The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-05-23
LITTLE RUNEE.

| was cutting wood IN the backyard one
November day, when, as stopped mo-
mcnt to relieve my arms from the unusual
strain upon them, became aware OF lady
coming up the path from the woods. She
was very near inc before saw her,
glance had told Inc she was not one OF the
Villagers. The soft warm colored shawl
she wore was wrapped round her more
gracefully than any one could have worn
it in our village. The intangible something
that accompanies the lady, revealed her as
such to me---and she was the first lady l
had ever seen.
al believe have lost my way, she said,
"will YOU tell me where Deacon Thax-
ton jS?'
looked in her face as she spoke, to
see ewes and mouth as sweet as her voice.
Her accent was courteous, but reserved. |
dropped my ax, feeling all at once very
sensible that my rough green jacket and
battered cap were not at all becoming to me.
"Ii YOU will come into the road here, l
can show Won the way BETTER said, wish
; ing that my college learning had polished
INV address as much as it had disciplined
my mind.
She followed me down the path, saying as
she went:
al am an entire stranger here; | am
staying at Mr.. Thaxton's and | wandered
off, and got lost in the woods. At one time
/ thought / had the prospect OF a night
there. Everything is very strange here.
She spoke with an apparent freedom dif-
ferent from the usual address of New Eng
land women. I wondered at it; her fea-
lures were entirely American, but her COM
plexion had that peculiar dark pallidity
that seems the effect OF some southern
cline.
"If everything is strange, l venturel to
say, "you will find New England winter
forbidding. Saall you dare it,
"Ycs. but 1 am afraid OF it.
Though she talked, she possessed the
power that made Inc feel at as great dis
tance as though she had not spoken word.
| I pointed out the way, told her of the corners
that Law in the two miles between our house
and Deacon Thaxtons.,: Then as she walked
on, | allowed myself to watch her for 4
moment
In that elegant form with its sweeping
drapery, its graceful poiSe of had, l recog-
nizcd the woman OF whom l had so often
dreamed, but in my seclusion | had never
/ before seen. l went back to wood-cuttng
with the memory OF that face and voice
difiusing a glow over my thoughts that was
+ as strange as it was enchanting.
I do not know why did not mention the
lady at the supper-tablc that night, but /
did not. After supper Jane Dunlap, a
maiden of fifty, came in with her knitting.
There had never yet been time, since she
| had reached mature years, that she did not
know the full particulars OF the minutest
event that transpired. l waited patiently.
Very soon was rewarded.
"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 deacon's wife had
brother, who has been merchant in Cal
cutta these years and 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 well -bahaved, you'd see in
a minute that she doesn't appear just like
people here.
with her last sentence. wanted my mother
TO ask ,uIestions, for waSmot going to look
up Iron. my book on become interest Il
at all.
"I,et me see" said my mother, " have
forgotten what Deacon Thaxtons wife :
name was. She was handsome in her day,