e by any one. Zeb, I'm
ashamed of you."

Zeb turned to his passengers. "There!" he whined, "I told you so, Tim. I
said you hadn't ought to act that way."

"Aw, what are you givin' us!" sneered Hallet. "You thought 'twas as
funny as anybody, Zeb Kendrick. Look here, Ros Paine! I thought you was
down on them Coltons. We fellers are only havin' a little fun with 'em
for bein' so stuck-up and hoggish. Can't you take a joke?"

"Not your kind. Go back, Zeb."

"But--but can't I use the Lane NO more?" pleaded the driver. "I won't
fetch 'em here agin."

"We'll see about that. You can't use it this time. Now go."

Zeb reluctantly spoke to his horse and the wagon began to move. Hallet
swore a string of oaths.

"I'm on to you, Paine!" he yelled. "You're standin' in with 'em, after
all. You wait till I see Captain Jed."

In three strides I was abreast the cart-tail.

"See him then," said I. "And tell him that if any one uses this Lane
for the purpose of wilfully annoying those living near it I'll not only
forbid his using it, but I'll prosecute him for trespass. I mean that.
Stop! I advise you not to say another word."

I did not intend to prosecute Jim, he was not worth it, but I should
have thoroughly enjoyed dragging him out of that wagon and silencing him
by primitive methods. My anger had not cooled to any extent. He did not
speak to me again, though I heard him muttering as the cart moved off.
I remained where I was until I saw it turn into the Lower Road. Then I
once more started for home.

I was very much annoyed and disturbed. Evidently this sort of thing had
been going on for some time and I had just discovered it. It placed me
in a miserable light. When Colton had declared, as he had in both
our interviews, that the Lane was a nuisance I had loftily denied the
assertion. Now those idiots in the village were doing their best to
prove me a liar. I should have expected such behavior from Hallet and
his friends, but for Captain Dean to tacitly approve their conduct was
unexpected and provoking. Well, I had made my position plain, at all
events. But I knew that Tim would distort my words and that the idea of
my "standing in" with the Coltons, while professing independence, would
be revived. I was destined to be detested and misunderstood by both
sides. Yes, Dorinda was right in saying that I might find sitting on the
fence uncomfortable. It was all of that.

I entered the grove and was striding on, head down, bu