The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-06-14

QepLu auu 0ApIcSSlOH, IdIe-IIpe uOu9h
rounded cheeks flushed with delicate
pink; graceful neck and snowy throat
faultlessIy moulded arms and hands with
taper fngers-these were her outward
graces that took captive Forests by nc
means susceptible heart. He gazed iI
| wonder at those dainty fingers, and could
| not believe they ever fashioned anything
more cumbrous than the foamy lace thai
encircled her throat.
Forrest went to bed that night feeling
| as if in dream. When be closed hit
eyes, that lovely face hoated over him
and he christened it '''St. Cecilia ;" but
when he thought of her welding ham.
| mer and saw, they would open wide, and
the,s vision would leave him.
At an early hour the next morning he
descended to the east piazza. A beauti'
full BLACK pony accoutered for a lady
| stood before it, impatiently paving and
champing his bit.
"Is that horse safe for a.-lady 2" he
queried of the groom who held the bride
The fellow shook his woolly head slow
| ly and doubtfully.
"Duuno bout dat, sab, but Miss Glare
she ride 'im."
A soft rustic sounded behind Forrest
and he turned quickly. Miss Clare, in 9
perfectly fitting dark-blue habit, with
broad brimed hat of richer blue, caught
upon one side with silver buckle, from
which hoated 8 sable plume-Miss Glare
stood before him. With bow. and q
"Goed morning" he stepped aside to let
herapass, then followed her down the
stems to assist her on her horse. With q
jilittle wave of her gauntleted hand she
sprang into the saddle unassisted, and the
impatient pony dashed off. The grin
ming groom went chuckliDg aud wsg:
ging his head. For a stnpeHed moment
Forrest stood ,gazing after, the fleeing
vision, then turned and slowly walked
Two hours afterward, Clare waspgruaeee:
fully presiding at the breakfast table,
looking, in her cool muslin, as innocent
and calm as dew-bathed rose. As she
rose from her seat, Forrest sprang up to
unclose the door.
"Now or never" he thought with pal
patating heart. "Miss Clare, do you
walk :"
She stood quietly before him.
"Sometimes."
How that one word, uttered in her rich
sweet voice, thrilled him!
"Can I, said he, bending forward with
Unsurpassed eagerness, "can l have the
pleasure Of your. company for walk to-
day ?" "
She lifted her eyes to his.
"Thank you; but I shall be otherwise
engages" t~xsrx >s$E ~ - - .
With bow She passed on. He closed
the door and re-entered the dining room,
where the Squire was still reading his
paper. The latter looked up
:Rutherford, don't you shoot?" ll,t
Sometimes" he answered; but how
differently the word was spoken from the
"sometimes" that was still thrilling on
his ear; : t:i% 4ia.f
The Squire laughed. 70" :
"You don't speak very enthusiastical-.
ly. However, when you feel like it, just
help yourself. to anything in the closet :"
and he rose and opened door.
"What a dead. y-looking little room,"
said Forrest coming over to it.
It contained any and everything that
would delight the heart of a hunter.
"This is Clare's !" and the Squire took
up an elegant shotgun. #
Forrest reached out for it. i.!-ie
Chow cruel it seems" he muttered,
running his hand along the barrel, for
q lady to use this" 'n,;,. +,
The Squire glanced up quickly.
'Do you think so? Don't dare to tell
Clare that" and he laughed.again as he
took his gun and replaced it in the closet.
"Poor child she has never known a
mothers care, for my wife died when she
was mere babe, and she has grown up
at home. Never been to college, but was
educated at home by masters. Didn't
even have governess; so if you see any
thing queer about the girl, excuse it."
He hesitated, with the door in his hand.
'fYou won't take one eof these?"
eyes, I will ;" and entering the closet,
Forrest fitted himself out with game-bag,
powder, shot and gun.
When outside of the house he stopped
and laughed. -
"I'll kill two birds with one shot," and
he set of.
Down the leafy lane he went, past the
little shop. But the door was fast shut.
No glimmering curls or bright brown
eyes met his sight. He went on a little
further. A brawling brook stopped his
course. He sat down on mossy log
and began to cast stones into it: A little
impatient exclamation surprised him.
Looking hastily up, he caught sight Of a
pink muslin and a "sundown." y
"Miss Glare I" he cried, springing to
his feet. But Miss Glare was slowly
winding up her line.
ri am having no luck" she said, "and
fish no more to-day"
Taking her empty basket on her arm,
she rose: 1.;s
"Pray dobnot CO." he said, in dis
tressed voice. Il am angler enough-to
know I disturbed you by"
"Pray do not apologize, she said, with
that little imperious wave of the hand
CuaG WAS peculiar W uSI. l. seo yOu
have yourigun, so / shall not detain you.
T wish you more success than I have had"
And she was gone.
He watched her out of sight, then
threw himself down on the lichened rock
she had vacated. Just here the brook
widened into pool. Trees and trailing
vines bent over it and mirrowed them
selves on its broad, calm surface. A
mocking.bird perched itself on q wood
bine tremulous with scarlet bloom, gazed
at him awhile with its dainty head cum
ningly aside, then broke into silver trills.
"Ah! sweetest songster of the woods,
would that could charm as wisely as
you" Then he broke into a cherry
whistle, and the two had quite q concert.
A bright face drew cautiously back from
huge tree, and q light form fitted away.
It was high noon, and Forrest Ruther-
ford was just appearing on the edge Of
the woods that skirted the lane. He
paused under lofty tree and removed the
ponoma from his brown curls. resting his