Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-07-16
Gales and Skettbes.
wHAf sooz.S DID.
(Contlnuea from Yesterday. }

Eldrick had never particularly remark
ed Miss Gyms sister Dora. He called to
mind now only very indefinite image of
a lanky girl whose clothes Topped about
her IN fashion To quite reconcile him to
the existence Of crinoline, much as he adj
mlred its absence from the statuesaue Miss
Glyn. He had vague suspicion that il
was Dora's brown eye that peeped at him
frequently through cracks Of doors: he
knew that it was Dora's clumsy negro
shoes that scuttled away with such fawn-
like speed whenever lac approached too
near the scene Of domestic operations in
which she seemed always engaged, and
tina: she had no figure whatever. though
she must be almost sixteen. Dora mat
tered very little to him. He was troubled
Just then because clouds deyoured the
moon and he knew it was time for him to
90.
Miss Glyn saw the start: perhaps. also,
she OWNED its cause. At any rate. she
bent her proud head over him till the
spicy odors Of the flowers at her throat
and the delicate perfume OF her hair in
toxicated him with a divine madness :;
"Eldrick -
At the sound Of his own name in that
tone OF ineffabie tenderness the blood ran
in his veins like wine. Here at last was
Occasion that should not escape until it
blessed him. He caught her hand. Miss
Glvn," he stammered, conscious even in
that pulseful moment what sacrilege it
would be To call Juno ''Sooz'n." Miss
Glyn, you know tha, l stole through the
guard to night in answer to your note
unless am back in an hour my life is not
worth this blade of grass; yet | cannot
leave you. my glorious one, until hear
you say. 'Eldrick, | love you
His eyes were east downward, that not
even his sight should profane the first vir-
ginal glad radiance OF her face. i sudden
change in her position. and Il singular
sound. made him raise them invOluntarily.
Behold the soft Southron. the Onyx-eved
goddess. both were gone. In their stead
was flaming divinity Of Hate and Ven
geance with pistol pointed at his head,
Love you - she almost screamed. Love
non, YOU miserable Yankee. come down
here to steal away our property and tram
pie on our Southern rights Love yoU
wish your whole accursed race were
united in your form, that might destroy
it this VERY moment from off the face of
the earth II deiiles, You will not slip
through the guard again tonight, Mr..
swcr to my note; | meant you to, so that
when you are missed tomorrow no one
can tell how or when yoii disappeared and
left no trace behind. Colonel Littlebig
will be here in two hours, and will pre-
sent him with Yankee prisoner. have
always wanted to take one with my own
hand. to make up for Franks shameful
conduct II pa had lived. Frank never
would have dared"
Like a true Southerner she spoke of the
author of her being rs paw" yet even
amid the thundcrs of riveu earth and sun
dered heavens that filled his ears Demille
noticed certain twang in her upiiled
voice he had never heard there before. 1t
was an offensive vibration in voice so
monotonous htherto-one strangely sug-
gestive of the myriad small meannesses
that enter into natures whose existence is
wrung hardly and scantlv from sterile
soils and bleak climes, suggestive to De-
mile of thin tin bartered for thick rags.
broken glass exchanged for unbroken
nights lodgings. of new brass ''swopped''
for old gold. bad sixpences given tor good
shillings. Had the world in those DAYS
been as far advanced in scientific discov-
cry rs il is in these. one might have said
that the ghost of "A Yankee peddler called
through the telephone of two Southern
generations. Juno" he gasped, what
an extraordinary pleasantly ~
"Pleasantrv." she echoed, with exquis-
tie scorn. ''lf it is pleasantly that we
are reduced to beggary. that our estate is |
ruined. our slaves gone. our friends pau
pers. scattered or dead. our country groan-
ing in anguish. and wild beasts from the
North baying at our very doors. then it is |
pleasantly that thus take woman's |
small revenge Mr.. Demile," and her
voice became sneeringlv courteous. evil
you do me the honor to step over that
window-sill into the parlor. which | have
carefully prepared for your reception
and retention till Colonel Littlcbigs ar
rivalp"
The silvcr-mounted pistol cleaned per
ifously near his eyes. He was entirely
unarmed the incarnation OF hate threat
ened and rcviled him not five steps away
yet his tongue was paralyzed. and he could
move neither hand nor foot more than if
they had the monumental massiveness of
Michael Angeles David. His brain
seemed molten lead the power of con-
scious thought abandoned him; everything
was shrouded in blackness. rs in a night
which has no morning. Only one blast
awful force-the consciousness that she
whom he had worshpped with all the
freshness and fitness of his young man
hood would willingly sacrifice him to the
fierce passion OF revenge
No. ii was not all: for he was dimlv
conscious. also. of a clumsy. scuttling
sound rs of negro shoes BEND him. and
OF sudden. laukv. wild-eyed appartion
by his side. He felt something cold thrust
into his lax grasp: Take it, Mr.. Demille
quick. quick | knew she was up 10 mis-
chief by the trouble she took to nail up
the paror-windows." The next instant he
raised his right arm. and as something in
his hand cleaned Whitley he bowed pro-
foundly 10 the astonshed lady whose arms
fell weakly by her sides. saving Miss
Glyn. allow me the honor of declining
your very pressing invitation and of wish
ing you good-evcning. Then he turned
and walked away.
I'D have had you shot, sure's gun ~
quoth Lawyer Ben.
III you had. I'd have bayoneted the
whole regiment, :" exclaimed elegant Mrs
Eldrick with such funny little fierce
ness as made them all laugh.