The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-01-26
ave torn my eyes out if had not defended

| oTH' -
| HAD MARKED HIM FOR RECOGNITION. -
have torn my eyes out if l had not defended
| myself"
| eyes, indeed," chimcd in Irma, anxious
to defend her brother. "You must not
blame him, Mr.. Roland; this little bcggar
| would have hurt him if she couldn
| During this interesting cOlloquy had
| stood quite STILL too angry, hurt and bewil-
| dercd to speak. But at Irma's cruel words
my temper blazcd again. 4 torrent of
| words were on my tongue, but, happening
| to glance ono side, l saw n face pCcring
| through the shrubbery. knew it in an in
| slant, 1T was my friend on the cars. knew
| tho laughing eyes and tho brown, curling
| hair. There was n broad smilc on his face |
| could see, also. His appearance decided
| me. did not pause to reply or defend my
| self before the gentleman, but, catching my
| books from tho ground, fed toward tho
| house, never pausing till reached my own
room, whore sank down, painting and ex-
| haustcd
| had never remembered being angry be
| Tor and this new feeling o. rage and hate
| fairly ovCrpowcrcd me- When hurt or
| gricvcd before l had always wcpt but not
! Il tear dimmcd my oyos now whose fiery
1aShcs would haVc ScorChCd tho fountain
| up But at length 1 grew calmcr, [ re-
moved my bonnet and bathcd my face and
| hands. 1t was then became conscious Of q
singing pain in my left arm, ] pushed up
| my sleeve and found livid blue mark
! across my arm which was also severely
| bruised, either by my fall or from blow
in the affray had just taken part in. I
| looked at my bruised arm with Il terrible
! feeling Of rage and grief, not so much at
the injury, that would soon heal, but there
are scars on our memory that never heal.
| This was onc had never been struck be-
| n,,1t han,
| struck first, yet in my own eyes, certainly,
and in others perhaps, was quite justified
in doing SO. Therefore my feeling of out
| rago was the Same as though had been
ignominiously beaten without a cause
Irving Barrett, no doubt regarded the
whole affair as q joke, yet he hardly guessed
| that that ono cruel act would be weighed
in the balance against him when that samc
| scale was balanced for life or death.
"Wcn, Miss, yer uncommon sober to.
| night"
1 started. 1t was Maggic's choory voco
at my elbow that aroused me from nv
gloomy thoughts. 1 did not answer but fol
| lowed her out and into the suppcr-room
| without word.
| After supper inquired who the gentle
men were had seen in tho garden.
"Thc black whiskcrcd onc," said Maggie,
sis Mr.. Roland, an old friend Of ~ family;
| he ls here every summer. Tho other VC1lnr
man, it seems, is friend of his; Incvcr saw
him before today; his namc is Oliver Dud-
| ley, and handsome, propcr-spollcn young
fellow he is, too" she added.
went back to my room and mopcd in ST.
| lence until dark, when, seeing the family
werc all assembled in tho grand drawing
room, crcpt OUT and taking tho first path
came to, wandered aimlcSSly on, scarcely
knowing or caring whittier it led, till [ found
myself on tho shore of a lovely lake, on
whose clear surface the moonlight was rest
ing, silvcring each wave that rose till it
looked like molten silver.
| Drawn up to the shore was a beautiful
boat with softly cushioned seats, and a pair
Of oars handsomely carved rested in tho
oarlocks. stood watching this moonlight
scene with such keen delight that did not
notice the approach Of q party coming near
until they were close upon me had bare
~ time to conceal myself behind one of the
rustic seats that lined the shorc as they all
came up laughing, chatting and seeming in
mgh spirits. There wero in the party Mr.
and Mrs. Clayton, Irma and Irving, and also
the two gentlemen had socn in the after
noon. trcmblCd lest they should discover
me, Ior Mrs Clayton came so near that her
silken skirts brushed my hands as |
crouched beneath the seat; but fortunately
| lor me, thcy passed and entered one of the
| boats without noticing me. [ could hear
|
lake. How would have liked to accompany
them. had never been in a boat in my life
and l fancicd 1T must be a great pleasure to
Hoat, as they were doing, over the silver
waves. But could not go, so | remained
where was, listening TO the sound of their
merry voices, and hating them all the more
heartily, / think l even wished that the
boat would upset, and, not drown them, I
was not quite so bad as that, but give them
q Wctting.
But they came to shore at last. Tho gen
ucmcn assisted the ladies out and the party
returned toward tho house, all but Mr.
Dudley, he fingered behind and lit a cigar
l could see the blue rings of smoke curling
up through tho clear air.
The rest of the party went on, cvi ort!y
not missing him. He waited until ,cv
were out Of hearing and I was dcv, il,
wishing he would go on when he yyil..cd
lelSurcly up to tho scat, behind which i was
hiding, 1nu stopped. l could sec his faco
plainly in the moonlight, and there WAS n
smile upon 1t. Could he be laughing at n,cl
Had he seen me} | asked myself; and lie
answered "a if instantly livining ny
thoughts:
eyes know you arc thcro. CvuIe ontI
What arc you hiding for1"
| craWled out and stood before him. n
very tumblcd, confused looking object, no
doubt, from my hiding among the reeds and
rushes that grew on the bank
| $50 you hid, did yOu3n ho inquired OoH9
Ing at mo still with that kind, quizzical look,
half laughing, half serious on his face.
"Werc you afraid, little oncl" putting out
his hand and drawing mo gently to his side
stroking my tumblcd hair with his white,
shapely hand.
''No, sir" answered, sullenIy, ''but they
did not want mo and hid to keep out of
E'l-lSsXes, yes" he said, thougatfully, anil