not have you mar- ry that person, Ham.’ ‘No other definite wish with respect in me?‘ Her head was bowed now, and hergnischievous, upward glance was way fascinating. ‘l have;‘but I would prefer for the WHAT WE WANT WILCOX LAKE BRICK CO. LIMITED Ofl‘ice Richmond Hill Telephone 92. Remember that if it has an historic interesta photograph of a photograph will qualify just as readily as an original photograph provided it applies to the Conntv of York. Manufacturers of Marbelite Brick RICHMOND HILL, ONT. W. H. LEGGE, Manager JUDGES Residence, Nights and Holidays Telephone 2112.