South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-09-04

es, until ne comof, responded the guest,
with careless glance, that made the blood
flush into MARoIE's cheeks hotly as she
flung q handful Of earn to the fowls caek-
ling ct the kitchen door.
you don't ike me 2 be said, fo,,owiog
her out into the yard
NO, | don't, vac the ruraIly truthful
reply.
His face clonded q moment why?
Because you are always slurriug at BgY
TRACY che answered augrily. i don't zoe
why you osut let him alone, aud not try to
put falher against him By your insiuu1,i-n ms
-DEN can speak for bimsolf when no is
here You have no right 10 make enemies
behind his back there now
The half amused look came back into
KELLERMAN' S face.
oh, it's about Ben, is it2 he remarked good
natuEedly well, III say nothing about him
isn't worth the trouble; he is n poor. ne er-do-
well fellow; guess he hasn't the money to bring
him this far
Don't you dare to talk to me about Ben it's
mean enough TO set father against him, but you
shont say it to me, exclaimed Margie fercely,
and suddenly emptyng her apron Of corn, she
ran into the house.
kellerman looked afte- her, laughed u pleased
but rather uneasy laugh. q wonder il she likes
me, he said, turning slowly toward the field
where the farmer had his hands at work. It was
an odd thing TO wonder, when her blue eyes had
fairly glittered with anger and she had rushed
into the kitchen, furious with the insolent sran-
ger who ventured to rouse her pretty feminine
wrath, and cared no more for il than The gravel
crunching under his ruthless heel
The farmer smiled to himself at the pleasant
turn things bad taken to be sure Margie snub-
bed and repealed the gentleman from California
very persistently, but that screened ouly to slim
Mate his desire to win her Withheld favor.
Day after day passed and no Ben Tracy APP
Peared. a certain anxiety crept into Margie's
eyes, she grew silent and wstful, aud watched
the town road furtively. Even Mrs. Hodges be-
gau to doubt Ben and hope that her girl would
take to Mr.. kellerman, who was now uudoubt-
eddy lover. They sad, long days, that
weary fortnight of expectation, without "a word
or letter or sign OF Ben. Poor Margie wondered
If it was all true that every body predicted about
his never coming back, and then she would hate
herself for having expected and believed in him.
for having allowed everybody to know it, and
held to him against everything, and now they
would laugh al her numerically. She knew the
sly inuendoes those old maiden sisters Of Tom Ell
lis would level at her curly head, the shafts Of
malice, ba rbed with truth, singing at each step,
and then how could Ben break her heart. That
was tie bitterest part of her trouble Ben, who
had loved her from childhood, had carried her
books from the old school house day after day ;
had gone to apple butter boilngs, and all sorts
of rustic parties with her and for whom she had
turned away SO many good fellows.
The farmer began to speak con tcmptuously of
Ben, and the mother seldom mentioned him in
Margies presence. Mr. Kellerman had become
wonderful favorite with the entire family, except
the only one whose good will he seemed desirous
Of securing.
NO use moping, Margie, my girl, Mrs. Hold
ges abruptly said one morning they sat toge
Their near the open window mendiug great pile
OF house linen. No use mopng, az good fish in
the sea as ever came out Of it-you had better
take Kellerman aud let that thriftless Ben Tracy
go TO naught'
oh, mother, do you hink be has played me
false p asked Margie, suddenly bursting into
tears and sobbing as if her heart would break :
do you think Ben will never come back for the p
Mrs. Hodges sighed and bent closely over her
darning. NO. Margie,' she answhered slowly
from what hear Of Ben don't think he will e.
yer cCme-but you are in luck TO have Keller.
man here-he is wonderfully like Ben sometimes
Il had rather he would have you than Ben, af-
ter the cruel way be has deserted you
Mother, can believe it Of Ben II can mar
~ anybody until know that 7 am deserted
Narge said touchiugly and laying down her
work, she went out walking down the yard into
Tie woods dejectedly, quite unlike Der active
dance-like motions.
Poor child, be will never come commented
the mother, looking after her moment before
hurrying TO the kitchen whence the odor Of bak-
Jog bread issued warmly
'Confouud you, Ben Tracy, you are fool,
muttcrod He,lermau, lifting himself from a long
bench, upon which be bad been comfortably en-
joying the cool breeze, Immediately under Mrs
Hodges window
When Margio returned from her walk under
The great chestnut and walnut trees stretching
their branches protecuBgly over her little head,
she found Mrs. Hodges surprised and excited by
Mr. Kellerman's departure.
Gone, Marge, she said, forgetting Tor once
pies, cakes ana al household cares in her in
tense Indignation without so much rs Ieayiuo
q word for you, after Ell he's said these last
three weeks, and taking so much trouble for
him-its too bad
But Margis didn't seem 70 view il 10 the same
lisht-sae was secretly glad that the stranger
had taken himself &C, albeit she could lot but
like bis frank, pleasant ways 50 much as Ben