The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-11-17

make corn JOhnny-cakeS, and gather
the great. juicy berries. which were
) beginning to ripen along the black
berry vines; to dress her hat with pop
pies and ferns, to distinguish the
whistle of the cat-bird from tho "chir-
rup, chirrup, chee-ee" of the robin.
1t was as if some new page of the
volume of existence were opened to
the New York shop-girl.
While Helen and Polly were over
joyed to see how much interest Paul
took in promoting all these useful
studies-Paul, the ostentatiously- pro-
fessed old bachelor-Paul, the scorner
of city damseIs.
And grandma was so innocently
pleased at seeing 'the children happy"
that it did n good even to look at
her.
"Only three more days." said Kate
Bonney. ooh, Helen, we must be
very happy indeed for these three last
daysy'
ooh, Of course" said Helen. "But
I'm not sure. Kate, that I shall not be
glad to be back within the sound of
the elevated roads again."
"dow can you talk SOP" said Kate,
eagerly. "How can you compare this
free, wild, satisfying life with that
stuffy little store in the city, with the
brick walls all around it,"
And glancing up, Helen intercepted
the sudden light of Paurs eyes, as he
looked across at the enthusiastic young
speaker.
How interested Paul ISL she said
to herself. II wonder But of
course he would never dream OF such
a thing as that"
The next morning, when the girls
came down to breakfast, there was u
troubled look on grandma's kind face;
Polly was decidedly out of humor, and
Paul Romer's seat was vacant.
Kate looked surprised; Helen cried
out at once:
Snere is Paul?"
"IIe's took his rod and gun. and
gone up to Mount Casco," said grand
ma. HE said he wanted to see how
the trout was in Clear Lake; and he
said, tell you he wouldn't most likely
be back till sunset"
Kate looked disappointed, but she
said nothing; Polly bit her lip. and
helped them all to toast.
"a pretty cavalier!" cried Helen
"Whan he knew perfectly well that
we depended upon him to show us the
way to View Peak"
But there was an uneasy expression
on her brow, and once or twice she
lost herself in thought.
Was Paul really firing Of their Wis
itor? Had she encouraged Kate to
prolong her visit to too extended a
period? Should she never dare to in
vite her there again?
The two girls went to View Peak
alone, but they did not enjoy the walk
nearly 80 much as they had expected,
and both were a little inclined to be
silent and depressed, as they returned
to the farmhouse again.
Kate Bonney sat down in the porch,
taking off her hat to let the cool
breezes blow through her lovely mass
es of dark hair.
Helen went into the house to put
her ferns and wild harebells in water.
"Oh, Paul" Kate could hear her
voice exclaim, from the little room
beyond the kitchen, "you are here?
What a lot of splendid fish! But what
made you play US such a trick this
morning? You are not tired of Kate
Benney already"
"Tired Of herr" repeated Paul Ro-
mers deep. sweet voice. "No. Helenl
It is because 1 have allowed myself to
become too deeply interested in her
already that I dared to risk no more.
I am a plain farmer, and can never
hope to become anything more ambi-
tious. She has the prospect of infinite
possibilities before her, and"
"Stop-oh. please stop" uttered a
soft, pleading voice; and then they
both saw Kate Bonney in their midst.
IL couldn't help hearing what you
said. Please-please don't say any
morel"
ssRut 7 mat aav mnroiD dooI..oa