The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-03-22
and. llp-yes Unjust not faint. No,

Sc!e- ;n:e n,y a!ssce, sc threw myeelf on
the sofa in the parlor, and buried my face
- - s.:ile-, .. ,s Sccn heard their yoicea ih
.!IS garden, garden end Nay asked him IN coma
10, but he refused; she pessisfed; in q
pretty, petulant manner then she came
in, calling me.
"Alice, Cousin Alicel John wants yod
in the garden" Z
! She found me, at last; and came ten.
derly TO my side, asked if was sick, lay.
ing that Same fair hand on my brow.
"Here is letter for May" said Aunt
Sarah, and May retired to her ROOM
John came in and spoke to me.
"Are you sick, Alice?"
mo, no! am only tired-don't
frighten Aunt Sarah. shall be better
soon."
tried to turn away from him, but he
silently and firmly lifted my head from
tho pillow, and laid It against his shoul-
der. was tcS0 weak and too weary II
resist.
"Now tell me what troubles you, Alice.
Haven't right TO know?" ~
"Do you really think YOU have right
to know all my thoughts, Johnp +"
II thought you had given me the privs
ilege of always sharing your Joys and
eorrowg, Alice; but If you regret It, darl.
ing. tell me SO frankly, now, before it is
"Did you ever regret, John, the hour
In which you asked me to be your
"Have ever given you reason to think
that repented It, Alice 7"
1t was vain to parley longer, so | re.
solved to teii him oil, and then free hjn,
from the light bonds that bound us; but
just then, Nays step on the stair startled
me-. and / tried to free myself from his
encircling arm. What would she t.ink
to see us thus? But he refused to release
me, and 30 was forced to wonder at thf
strange farce he was playing, and could
only cover my face with my hands. May
| came and knelt by my side.
"Are you really sick. Cousin Alice
What can do for you?"
She laid one hand on Johns arm, bu,
he answered her coldly, drawing me closer
to his side.
S"Don't disturb her, May; she has 6
severe headache, and Is not able to talk
| Let her be quiet, please" =
May took the hint, and said she wotllt
ireiP Aunt Sarah get supper. AS sf,
turned 10 leave the room, John asked :
"How would you like little greer
snake for necklace, May?" ;:
She screamed little cityfied scream o
horror, and ran to the Kitchen. Johr
laughed and naturally inquired what il
meant.
swell, If you will be a dear girl, allt
keep atill"-laying my head on his yhoul
der, and smoothing back my hair-"l
will tell you all about it. This Afternoon
was lonesome like, and go I came ur
! herc 70 see you, sad not hearing youl
voices, I thought I knew where to fine
you. 30 went up to your ivy-bower
and there, to be sure, was your namby
| pan,by city cousin all alone, reading tic
Wandering jew"
"Well; go on, John. Yon found Nav
Mt the grotto, instead Of Alice, and were
very vel. plesscd with the exchapge-did
not efen misg me-" gBYsM 81
s"E9w Could mibs you, if1auch 6lIa9iiI 6l m
ing company-soS lovely and7 beautiful
and accomplished? @, no, never missed
you, Alice. But l have seen city bellies
E,lsticating before. think l can with
stand even the witchcry of such witch
as your cousin. But let me tell you all
cbout It. do think, Alice, that she
would not sczuplc to steal somebody's
lover"
John kissed me, 49,.
$50 we laughed, ana talked nonsense,
when suddenly the little flirt screamed
out. and what do yon suppose it was 7
Nothing in the world. but n little, greer;
snake, coiled around her arm! took it
off and threw it into tho stream, but she
was go white and helpless TINT l had to
hold her up-she rutlier seemed to enjoy
1t, though, and leaned her head against
my shoulder quite rs if she had right
TO-"
"Of course that was exceedingly un-
pleasant to yon--how disagreeable it
must have heen." ~ Gs1e
John laughed.
II really bolieve my Alice ia getting
jealous. Couldn't she give us something
tragic, now7 There, there, child; OF
cour5e DIDN'T refuse TO let her lean on
mo, when she was fs::sting away with
terror; and suppose it wasn't so very
disapeeable-does that prove am not
loyal to my darling? Not bit. It was
only perverse, masculine human nature.
Perhaps chided her little for being 80
childish; afraid Of little snake. She
wanted to know what you would have
done. I told her that my Alice was q
woman Of nerve, and not one of the faint
ing sort; but what is thisAtears, dearest i?
Now, Alice, do tell me what troubles you.
/ can't bear to sec you crying. and I not
comfort you. You must tell me-"
And, sitting there in the little country
parlor, with his clear, truthful eyes look
ing into my face, Il toldfhim all. The
jealous fears, The inv;dioas ccmps.i;sacns
between &tay'a beauty and my own plain
ness-all the pain and wretchedness.
The fearful Tempest that hadi gathered
black as an Egyptian night over my life
had all passed by, and now the sun was
shining, end Il has never ceased shining
since our wedding. :