Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-01-25
And be-sbe couldn't tell what he was

ner cneekS plnkeT.
II remember it all, you see. What
good time we had, Miss Gilman, now
didn't we-the day we went off black
berrying? You haven't forgotten ltF
you had on an old blue dress and
shaker, and some gloves of your fathers.
Mr.. Hill threw back his head IN boylsh
glee. ."And We got ten quarts; too"
He grew suddenly sober. Il did enjoy
that week, Miss Gilman. I've lived it
over in nv imagination often enough
since. If it hadn't been for you, Miss
Gilman, shouldn't have come here this
summer" he ended, courageously. "But
I'm in for a month here now"
She looked at him breathlessly, her
heart beating hard.
Did he mean it? But she knew he
did. And he hadn't an idea of Philo's
existence She wished that she had not
The doctors nephew rose impulsivey.
"Come, Miss Gilman" said he; ''don't
let's sit here pokily. We never were
poky. you know. Let's have a ramble.
Isn't there an ostensibe purpose-an OBJ
ject of interest, or something"
She smiled, with an inward conflict
of gladness and misgiving.
'Therc's the willow arbor, down by
the marsh; it's pretty there" she fall
tered.
Hank Lee had released Philo; he was
turning this way, with his loose gait, his
hands in his pockets.
Il love willow arbors," cried the
doctors nephew. eff there's anything
I've always adorcd and yearned for it's
a willow arbor You'll go"
81 don't know" said Cora, wstfully.
But Mr.. Hill knew. Phlo Wilson, at
any rate, stood the next moment staring
after their disappearing figures.
It was not quite eleven by Mr.. Hills
handsome time-piece when they started;
but it was fully one when they got back.
They had forgotten the picnic, almost,
wandering among the willows in some
thing more than contentment, and 1t was
dire necessity to have to come back to
it.
"But they'll be having dinner, you
say?" said Mr.. Hill. "And they'll eat
at that long table, all together? Well.
I'll get seat By you, by hook or crook"
But dinner was late. The iddlers had
arrived, and been pressed into early ser
vice. The platform was filed with
waltzers-to get up their appetites, they
said, while their elders waited hungrily
for that process to be completed.
'Ah"5 said the doctors nephew,
blithely. "Will you give me the first,
Miss Gilman, and as many more as your
card will permit?"
They were laughing at that as they
went toward the platform. But they
did not ascend it. Philo stood on the
lower stair, like spider in wait for
fly.
''It's about time seems to me-" he
observed, his dull face lighted by spark
of anger. 'I've ben looking round for
you for two hours. I guess Pll have
the first dance, if you just as lief"
There was sharp resentment in his
pale-lashed eyes.
Cora bit her red lips. her face afame.
But she spoke quietly.
MIR. Wilson was my escort, Dir.
HILL" she said. IL"
She could not finish. She tried to
smile, but her lips only trembled.
The doctors nephew looked Mr.. Wilson
over from head to foot, and bowed
silently, little paler than his wont, and
turned away.
81 didn't mean to make you mad"
said Philo, better disposed now that he
triumphed. "But I was kind O. put
out. Your folks didn't like it, neither;
told 'em you was off with him. Wal,
let's have waltz" he concluded, con-
scious of extreme magnanimity.
Il shall not Dance" said Cora.
Her pretty eyes blazed scornfully upon
him. He had told cher folks" She
could have laughed if she had not been
so hotly miserable. What did he think?
"You will find me a seat, if you
please" she said.
But Philo did not hear her His eyes
were fixed On a figure at little distance
"a figure which walked unsteadily with
swinging arms.
"Jem Murray!;' he muttered, amazed
ly.
The eyes of the entire picnic were
focused on Jem Murray, and with equal
bewilderment. Jem alone was uncon-
cerned. He was the chief blot on the
towns respectability; a brainless fellow,
half shoemaker and half vagabond, gen.
orally idle and never sober. How Jem
Murray mad got to the picnic was a
startling mystery; but he was there I'M
questionably, and as unquestionably
drunk
His progress was not barred there
was some hesitation about barring it.
He staggered on, marking his course
with amiable comments.
"Nishe day, nishe plashe, nishe lot O.
/ girls. Keep right 'long"-for the fiddlers
had irresolutely stopped-t'keep right
long; goin' to have danshe m'self."
/ He was grinning with the pleasure of
this vague notion. 1t took clearer form
/ in his muddled head.
"Goin' to have danshe," he repeated.