The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-11-12

az course, when I heard that she was en-
-paged to Tom. Brown was not pleased. You
never can be sufficiently off with the old love
TO hear such news without pang. l had not
sworn myself to celibacy, but it seemed to nae
in a measure, Millicent's duty to do 80. At
least it would be better taste thought, remem-
bering how fond she had once seemed to me.
Going into q convent or something OF that sort
s-atl least no more love-making-l had sup
posed would be her course. And here she was
& at the opera with fan, opera-glass, boquet and
sat in the next row with Miss Martin, and
: I looked into her eyes, and whispered compli-
ments in terrible sort Of way, considering
that I had no intentions whatever. Ab, we'll
she was very practical girl, not romantic. |
knew she had budding fancy for me, but |
don't think she would ever let
aconcealment like worm in the bud.
Feed on her dannask cheek"
II am sure that she married the retired gro
GER who proved to be her fate, with light
heart; and I knew her appetite did not fail
her, for sat opposite her at the table one day
not long since, and she took kindly to roast
beef ard gravy, and must have weighed at
least l60 pounds; but if she had been the most
sp;r;t,;elle creature, who ever broke her heart,
doubt if should have remembered anything
iibut my own selfish self that night; and all the
while was thinking just as we remember
snatches of some familiar song while we were
busy with something very different from music,
of the pleasant hours my little blackeyed love
and I had had toge!her-of the softness of the
velvet palm that lay unrestingly in mine as we
walked in the moonlight by the river bank the
summer before, when twenty of us stopped at
the eSsame gay hotel at; of the kisses she
used to let me take, and the bushes they
brought to her cheeks-and I wanted to kill
Brown. He was harmless young man, with
lisp and an eye.glass, but longed to assas-
sinate him.
This sort of thing happened more than once
during the season, and felt glad when it was
gone and summer sent Society" flying to
woods and glens and waterfalls. did not
seek the usual resort. went to wild, out OF
the way place, and 6shed persistently. | did
some shooting too, and formed friendship
with a certain Mr.. Briggs, who was fond of
sport, SO he said, though l never knew him to
catch fish, or shoot anything whatever.
No one knew where was I knew nothing
of the whereabouts of any of my acquaintance.
There were few ladies at the hotel, principal
" invalids, for there were springs thereabouts
that had great medicinal reputation but it
Eas not the sort of place to tempt "our set"
7 anticipated no unpleasant meeting with
people who would want to know why Milly and
I had parted. And fancy my establishment and
horror when, one evening, as took my seat at
the table, saw straight opposite me little,
pale shadow, which I recognized as all that
was left of Milliceut Hood. Her portly grand
mother was with her. and the way that old
lady didn't look at me was more dreadful than
the most awful looks could have been.
Il made short meal that day, and resolved
10 leave the place by the morning train. Un-
fortunately oversight myself Wait min
ute-was it unfortunate? 1t seemed so to me
for good while. I missed the stage at all
events. There was an evening stage also. l
intended to go down on that.
Out in the woods, and having purposely lost
sight Of my companion for little while, sat
down at the foot of tree and fell to thinking
Of Millicent. Poor little girl how worn she
was-did she? But, no-no-she had declared
that she hated me. All, there was truth in
Moores song
there's nothing half sweet in life loves young
DREAM"
and I had awakened from it. sighed and
rested my head against the old tree. In mo-
ment more-crack, crack, crack A terrible
pain through my head. A cry of "Oh, Lord,
though you were squirrel; - and was dimly
concious that Briggs had hit something at last.
He had hit me.
I came to myself after weeks fever and
delirium quite blind. My eyes were untouched,
but the nerves had been somehow injured
There was something horrible in the surgeons
vague promises of improvement in time; and
all could say to the penitent Briggs was,
"Why didn't you hit a vital spot while you
were about it? ?"
It was horrible time / don't like to think
about it even now. was not sure how time
passed. There was no day to me, and seemed
suddenly to have been launched into a dark
eternity.
One day had terrible longing for fresh
mir, and as there could be no reason for keeping
me indoors, ordered my nurse, an old colored
man, to set a chair for me in some lonely spot
where strangers would not be apt TO spy me out.
He did so. There was little nook which I
knew we'll, where no one except some rural
Ssher ever came. Here bade him leave me,
end return in an hour. He obeyed.
s'Ah," thought to myself, "were Millicent
nv wife, should have one who would love me
even now; one on whose truthful bosom
could rest my weary head
"Millicentw whispered softly, "Millicent! |!
Millicentw
The name brought back sweet recollections
rested my head upon my hand and INDUCED
in them until, being still weak, sleep ovescame
me.
Then dreamed of her.
We were together in some beautiful spot and
nv arms were about her and her kisses were on
my lips.
How vivid the dream was!
] was awake but felt the kiss still another
and another. A hand seemed to rest on my
shoulder Involuntarily strove to clasp it in
nv own. Then I knew it was no dream. A
hand was there 1t did not resist mine-a lit
tie trembling woman's hand, soft and warm,
and sweet-Millicent's own dear hand.
knew it before drew her to me-
ats my little one," said. "Speak to me,
cannot see you"
Il knew ought not to be here" she sobbed,