The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-24
LITTLE RUNEE.

was cutting wood in the backyard one
November day, when, as ! stopped me.
ment TO relieve nv arms from the unusual
strain upon them, / became aware OF lads
coming up the path from the woods She
was very near me before | saw her. 4
glance had told me she was not one Of the
VILLAGERS. The soft warm oolored shaw
she wore was wrapped round her more
gracefully than any one could have worn
Il in our village. The intangible something
that accompanies the lady, revealed her a,
such 20 me---and she was the hrs; lady
had ever seen.
Il believe have lost my way, she said
will Won tell me where Deacon Tha1.
tonsis?'
| looked in her face as she spoke, tc
see ewes and mouth as sweet rs her voice
Her accent was courteous, bat reserved.
dropped my AZ, feeling all at once very
sensible that nv rough green jacket and
battered cap were not At all becoming 20 me
II you will come into the road here
can show YOU the way better" | said. wish
ing that my college learning had polished
my address as much as it had disciplined
my mind.
She followed NE down the path, saying q
she went:
am an entire stranger here; | am
staying at Mr.. Thaxions ani | wandered
off and 90; lost in the woods. At one time
| thought | had the prospect Of a nigh.
there. Everything IS very strange here
She spoke with an apparent freedom diff
fereni from the usual address OF New Eng
land women. | wondered at it; her iea-
tures were entirely American. but her com.
plexion had that peculiar dark pallidily
that seems the effect Of some southern
cline
II everything is strange, ventured tc
say, you will ind a Ne~ England winter
t0rbidding. : all you dare il ?"
Yes, but | am afraid Of il.
Though she talked, she posses ed the
power that made the feel at a. great dis.
tance as though she had not SPOKEN 4 word
/ pointed out the way, told her OF the corner.
that lay in the two miles between our houst
and Deacon ThaKtons. Then az she walked
on, allowed myself 70 watch her for a
moment
In that elegant form with its sweeping
draPery, its graceful poise Of had, | recog.
nized the woman Of whom | had 40 otter
dreamed, but in nv seclusion / hsd never
before seen. ! went back to wood-cuttinG
with the memory OF that face and voice
diffusing glow over my thoughts that was
az strange as it was enchanting.
do not know why did not mention the
lady at the supper-table iha, night, but
did not. After supper Jane Dunlap, a
maiden Of Fifty, came in with her knitting
There had never vet been time, since she
had reached mature years, that she did not
he full rf La Inn
event that transpired. | waited patiently.
Very soon | was rewarded.
Have you seen that new girl over to
Deacon Thaxton's? she asked OF my
mother
Ny mother looked up interested. Why
no. Who is she 2
You remember the deacons wife had
brother, who has been a merchant in Cal
cutta these years ana years. Two years
ago he buried his wife there; and now he
has come on nome with his only child She
has come out to stay awhile with her aunt
She was born IN India, and though she is
very polite and Webb haved, you'd see in
q minute that she doesn't appear just like
people here.
Miss Dunlap paused. fully agreed
with her last sentence. wanted my mother
to ask questions, for was not going to look
up from my book or become interest
at all
"Let me see" said my mother, " / have
forgotten what Deacon Tha1ton's wife's
name was. She was handsome in her day,
remember--and she is sort Of smart look
ing now, / think"
She looks we'll enough, but she is
mighty proud---unbecomng in a deacon
wife. Her name was Grace--Martha
Grace; you know Thaxton was most crazy
after her"
Miss Dunlap paused, and looked into the
fire. I thought / knew she had spite
against the deacon for being bewitched by
Martha Grace, when she herself was in the
bloom of youth. She commenced knitting
and talking
This girls father is in Boston about
some business, and she is going to stay here
this winter. / should think it would kill
her, after that climate. They've given her
the strangest name; it's been running over
in my head ever since heard it---Runee,
Runee Grace"
A week after that, as / was carrying my
mother up TO the village, she wished me to
stop, and leave her a while at Deacon
Thaxtons; she had not called there in a
long time, and she owned she as little
curious to see Mrs. Thaxton's niece. Would
] 20 in with her?
The very question gave me tremor OF
fear and delight. No, would not go in
/ would stop for her when came back. |
caught feeting glimpse Of the pale attrac-
tive face through the window, as | drove
away II did not leave me once during the
time that I traded at the store, and with
she farmers. When ! stopped my horse at