The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-06-14
OF .sALITTLE SHOP
BY ANNABELLE BARKER WHITE.

kUMANGE' UT n Ill tLE oHVF'
BY ANNABELLE BARKER WHITE.
Whack! whack whack The ringing
sound of q hammer fell on the pleasant
coolness of the air with distinctDess
that showed he;strokes were given with
ayigorous and practiced hand. Mr.. For
rest Rutherford turned hiSvhead in tht
direction whence the sound proceeded
and saw queer-looking little house
fronting the leafy lane up which he was
slowly riding.
81 must be. near the place." he solito.
uuized. II will inquire at this house
which seems to be carpenters or follow.
er of Vulcan's. Hillo,Hs and, he reined
inshis steed before the iopen2door.
,Aisight at once confronted him which
made him exclaim soto voce:
"Shadesjofl Mineral! what do I,seeF p
What he saw was young lady with a
a,broad.brimined, hat pushed off her: brow
aud apiir aflhuge gloves sol~her band,
deftly welding aheayy hammer. .'
II beg your pardon, miss" he said,
lifting his hat with courtly grace, "but
will you tell me if am on the right road
to Squire Snowdon's?" :
The young girl did not start or blush
or let fall the hammer, as an ordinary
girl would have done on being suddenly
and directly addressed, by handsome
stranger. She turned her brown eyes
upon him and quietly replied: - n
eff YOU ride on little further, you
will will see the house on the right of the
lane" $oa"aS f..i :.
Then she turned back to her workw7for
work it surely was, to judge by the nails,
hammer, numerous small saws that lay
on the bench before her. together. with a
pile of richly-colored lumber on one
corner of the room and chest of car
penter's tools in another. Thus summa-
rily dismissed, the young man perforce
resumed his journey, not wishout'many
backward, reluctant gaze.
"Talk about the curiosity of woman,
but I don't believe the man lives that
would not give anything to know what
that girl is doing. In the name of WON
derful womanhood, what can she be up
to?"
But further anxious musings were cut
short by sight of the large, handsome
white house that now camehin view. 1t
was a beautiful place, and eloquently
testified to its owners taste and opulence
by the grand old trees, the beautiful and
abundant flowers, the winding walks, the
summer houses and the fountain that
tinkled musically as its cooling spray fell
into a marble basin upheld by snowy
limbed Tritons.
"I surely must congratulate myself on
being so fortunate as to procure retreat
for the summer in this terrestrial Para
disc" ia ;, ~. :.
His approach had evidently been OBJ
served, for as he passed before a large
white gate, IL slowly swung open and
discovered small boy in waiting.
"Please, sab, Mass Joe says ride up to
the east piazza and 60 in. He in de lib
The young man did as directed, follow
ing the windings of the broad, graveled
drive which led to the 'seast piazza" =
"Ahl Mr., Rutherford, come in, come
in" and q middle-aged gentleman OF
stately presence came out with out
stretched hands of welcome. II am glad
to know one young man. Of the nine.
teenth century, ,can Efemem and fulfill
a promise !" and his cordial, mellow
laugh filled the room as he drew forward
an easy chair, then rang the bell,
"Thank you, sir; but not many young
men have so pleasant 8 promise to full
fill"
Refreshments were now brought in,
and as Forrest slowly slipped, his wine-7-
the guerdon ofSouthern hospitality in
ante-6eNum days-Mr., or Squire Snow
den, as he was more familiarly called,
said:
"I hope you will enjoy the summer
here, though ifyou depend on female so.
ciety fear you will have dull time Of
it, for ladies, young or old, are like "an-
gel visitants.'
Forrest thought of the young lady he
had just seen, but said nothing. -
When hesthougM his guest sufficiently
rested though the latter declared he was
not at all wearied by his fifty-mile jour
ney by rail and FIVE Of horseback exercise
from the stationl, Squire Snowden in.
vited Forrest to stroll over the delight
fully laid out grounds. s;-
When they reached the house, they
found they had barely time to dress 70,
dinner. As he opened his room door.
after making his toilet, Forrest saw the
Squire slowly advancing along the hall
~ thought T would guide you to the
dining-room. Having no company, we
do not dine en- regle, but will proceed di'
rectly to the table,"
They descended the stair, walked q lit.
tie way down the. hal, and the Squire
opened q door on the right. The COON
was brilliantly lighted, and the china
cleaned Whitley, the cat glass and silver
glittered. But it was not any OF these
that made Forrest start and with dif6culs
ty suppress little ejaculation of sur.
prise and admiration. A young lady in
glowing white, with fresh pink roses
trembling in her satiny braids and curls
nodding at her white, dainty throat,
stood at one of the open windows. She
slowly turned as the door Enclosed, and
let her wonderful brown eyes rest on the
amazed face of the visitor.
IS GMy daughter Glare, Mr.. Rutherford"
hBut thought you said there were no
/. Young ladies in the neighborhood," For
rest could not refrain from saying.