The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-09-30
DRIFTING WITH THE TIDE.
BY EDITH LEE.

sunset poured tneir llSG Iihls, anu cuooi ou
into song the woodland warblers fitting
from bengh to bough: Here, Nature was
rugged, but grand. The mountains were
lofty and majestic, and raising their
broad fronts on either side, Graded the
flowing river, and hushed it into noise
less sihmber The sun-beams went SIAN
ting down the hill.sides, irnpartng their
bright.colored tints to the clinging moss,
and elancing in and out the gay foliage;
then falling upon the river, made long
tracks of rosy light, whose bright cour-
sings were intently watched by one occu-
pant of a pretty little boat that was ",
drifting with the tide. Philip Randolph
dropped the oars, and followed in its
course the circling light. He was won
derng what the angel of dreams was
whispering to the quiet stream for If
ever river slept, this one was slumoering
now. 3 Over it's surface, the winds chan
ted q sweetlullably, and the strong noun
tains folded it in their great arms, and
all was stilInia
~ a tdluaintlistle ,boatit was, and quaint
littieimaiden she, who sat at one end,
with bead bowed down on her hand. A
rustic hat shaded her face, from beneath
which the soft brown eufls fell in grace
full negligence. Her only beauty was q
pair pair Of hazel eyes, both sogish and spark.
ling; but when word Of love would
cali into being the most beautiful bushes
and the merriest dimples, you would
travel far before finding a swecter or
gentler face. So thought Philip Kan
dolph.ga. = ss -
Ofwhat was she so steadfastly think
ing, on this brig ght Summer evening, when
ali maidenhood should DC merry and gay!
Perhaps, like the river, she was dreaming
ofIthe onesbright sky the waters OF her
heart reflected and, raising her head
with a sigh, she glanced at her compan-
ion.. Very gravo and earnest was his
i6olsasShe asked the. question, Nettie,
what is your decision?" Again her head
dropped down on her hand, with the an
swer: .Hush! let me think
sWeighty and momcntuus thoughts were
they that filed that pretty head her
whole2iHfe rose up before her-scenes
changing and shifting like tic pictures in
a kaleidoscope. Philip Randolph and she
had grown up from childhood together
under the guardianship of Philips father.
How we'll she remembered the old red
schoolhouse where both had gone day
pfter day to receive knowledge; the
snow covered hill, up and down which
Phillip had drawn her on his sled, and
made her checks glow like roses when he
would -stoutly refuse, any rival the honor
Of doing likewise. Her first ride on
"Old Whitley" she standing on the farm
ward gate and springing into the saddle,
1and Plnip leading the dear old horse;
then, when she could gallop and leap
bitches, he had brought her homo the
nrettiest of ponies to be all her very own;
hltterward, their separation; she bong
sent to boarding school and he to college.
All the home-sickness of that dreary
night came back to her now, and Nettie's
,tears flowed down her cheeks at tbevery
remembrance. How Madame A.
fro%ned when letter in Philips bold,
free handwriting was given her; and the
anger of Nettie when Madame tore it up
as she i" didn't allow young ladies to re-
ceige letters from gentlemen"
The long three years that seemed to
have no ending. and then the meeting Mt
aFe old homestead How she 7biushed
And smiled as, instead of q mere youth,
Philip appeared before her as young
gentleman, and complimented her upon
her improved appearance. Then the long
days of heart-sickness, when the firt OF
tho county maneuvcrcd in all sorts OF
ways to gain Philips heart, and Nettie
was so wounded that she treated Philip
eoIdly and answered him rudely; then
wept all night about it. How nobly Philip
had saved her life; saved her from hor,
rible death, and in recompense thereof
claimed her as his own. Well she re-
members the hearts blood surging up to
her check, and the thrill of pleasure con-
vulsipg her whole being; and now she
feels that without him this world would
ibera dreary void, and she was stray
wa;f Then the day, this very day it
was, Philip had asked his father to give
n blessing to their bctrothal, but Mr..
Randolph had declared, Z" 1t must never
be; they must forget ore another, and Inc
live happy apart" He refused all t ex
n,apations until Philip vowed not to obey
him in this case, and not until then dld ne
tell his son why he must not love Nottle.
lag AGO, aduel had been fought be-
tween Nettie's father and Philips; the
former was instantly killed; the latter,
struck by remorse, had endeavored to
atone bv educating the daughter OF his
enemy. never dreaming of 80 disastrous
a consequence as the two young peoples
falling in love. But it is the old, old sto-
ry repeating itself once again. Worldly
syes are wise; they are tarseeing and
y;eilant, and worldly hands would on.
dsavor to draw asunder two lives that
shonld mingle as one; but, in spite of all
tho worldly eyes and hands, the current
Of love that for time had beon turned
ont &c of it's course, flows back into its orig
ouC y, w. - ;tb Greater force than be-