The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-03-22
and, lip-yet sI,must not faint. No,

and ip-yet sIymust not faint. No, ]
would NOT, and I hastily retreated. /
reached home, but l could not coax the
color into my face, so threw myself on
the sofa in the parlor, and buried my face
in a. pillow, Soon I'heard their voices id
the garden, and May asked him to come
il, but he refused; she pefsistedt in 9
pretty, petulant MANNER then she came.
in, calling me. {
aAlice, Cousin Alicel John wants you
in the garden" -,
She found me, at last, and came ten.
derly to my side, asked if I 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.
care you sick, Alice?''
mo, no I am only tired-don't
frighten Aunt Sarah. I shall be better
soon."
r tried to turn away from him, but he
silently and firmly liftedsmy head from
the pillow, and laid it against his shoul-
der. I was too weak and too weary to
resist.
"Now tell me what troubles you, Alice.
Haven't I a right to know?" u |
tsDo youreally thihk you have right
to know all my thoughts, John ?" 'sn
II thought you had given me the priv.
ilege of always sharing your joys and
sorrows, Alice; but if you regret it, darl-
ing, tell me so frankly, now, before it is
too late"
"Did you ever regret, John, the hour
in which you asked me to be your
wife? ?"
"Have I ever given you reason to think
that repented it, Alice?"
It was vain to parley longer, so l. re-
solved to tell him all, and then free Elm
from the light bonds that bound US; but
| Just then, Mays step on the stair startled
me, and I tried to free myself from his
encircling arm. What would she think
to See us thus2 But he refused'to release
me, and so I was forced to wonder at the
strange farce he was playing, and could
only cover my face with my hands. May
came and knelt by my side.
care you really sick, Cousin Alise |?
What can do for you?"
She laid one hand on Johns arm, but
he answered her coldly, drawing me closer
to his side.
SeDont disturb her, May; she has: a
severe headache, and is not ablesto talk
Let her:be quiet, please"
May took the hint, and said she would
help. Aunt Sarah get supper. As she
turned to leave the room, John asked :
'tHow would you like a little green
snake for necklace, May" ;.
She screamed little cityfed scream of
horror, land ran to the kitchen: John
laughed and I naturally inquired whatitI
meant.
>"Well, if you will be q dear girl, and
keep stillp-laying my head on his shoul-
der, and. smoothing back my hair-"I
will tell you all about it. This afternoon
I was lonesome like, and SO I came up
here tosee you, and not hearing your
voices, I thought I knew where to find
you So I went up to your ivy-bower,
andthere, to be sure, was your namby-
pamby city cousin all alone, reading the
"Wsndering Jew"
N"Well; go on, John. You found May
at the grotto, instead of Alice, and were
very well pleased with the exchange did
inct e g miss me. .Ms sEgS&Sz
s@How: could mise you, msssH T \ i1s ishaf :
ing GcSmpany-so siovely and beautiful
and accomplished? Ono, / never missed
you, Alice. But I have seen city bellies
rusticating before. I think I can with
stand even the witchery of such witch
as your cousin. But let me tell you all
about it. / do think, Alice, that she
would not scruple to steal somebody's
lover" - y
John kissed me, =. rs ar
$50 we laughed, and talked nonsense,
when suddenly the little firt screamed
out. And what do you suppose it was
Nothing in the world. but a little, green
snake, coiled around her arm took it
off and threw it into the stream, but she
was so white and helpless that I had to
hold her up-she rather seemed to enjoy
it, though, and leaned her head against
my shoulder quite as if she had right,
to-" ''
"Of course that was exceedingly un-
pleasant to you-how disagreeable it
must have BEEN" e s!Isa
John laughed.
"I really believe my Alice is getting
jealous. Couldn't she give US something
tragic, now7 There, there, child; Of
course I didn't refuse to let her lean on
me, when she was fainting away with
terror; and suppose it wasn't so very
disagreeable-does that prove I am not
loyal to my darling? Not bit. 1t was
only perverse, masculine human nature.
Perhaps chided her little for being so
childish; afraid of little snake. She
wanted to know what you would have
done. I told her that my Alice was a
woman of nerve, and not one of the faint
ing sort; but what is this-tears, dearest? 2
Now, Alice, dc tell me what troubles you
I can't bear to see you crying, and l 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 told1him all. The
jealous fears, the invidious comparisons
between Mays beauty and my own plain
ness-all theerpain and wretchedness.
The fearful tempest that had gathered
black as an Egyptian night over my life
had all passed by, and now the sun was
shining, and it has never ceased shining
since our wedding.