The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-01-14
in A SHANTY.


As old Mrs. Watson spoke thus briefly,
Wallace Alwade turned partly around,
facing the small, delicate woman, who
stood but partially revealed in the shad
ows of the long, low-roofed shanty.
For one instant he stood gazing in
tently into the pale face Of the timid,
retiring creature before him, then ex
tended his hand, with polite bow and
pleasant word Of greeting.
"Melth, the cook"
What thrill shot through his heart al
the mention Of the name. AS their hands
clasped in the dim freight, and he
gazed down into the pale face Of the
shrinking figure before him, Wallace
Alwades mind grew troubled.
That face, so thin and pale, with long
ing, regretful shadows lurking in the
violeteyes, touched a half-fofgotten chord
in his bachelor heart. 1t was but
dreamy reflection Of the past, however.
He remembered where he was, and
turned away without thinking deeply.
II was not likely that an almost forgotten
dream would meet with fruition in aplace
like this, dingy lumber shanty in the
heart of the great pine woods.
A minute later the jingle of sleigh
bells cut the frosty night mir.
"Well. Mrs. Watson, | must be going,
said the lumber dealer, turning toward
the door.
won't you stay gil night, Mr., al
wade?"
"Impossible, nay good woman. | have
important business to attend to IN town.
find that your husband is managing
affairs very well in the woods. think |
can safely trust him to go on with the
job"
"Tattlers' tongues to the contrary,
eh?" returned the rosy-faced ematron,
with a ripping laugh.
eyes, the stories have heard are all
false, Mrs. Watson. shan't trouble
myself about these flying reports again,
rest assured"
"Thank you, Mr.. Alwade. My hus,
band shall know Of your generosity"
''Facts are stubborn things" " returned
Alwade. "The job is progressing vel
under Mr.. Watson's management, and
am only too glad to place the credi
where it belongs"
Thus speaking tho rich lilmbermai
left the room and entered the sleigh tina
| $1,000 wanting az une uoor,
Speeding over the glistening snow
under the tall pines, with the keen win
ter air cutting like knife, Wallace Al
wade felt strangely inyigorated afte
contact with the close air Of the lumbe
shanty.
That evening, after reaching his room
Alwade found time for reflection. TIL
face of "Melth, the cook, pale, worn
and timid, haunted him once more
like the dim memory Of half-forgotte
dream. Why did he give the pale-face
shanty cook q second thought? Simpl
because this was not the first time b
had seen that face. In pondering ovt
the subject, Alwade came suddenly int
full knowledge why he had been s
strangely affected at meeting Meth.
A vision of the long ago was befol
him. He stood under the gaslight plea'
ing for the love of as beautiful girl |
the sun ever shone on. He could sc
the naughty curl Of the full red lips, Sc
the scornful flash of those violet eye
and even feel the sting Of the words th'
fell from the maidens lips, refusing HIN
laughing to scorn all his passionate plea'
ings. and all because he was but pot
I law student, without name or fortune
, the world. His hopes were crushed 10
, ever. He went our into the world with
/, bitter pain in his heart, yet unable eve
then to conquer the love that had ma
/: tered him so utterly.
i That was twelve years ago; twel
' painful years to Wallace Alwade: y !,
|. West. under the shadows Of the Mici
3 gan pines, he had built up forum
o and stood one of the foremost men
IS the strong, vigorous young State whe
our story is located. For twelve yea
r he had heard nothing Of Meltha BayI
e Was it wonderful. then, that he failed
IT recognize in ''Melth, the cook, the Sc
10 willed, imperious beauty who had scol
le ed him in his youth.
s. After hours Of thought he was !
j. fully satisfied. 1t could not be u
le Meitha Bayne had fallen solow as this
al cook in one of his logging shanties
RI That night the face Of Meth haun
the rich lumberman, and at earliest da