"Grandpa, guess what brought me to see you to-day?"

"I forgot my dinner, and you have trudged over here to bring it.
Ain't I right, Pearl? Stand back, honey, or this Satan of a horse
may kick your brains out. I can hardly manage him."

Here the stranger uttered an oath, and called out, "How much longer
do you intend to keep me waiting?"

"No longer, sir, than I can help, as I like the company of polite
people."

"Oh, grandpa!" whispered Edna, deprecatingly, as she saw the
traveller come rapidly forward and throw his shawl down on the
grass. Mr. Hunt pushed back his old battered woolen hat, and looked
steadily at the master of the horse--saying gravely and resolutely:

"I'll finish the job as soon as I can, and that is as much as any
reasonable man would ask. Now, sir, if that doesn't suit you, you
can take your horse and put out, and swear at somebody else, for I
won't stand it."

"It is a cursed nuisance to be detained here for such a trifle as
one shoe, and you might hurry yourself."

"Your horse is very restless and vicious, and I could shoe two
gentle ones while I am trying to quiet him."

The man muttered something indistinctly, and laying his hand heavily