The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-01-04
MIR. LAy,KSPUR's ROMANCE.

Mr.. La,kspur was out in bis orchard,
gathering apples for cider-making. The
trees were weighed down with thei
heavy fruitage, and about their sturdy
trunks tho clover, all dappled with pink,
was blowing in purple waves.
Mr.. Larkspur's orchard was ampler
and prolific; his fields, pastures, gar
dens. all thriving and luxuriant, his
worldly po ossessions plentiful enough.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Larkspur, though
prone, as usual thing, to bear thank
full heart and q cheerful countenance,
was at this time not Mt all bright OF
visage or merry of spirit.
Lifting his head from a half-bushel
basket OF garnet and-gold fruit, he
could see, between great, lazily- leaning
tfee trunks, and across q grassy lane,
the pretty bit of cottage belonging to
his nearest neighbor, Miss Rowena
Davis, tucked in amidst sugar-maples
and sllver"ieaved popIars like q brown
ohQcolata drop ia, frRRy paper. And
MIR. Larkspur, thinkmg\of' Miss Row.
ena, sighed. ~
They were only neighbor,. now.
There had been a time when they were
good friends-remarkably good friends.
But that was before q certain obnox; Gus
Captain Skaggs had come to Baxtsr's
Gross Roads; before Mr.. Lurkspur had
said unkind things on his account to
Miss Rowena, and size mad said unllind
things to him; before their crowning
battle. wherein he had bitterly observed
that she was rather more Of coguette
then became her years, and sho had
retorted, with hasty inelegance, that,
should not oaii kettle 6iuck.
And from that point matters had stood
stock still until the previous Sunday at
church, from which time Mr.. Larkspur
began to think he had some reason for
suspeotlrg that Miss Rowena was repent
ing. of her folly and obstinacy. He
gathered the idea from tritles--n half
glance. quickly withdrawn; faint,
peach blonmy blush; and, now he camo
to tp'EY it, she had fingered q little
ustss1tside the gate alter meeting,
where he might easily have Joined her,
aaa She, perhaps, wished to give him the
opportunity Of doing.
He regretted now thnt he had not
done 80, instead of poking off with Mrs.
Deacon Cottonwood, and listening to
the interesting history of the deacons
Ave "blles."
MIR. Larkspur sighed again rs his eyo
4 oamed over Miss Rowena's pretty do
amain and down to her blackberry patch
gust the other side of tho lanc-a thick ct
Sof tangled, trailing bushes, with tufts
aot wild, rank-growing grass waving
shigh, like plumes; and there it rested.
for there he behold Miss Rowena's 8 pink
Sging-ham sun bonnet Just above feath-
Eery bunch of grass, looking like big
pink flower growing there,
y 1t wouldn't be very hard to stepncross
4khe lane and speak to her. There was
4no use keeping up q foolish quarrel
NONE one had to speak first, and
Without giving himself time to back
SSsApWn from his purpose, Mr.. Larkspur
sA2aled the fence and crossed the lane.
SHe was half inclined to run away again
Eyehen he got within speaking distance;
sforswhat IT she had taken fresh offense
\ Rtsslais having let slip the opportunity of
|taNiking up she had given him, ar,d scorn
stardy overtures ?
ssss owever, he encouraged himself by
sset'"g position where hourishing
g3H grapevine, clambering into hiok-
saplmg at the edge of the field,
SStssnp4d screen him little, and break the
S5aSIe OF scornful looks and sharp words,
SfIs0uld such be his portion.
Ills heart jolted up md down ner-
& Sosisly at sight of that bonnet, with it's
Bcape and full frilI, and of the light
llsiHn sacque below; even the we'll.
,spgn striped calico apron dimly seen
S5Ipdef the dropping grass and vine.sprays.
'sss S Nhe back OF the bonnet was toward
and a tin bucket stood close be-
&Sstae iierssshalf-full Of tho purple-ripe
MnSce afternoon, Miss Ena," said
EpNr, experimentally.
sowena was either too deep
az bsorbed to hear, or was not prepar-
led to meet any advances, for the sun.
bonnet gave no sign OF turning in his
direction. But determined not to DE
s too easily discouraged, now that he had
made o beginning, Mr.. Larkspur brave
y ay elevated his voice and proceeded.
Right smart OF blackberries this
! year, amt there ?n
Still no word, and only slight nod
Isof the bonnet rewarded him.
s3ulky," said Mr.. Larkspur to HIM
Shes mad about Sunday. Be-
Sla asI was to blame then, III 60 ahead.
1 sey. Miss Ro r. S, s.
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