The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-12-27
A GIRLS FOLLY.


j red brick, sweet-scented woodhine trail
ing over its rustic porch, a. green law
before it surrounded by flowers, and
charming country landscape spreading
out in the distance. Inside, in it
small but pretty parlor on the re,
table-cover waited the tea-tray, with it
cups and saucers The window stood
open to the still, warm autumn air, anc
the French porcelain clock on the
mantel-piece was striking s.
A slender girl of some 20 years came
in. She was very lovely But he
bright blue eyes bore a sort of WEAR
or discontented look, and her brigh
brown hair was somewhat ruffied. Sht
wore a print washing-dress of bIacl
and white neither very smooth mol
very fresh, and a lace neck collar fast
ened with bow of black ribbon.
She had made an appointment tc
meet Reginald Vavasour, rich young
gentleman who had made her acquaint-
ance down by the willow walk, and hel
lover, Thomas Watkyn, had told her he
could call that evening. just before he
left, he said:
May [ ask you to do me little
favor, Ihomas?"
"What is it ?" he repeated.
IF you would not very much mind
going home by the hill and would leave
this note at Miss Ford's. particularly
wish her to have it this evening"
He paused for an instant, not reply
! ing. She went on hurriedly:
81 see that it is disagreeable to YOU.
/ have esofferded you too much"
Not that" he answered, hold ng out
his hand for the note. "But l can
| L.,
this evening, as I have to call at Kill
said no more, but took the note.
"Good-by, Thomas"
"Good-by."
''Pm glad he took the motel I shall
be safe now"
Miss Alison Reece was clever young
lady. The direct and near way to Mr.
Watkyn's home would lead him past the
willow walk. She had advised this i'm
promptu note to her dressmaker in the
afternoon to prevent his taking that
usual route. Had he seen young Vav-
asour cooling his heels within the pre-
cincts of the willow walk he would in
eyitably suspect he. was " ting to keep
lovers tryst.
Alison was busy in the kitchen
next morning when she heard her
mother open the font door and some
one come in. cit is that chattering
Mrs. Bennett" thought she, as she
dried the teaspoons.
"Alison, come here" called her
mother, In quick voice.
She went to the parIor just as she
washer sleeves turned back at the
wrist, large, brown Holland apron on.
Very pretty she looked with it all Btli
it was not Mrs. Bennett who sat with
her motherj it was a venerable. white
haired old gentleman-Mr. Wa kyn
the elder.
''I am come to ask about Thomas" !"
said he. 'I believe he came here last
night, Miss Alison; at what time did he
leave you?"
A provision struck her with sort OF
terror that something was wrong "He
LETT quite early" she faltered.
''Well, he has never come home"
Not come home" she said, with a
whitening face.
81 sat up till l o'clock, and then
thought the mist must have kept
him; that he had stayed at some friends
house. L knew not what to think, and
that he would be home the first thing
this morning. But we have not seen
L
Mrs. Reece was impre ssed v j h the
frightened, guilty look that Alison
could not keep out of her countenance,
and began to feel uneasy. Cannot you
tell what time it was when he left you q
she demanded. sternly,
"It was after dusk. Tt was Just after |
sunset-hefore the mist came on. 1t |
must have been near z o'clock"
esIUIiah rood 1i1 he foI ,0r1re1oJ |
Mrs. Reece. And very reluctantly
Alison answered for she foresaw it |
would bring on further questioning:
" The long road-round by the hill"
"Round by the hill ?" echoed Mr.. Wat |
kyn in alarmed surprise. 'f Why did he
take that way?"
Alison flushed and paled alternately; |
her lips were trembling. The fear
creeping upon her was that he and |
young Yavasour had met and quar-
relied. Perhaps fought and injured one
another fatally. In these dread mo-
ments of suspense the mind is apt to /
coniure up far-fetched and unlikely
thoughts.
g 1 asked him to go around that
may" she replied, in timid tone. "I
wanted him to leave a note for me at
the dressmaker's."
Old Mr.. Watkyn sank into chair,
putting his hands before his troubled
face. see it ALL" he breathed
family. He must have fallen down
the Scar
Alison muttered a scream of horror.
Deceived by the mist, he must have
walked too near the edge" continued
the old man. Heaven grant that it
may not be so, but L fear it. Was he
mad, to attempt to cross the plateau ON
such a night?"
Catching up his hat, Mr.. Watkyn
went out swiftly. Mrs. Reece grabbed
her daughters hands. They were icy
cold.
"Alison, what passed between you
and Thomas last night?"
t'Don't ask me, mother. Let me
follow Mr.. Watkyn. 1 cannot rest in
doors. Oh, it cannot, cannot be as he
fears?"
''Not one step until you tell me what
passed." said the mother firmly.
'.There's more in all this than meets
the eye"
"He asked me to-give up talking to
Mr.. Vavasour."
"And you refused. Wen?"
"He told me must choose between
/
tears. ''Oh, mother, it was all my folly,
all my temper; he could not see that,
and when he went away he said he
went for good"
Mrs. Reece drew in her thin lips !
sternly. She was thinking.
"And what does it mean about your
giving him a note for the dressmaker?
/ do not understand, You had nothing
to write about"
The girl had got her hands free and
flung them before her face to deaden
the sobs. But Mrs. Reece was a
resolute mother at times, and she ex-
torted the confession. Alison had i'm
provised the note and sent Thomas
around the long way to deliver it, and
so keep him from passing by the willow
walk.
''Oh, child, childp' moaned the dis