Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-07-17

win" he remarked. But | do see
some lines on your face.
81 suppose I've vcgetated instead OF
lived all the time you have been doing
SO much" said Infant,
"Oh, haven't been doing so much"
eve heard you had
I'VE means Rilla and You. And you
didn't marry?'
NO." said Infant, feeling it a sting
ing indignity that he should mention
it, after that courtship SO long ago
buried. lie had married, and raised Il
family out West. Rilla was probably
right when She said one woman was
the same as another to a man,
"And how is Rilla? Is she rs hard
on YOU as she used to be-
''Oh. Rilla was never hard on me
Sh"iS quite well, thank You. You're
coming up to the house to make us q
call and take tea, aren't YOU
IL thought would
Infant looked a~nxiously at the weS-
tering sun. She hoped Rilla would
have the cold soap cut into cakes and
boxed, and herself bathed, clothed and
in her right mind, before Honorable
Truman Condit rode up to their door.
II want to have a talk with you first,
though" he added. And my way is
TO 90 right to the point. Why did you
we marry?'
Como TO that rctorted Infant, a
sparkle breaking through her face.
''why did You marry?'
I'm the first place, because you
wouldn't have me, and in the second
place, because | found a very good
wife where | went. Eve been Il wild
over now several years, and the boys
are settled. I'm loose from business
for almost the first time in my life, and
back here to look at the old neighbour
hood before spending some years
abroad. Your never marrying has re-
yiyed certain things. May be you've
forgotten
Among her other thoughts, Infant
was conscious of rccollccting how often
she had wished to 90 abroad if only
some happy friend could 90 along AS II
cushion bctwiNt Rilla and her, She
unfastcncd with a furtiyc hand the rose
rope wound about her, but, unwilling
to let so many precious roses 90, gath
cred it into loops on her arm.
did YOU ever know" pursued Hon
orable Truman, 'that Rilla told me
you We're going to marry II of the
Picrson hoys?'
"No!' Infant cried ont SO suddenly
that the horse started,
weren't YOU engaged to one OF
thcm?"
II never vas engaged to anybody cN-
ccpt YOU she rptortcd, burning holly
in the face, land | did not admire that
experience when you dropped me and
went OFF. And | don't yet. though you
do lay the blame ON poor RiIla.'
Plenty of time had Rilla for all the
domestic countermarching She wished
to perform before that conference by
She fence ended, Unusually stirring
We're her tactics, too, for all the RobbS
were hailed up from the tenant-house-
Mrs. Robb to cook Il supper. and the
young RobbS not actually farming TO
run on errands, TWAS six O'Clock when
Enos came riding his plow-horse to
the great barn. He had turned off
early on purpose to intercept Mis-. In
FAINT and find out what changes were to
be made. Infant FASTENED up the or
chard, while Honorable Truman has
tened to the same destination by the
road, She saw him leading his horse
up the avenue, and felt impatient at
Enos Robb's interruption.
Sudden doin's up to the house,
said Enos, wiping his forehead with the
back Of his hand. "'pcars like Miss
Rill's made up her mind about Brother
Sandcrson at last
as Brother Sandcrson at the house?.n
inquired Infant,
''Hc is, for a fact and the license
and the preacher with him. Now what
| want to know, and what | ought to
been consulted. Miss Infant, seeing
how long | been here, is thiS-what's
you and me going to do aftcrward? Is
it an m~fcrcnce9'
"Enos,' said Infant, with a gasp,
"this is almost as sudden to me rs it is
to YOU. But considering Rilla's firm
character, do You think She would let
any new person interfere with her es-
tablished plans?N
NO, | DON'T replied Enos, grin
ming.
Rilla was standing before the dresser
in her room arraycd in her S%titlcSt silk.
She looked with composure upon her
twin. who shut the bedroom door, and
hurried up to embrace her.
alt was the best boiling of soap |
ever had said RilIa, warding the fad
ing roses away from her silk.
''Rilla, dear. You might have told me
what YOU meant to do this evening.
But | am so glad, couldn't bear the
thoughts of leaving You before, but
now | can
ward with you." said Rill,. .Un's