Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1877-08-22

little timidity and more awkward
ness in her manner as she entered
No. /. She was not afraid OF being
left alone with this young gentle
man. but she was slightly anNiouSas
to what lie might think of her mp.
pcarance, and she felt ill at ease be-
cansc of his "stOrc clo'es,' 80 much
grander than homcspun.
While she Strengthened the
coarse brown countcrpdne and
propped a rickety table against the
whitewashed wall, and looked TO
see if the floor had been swept
since the exodus of the last LOGGER,
she glanced two or three times at
tile stranger, and thought That he
was, "mighty hanSum." so he was.
\ fine, tail, slender shapc;ra dark.
aquiliue, spirited. and yet gracious
face; Abundant long black hair, curl
ing over his colt.ccllar-on the
whole, a iirst.claSS "high.tonc'
Southern type. She stood ut the
~ ie-t4l Sr-rtrrrTgfiy m Et,Trc Ut Ih-
Straction; and Luce did not kHa"
that he had surveyed her carefully
by stealth.
Turning from her work TO leave
the room. she was puzzled, rather
startled, TO find that he had closed
the door and was advancing toward
her. 4 little spark H. of inquiry and
amusement danced III her eyes,
while he took both her hands in
his; but she was not scared, nor
vas there even much thrill in her
'eittS It's she thought, sis he going
to kiss me-
Yes, he was going TO kiss her; he
, was bending grlciouSly foy that
vcrY purpose; he was putting his
courtly face close To her rustic one.
Luce had often been kissed; for
manners were pas;orally free i'll
SOmcrviIlG, and forfeit games were
current among the young people,
not to mention that she had had n
beau or two. She ti,fMcd and
turned away her bead until one
! check touched her shoulder, hut in
the same agrcc2blc moment The
, other cheek tex the touch of his
Hips. l.
"Non dear, good little beauty
( he murmured, i'll u tone which was
full of gratitude, and 50 Of flattcry.
There was still a smile OF her lips
! when she stole n look at him: but
her eyes had suddenly taken aAl cx.
preston of great and tender sur.
prise. OF all the men-or boys,
rather-who bad hitherto been thus
bold with her, not one had uttered
such sweet words. They were
priceless; they seemed not only to
/ pay his debt, but to make her pro.
foundry his debtor: and when she
I Faced him she meant that he shOuld
kiss her lips il he wished. lie did
So, and Hiiiapcred other entrauciug
words in her bewitched ear; then,
with hiNand on her waist. he led
her tn the floor and opened it rher.
Had Luce known what a princess
was, She would have felt that she
was one, aud that she had found the
true prince.
How she eagerly longed for dinner
when it would be her sweet duty 10
supcrintcnd the table aud see that
this Loyal guest was suitably fed.
Not tfpt she sat at the head OF the
board--no, she had no higher part
to play than that of upper waiter;
'shc overlooked and scnlAed the
"niggeFs.' Ii wasa pleasure 10 her
to show the young gentleman to his
chair, and she was not painfully
aware that it was IL humble pleas
urc. There was a ktlo futter in
her heart, and she could not at first
raise her eyes to his: but when she
did presume TO glance at him she
fonnd that lie was looking at hcI
with an air of interest. Then a hap
py sparkle shot from under her
lashes. and the least flicker OF n smile
danced about one corner of hcl
mouth. She remembered the two
kisses. and she was no more ashamed
of them than he. She was only i
little more shy, a little more lin q
gitabout," as she would have phrased
/ it. OF course she served him with
the best bit of ',chickcn" that was
fried that day ut Raddle's. aud wish
ed that there had been for him hop
ping. John, OF some other exceptional
delicaey-
Meanwhile Old john pumped the
guest as to his business and person
atty: "Never met up with yon b.
fore, stranger; what mought YOU
name be!'