The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-07-26
LITTLE RUNEE,

yard one November day, when, as | stop
ped moment to relieve my arms from
the unusual strain upon them, l became
aware of lady coming up the path from
the woods. She was very near to me be.
fore saw her. A glance had told me
she was not one of the villagers. The soft
warm colored shawl she wore was wrap.
ped round her more gracefully than any
one could have worn it in our village.
believe / have lost my way" she
said; twill you tell me where Deacon
Thaxton's is?'
looked in her face as she spoke to
see eyes and mouth as sweet as her voice
/ dropped my axe, feeling all at once
very sensible that my rough green jacket
and battered cap were not at all becom
ing to me.
:" If you will come into the road here
| can show you the way better" | said
wishing that my college learning hac
polished my address as much AZ it haC
disciplined my mind.
She followed me down the path, say
ing as she went:
. am an entire stranger here; | an
staying at Mr.. Thaxton's, and | wander
ed off and got lost in the wood. At one
time | thought | had the prospect of 6
night there. Everything is very strange
here.
She spoke with an apparent freedom
different from the usual address of New
England women. | wondered at it; her
features were entirely American, but her
complexion had that peculiar dark paid
ity that seems the effect of some southern
cline.
If everything is strange" I ventured
to say, "you will find a New England
winter forbidding. Shall you dare it,"
" Yes, bui am afraid of it."
Though she talked, she possessed the
power that made me feel at as great a
distance as though she had not spoken a
word. Ipointed out the way, told her
of the corners that lay in the two miles
between our house and Deacon Thax-
tons. Then as she walked on, / allowed
myself to watch her for a moment.
In that elegant form, with its sweep
ing drapery, its graceful poise of head,
/ recognized the woman of whom | had
so often dreamed, but in my seclusion |
had never before seen. [ went to wood
cutting with the memory of that face
and voice ditiusing a glow over my
thoughts that was rs strange as it was en-
chanting.
do not know why ! did not mention
the lady at the supper-table that night,
but | did not. After supper, Jane Dun
lap, maiden of fifty, came in with her
knitting. There had never yet been a
time, since she had reach mature years
that she did not know the full particu.
lars of the minutest event that transpired
| waited patiently. Very soon | was re-
warded.
Have you seen that new girl over to
Deacon Thaxton's?" she asked of my
mother.
My mother looked up interested.
"Why, no. Who is she?"
You remember the deacons wife had
brother, who had been a merchant in
Calcutta these years and years Two
years ago he buried his wife there; and
now he has come on home with his own
child. She has come out to STAY while
with her aunt. She was born in India,
and though she is very polite and we'll
behaved, you'd see in minute that she
doesn't appear just like people here"
Miss Dunlap paused. ! fully agreed
with this last sentence. / wanted my
mother to ask questions, for / was not
going to look up from my book or become
interested at ALL
Let me see" said my mother. have
forgotten what Deacon Thaxton's wife.
name was. She was handsome in hel
day, L remember-and she is sort OF
smart-looklng now, | think"
" She looks well enough. but she i
mighty proud-unbecoming in a deacon'
wife. Her name was Martha Grace; yor
know lhaXton was crazy after her"
Miss Dunlap paused and looked int
the fire. | thought | knew she had ;
spite against the deacon after being be
wltched by Martha Grace, when she her
self was i'll the bloom of youth. She com
menced knitting and talking.
lhls girls father is in Boston about
some business, and she is going to stay
here this winter. | should think il
would Kill her, after that climate
They've given her the strangest name
II been running over in my head ever
since | heard it-Runee Grace"
y week after that, as | was CARRYING
my mother up TO the village, she wished
me to stop, and leave her while at Dea
con Ihaxton's; she had not called Their,
for long time, and she owned she was {
little curious to see Mrs. Thaxton'sniece
Would | 90 in with herr"
The very question gave me tremor OF
fear and delight, No. | would not 60 in
i would stop for her when | came
back. | caught a feeting glimpse of the
pale, attractive face through the window
as drove away. 1t did not leave me
once during the time that | traded nj
the store, and with the farmers When
stopped my horse nj Thaxton's gate
the front door was instantly opened. foI
my mother had been watching for me
she came out, and Miss Grace followed
her down the pathway. She had hastily
thrown thick wrap of Mrs. Thaxton's
oversher shoulders, and she shivered rs
she leaned over the gate. thought her
more beautiful than ever, and my heart
beat heavily as she extended her hand
70 me, and said to nv mother who Wa.
waiting for me To help her in the carriage
You dad not know that | had seen
your son before, Mrs. Lyons He once
guided me through the unknown wilder.
ness that lies between Your house and
TINS. III | didn't thank you at the time
Mr.. Lyons, | was none the less grateful =
stood like the witless Ounce was
not Knowing what to say; | was toe
ylvldly conscious of the touch of those
fingers to have had even my usual self.
possession at my command. My mothe,
reieived me by speaking.
indeed, did not know he had seer
yeu-he had never mentioned YOU to me
and in such little village as this we ara
always interested in new comers.'
She laughed.
That Is unfortunate; ana to suppose
that | was not of sufficient importanc,
TO be mentioned"
My mother was in the carriage,
turned and said:
To tell tie truth, Miss Grace, was
almost sure that | dreamed | saw you
coming down the path from the wood.
did not think of telling our meeting fo,