The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-04-25
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softly closed the kitchen door, aud ran
to the little bedroom for her blue scarf.
Five o'clock, sho said, as tho last
stroke died away; he is wondering
why / don't come, and I must mako
haste. Madgo, little Madgs are you
going with me to night? I am all
ready
Little Madge, tho twelve year old
sister, came flying through the hall.
'Auntic says you have forgotten to
get tho potatoes for breakfast. and We
must prepare them before you go -
Never mind ifhe does have to wait a
little for you; you've waited for him
many time. Come quickly and will
help you
. So sweet-tempered Cora Smith, un.
tied the blue scarf, and tripped away
to the forgotten task as merrily as her
little sister, albeat her heart beat like
an Imprisoned birds at the delay.
The west was all aA.me with the au
tumn sunset ere the sisters closed The
cottage door ehind tl,om, and ran down
the ga,dep Path toward the stile where
he was wai,ing-in other words, where
hazel-eyed, swect faced Cora Smiths
city lover was waiting for his lady
love, as she had many night waited
Tor him.
Almost every evening they met there
at the stile-their trysting place he
said just half way between her home
and his boarding house, He had pro
posed it, and she was nothing 10th to
accede-it was SO pretty and romantic.
Then auntio Smith was not at all
pleased with this dark eyed young stran
ger, and, though, she mad not forbidden
him In tho house, both lovers know she
preferred his room to his company
And so, always with dear little NIadye
at her side, -hc daily t,iprcd down thr
path through the lcafy wnnds to the
half way 'trysting place where she met
her handsome. dark eyed lover, Neil
Rowan How her heart fluttcred "a
night us she thought Of him. aud the
warm love light deeprncd aud darkencd
the soft brown eye!
Neil, Neil, she said almost uncon
scior.ly, aloud; aud little Madsc clasped
her sisters hand closer, and looked up
in her face.
DO you love him SO very much,
sister Cora?'
A swift, hot color came into the girls
cheek, and then she paused, suddenly,
holding the hands of little Madge in a
fervcnt grasp.
Love him love him, Madgc ! better
than all the world-better than NV
youth, my life-ay, sometimes I fear
better than my hopes of heavenI And
| am to be his wife, little Madge, this
good mans wife, when tho beautiful
spring comes. l shall leave you, and
auntie, and uncle to be all his. But
this is our secret, little sister, and only
you cap share it,
And then her hands relaxed tn cir
hold and, drawing the light scarf over
her shoulders, she tripped silently on.
Ehey were almost there-nearing the
edge of the wood, and the stile was but
step away. Another step forward,
and then Madge held her sister
back.
Wait! sho whispered: I can see
two men on the seat, Cora. We do not
want to meet strangers there.
NO, she said. drawing back in the
shadow Of the wood: it is Noil's friend,
Willis Dean. We will wait until he
COOS, for do not like to meet him
Even as she spoke the figure arose,
and the sound of his voice came on the
twilight air distinct and clear.
And what of this love affair, friend
Neil? When is it to end, and how I
Are you really in eannest, aud do yon
mean to marry the girl?'
Cora Smith hand closed upon tn e
arm of Madge till she Shrank iu pain
while they waited for the answer. Neil
Rowan laughed softly
Marry her?' he repeated 'She is
Jistthc subject ofa grand Irritation md
| assure you have done tho thing We II
Buttor anything further bah! am 60
lag back to town to morrow, an this is