The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-06-03
CHAPTER " CONTINUED

been happy since we've been engaged
it was all done to please father any
how; | might have known YOU were
too hard to suit
joel, hard to suit, well, as if every
body didn't impose upon him; as if he
didn't think goodness abounded every
where; " as if he hadn't cheerfully re-
signed himself to the loss of his arm,
property, &c" as father said, as if he
didn't praise the good-fghting OF his
enemies she's entirely too wise.
After she'd stopped speaking she
jerked off the topaz ring he'd given
her, and handed it to him. lie put
his hat on the wall took the old fash
toned ring placed it in little hole he
dug with his heel, and then covered it
with dirt, and somehow | felt he had
buried his second, as we'll as, his
first love
Ate. he did this he said, good bye
Belle, we'll be friends sill won we ?''
but she turned on her heel, and in a
very stately way, sailed through the
open gate, up the path towards
home, without once looking back, af-
ter she'd bowed, and wished him a
very stiff good evening""
But he stood, and looked at her I'M
til she got out OF sight, and then he
sighed again, as much as to say, cit is
all over and then / couldn't stand
it a minute longer, and made goose
OF myself. by blubbering right out
loud. l can't cry like Belle; "she
does it like everything else, as Ar
chic says, 'to the best advantage !"
she only makes believe; sniffies lit
tie, wipes her eyes slightly, then never
looks distressed, but smiles sernelv, as
if her grief or anger went with her
tears.
But when 1 cry, ''its bowling" Ar
chic says. My eyes get red, and the
water comes rushing down my cheeks
in buckets full almost, and that after
noon the cry was of the worst kind.
Joel heard the noise, and coming
around to where l was, saw my
scratched face, my swollen eyes, my
torn dress, and the bowl halfflled
with berries. didn't care if was
such fright; l jumped up, and wip-
ing my face with the skirt of my sun
bonnet belle never bequeaths me any
handkerchiefs) / said 81 hate Belle
Neville; she is good-for-nothing
piece, to hurt your feelings so. You're
not old any such thing"
He actually smiled, | suppose he
couldn't hel p it, cut such comical
figure, l know, but his face soon got
sad again, and he put his hand on my
shoulder as he said, "you mustn't talk
about your sister so; l suppose you
overheard our conversation, and know
We are only friends now"
"9es," | interrupted (Archie says I
mustn't say abroke in, Belle Neville
is goose; she hasn't any sense; she's
firted herself out of getting a good
husband she'll be sorry yet, but she'll
never own it, no, not she"
Then [ got softened again, seeing
Joel looking panied, and remembering
all the dreadful things Tilted lovers in
books do, cried again, and said, 90.
Joel, it won't kill you, will it %
He smiled again, and looked as if
he was sorry was such fool, but he
answered very kindly" it didn't kill
me before dear, and it won't now,
though Belle could have made my life
happier, if she could have cared for
me as | wished, and though I shall
always love her, shall also be happy
for l have my parents, Kitty, CHS
halfsister, twelve years old) and you
to love, and have love me-"
"That you have" said l, "and
wouldn't give fig tor Bellies love
shes always changing. You couldn't
count ON it if you married her.
"Hush" he said, and L felt like his
troops must have done, when he com /
manded 'em in battle, for he was a |
Colonel, "she is good woman, and |
one day you'll see her as she is, when |
she has some great trouble, all her |
frlvolity will melt away, and her true
n;iluIc Viii stand revealed III. not so |
sure of it, for Belle never takes troub-
lie, he doesn't know her as I do, but |
never mind) | know l could not love
a wholly shallow woman and 1 have |
loved Belle
l did hush, and we sat for while |
perfectly still, looking at the sunset,
and then 1 remembered mother want
ed the berries for supper, SO / started |
to picking again, and, would you be-
lieve it? Belle wouldn't / know, her
disconsolate lover helped me, and we
laughed and talked until half way
forgot all about the trouble, until we |
finished, and got nearly home, when |
he told me goodbye" and made me !
promise faithfully not to say word |
to Belle about the affair, and then he
turned and left me, while stood, and |
gazed after him, as he did at Belle, |
and / thought she had certainly
thrown away her very best CHANCE |