Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-08-28
Cliford's Return.

"Beautiful, Miss" said Teresa,
having thrown open the shutter and
looked out and up, now looking in
again, with ever SO pleasant smile
on her round, homely face, now
almost handsome in the cherry sun
shine that streamed in. "Not a
cloud no rain to-day, Miss, and
he will come for sure"
"Do You think SO 2" returned
Miss Dinah, smiling brightly also,
and rising from her bed to run
across the floor and peep over
Teresa's broad shoulder.
No longer young was Miss
Dinah Pryne-quite fifty, aud per
haps even more but wonderfully
actiyc, with eyes pretty and bright
as in her girlhood, not much
wrinkled, and faculties clear as
they had ever been. With spring
ing step and quick motion she
fitted about the room, making her
toilet, humming to herself, stopping
now and then to scold old Teresa,
who hobbled after Eer-that sort
of scolding which is under certain
circumstances an expression OF
especial good humor, snch as pos
sessed Miss Dinah this morning.
"And you think it will not rain,' ,:
she said for the tenth time. "This
time of year thunder storms come
mp very suddenly, remember
She spoke as if Teresa was some
important officer on the staff of the
weather, and had better be careful
about her predictions.
Tut :! September thunder
storms are rare, Miss, and he aim
afraid Of little wctting, [ Go sup
pose. A little thing like thai
wouldn't keep him back" sait
Teresa, with scorn.
! Miss Dinah ate her breakfast il
) feverish impatience, which sh'
strove to hide. Afterward she pu
on her sun bonnet and mittens ane
went into the garden, attended BY
old Teresa, with watering-pot an(
trowel ard rake, and other tools
and together they worked anon!
v the flowers. Miss Dinah, as sh
g progressed, shipped off contribu-
tions for boquet-very near a
large as cabbage head.
y y "He always liked flowers
Teresa" she said, smelling thi
4 horticultural marvel when it wa
is completed. "He never failed t
leave me bunch every morning
l. Sometimes ] let them wither, t
:s Re vex him." and she laughed at th
memory of her beautiful girlhoo6
caprices.
: cit was q pity to worry hin
Miss" said Teresa, with homes
. approval.
"Pooh! The more I did til
fonder he was of me. There W;
nothing l wouldn't do to pain hi
, sometimes. That was 80 yea
/. ago." and, with little sigh, 81
glanced backward, as one may in
minute, through that long vista.
n "Thirty years p said Teresa
sn,,a -. -;.,'+ ~~~-> L. ~:.-~-, -
changed he must be now
changed as you, Miss. | mil
your pictur' mp stairs"
81 was nineteen, then; it's We
like everybody thought So" il
terrupted Miss Pryne.
"Nobody could tell it for y
Is, now."
"Do you think SO z" said Nj
Dinah, disappointed. ''1t will be
:, shock to him when he sees me-.
They say old sweethearts alwa
think of the face that was, a
never of what time must have dor
1t is SO, too. / can't call him I
except as he was then-I've tri
hundreds of times, but can't--a
he was fine young man, Teresa
a beautiful young man, with gr,
large blue eyes, and straight 10
se. and white teeth, and chestnut hs
: and tall and graceful fgul
. pobody that I've ever seen is
. least bit like him. And he is no
3 bit altered, Teresa,'' and {
laughed again, almost believing
= "But he is, Miss. He is old a
1879 crooked and feeble, and you v
3 50 feel bad when you see him, as /
,om- as he will feel when he sees yo
DS' said Teresa, who was Jobs co
forter sometimes.