Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1891-06-27

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Both mother sni dzu-htsr had Uv-
eled much. lad rss2 WIKI ns-
ton and ,cdzm-nL an INST
winters in : northern zet- had
prostsd largely L ne advantages =
I opera lecture and ar - thz- We. w-o
were lsss favored I tl-se us-ts-
| found their conversation As lnst--Ive
as il was entertaining
On the dsy after ta=lr arrival vale
nv friend and his elder kzswo1aa
talked ore the pleasant past ne
daughter a1dlto3ka long c@1te- down
the shady county lanes
she proved a better h9-s-wo1aa
than | expected Her father, though
no. a Eeutuckizn. was = devon. wu--
ship4r Of the horse, and 81. had learned
TO ride al Al early age that she night
accompany him il his eonsit1@o1ak
through the PARK a. home
The week drew rapidly 70 81 end
all too rapidly for ne, who awoZe one
morning with the painful thought
b~esieging NY brain that this was ne
last dav our fair visitors would . with
US They were TO leave On the follow
ing morning.
4 have already prolonged NJ visit =
day Or two longer than expected 70
DO replied Mrs Power. 70 Me--2-
weth.rs protest tha. the 7is., should
not end 20 Sc1u- Il fear tina: when !
return home, and give the glowing &C
count Of Bachelor hall il 50 richly de-
serves. and Aunt ChIoe's unstinted
Kentucky hospitality. Mr. Powers VIII
not rest satisfied until ne has expert
enced q practical illustration OF the
grass widower plan"
Merrwetaer had arranged TO spend
the DAY On the cliffs Of the Kentucky
river, as the ladies expressed a wish 20
see some Of the romantic scenery for
which the locality "a noted
In the fresh morning a horse and
buggy and Two saddled horses were
brought to the front porch By the gen
eral utility boz, who was 70 follow n
the spr.ngwagon with Aunt Chloe ana
the lunch.
was considerably astonished- even
vexed, when On preparing to start M
friend Mcrriwether assisted his lO7ely
Young cousin n her saddle and then
cooll7 and deliberately vaulted into the
other, advising my companion to keep
a watchful eye On me and see that did
not deposit vehicle and occupants into
some Of the ragines along the way.
The mother was not less agreeable
than usual but for one l failed 70 be
entertained b. her conversational
talent, and felt a certain sense Of relief
when the cliffs were reached.
Whether from this slight incident Of
the fact Of the near departure Of the
guests, some important element in the
days pleasure seemed wanting.
The fair Annabel herself appeared
rather quiet and constrained,
thought, and even Merriwether had
seemingly undergone d change.
Could it be that his fair companion
had been disappointed in her cavalier
of the morning? Presumptive though
the thought was, it afforded me a keen
sense Of delight, and refused to relin'
quish it.
There was certainly nothing in the
weather nor in the surroundings 20 OPP
press one, for the sky was diyinely blue,
and the cliffs lovely and vast IN osaiC
Of tender green foliage and brilliant
cliff flowers.
The coyctOusness Of the ladies' for cliff
fora was gratifed until Mrs. Powers
at last besought US TO cease our irresist'
lble offerings, lest her fate should be a.
uutimely and tragic as that Of the hap
less Helen Of ancient history.
Suppose we reverse the order Of
things some what, q said Merriwether,
as we prepared to return Il will
drive Helen back in the buggy, and you
younger people a return together.
/ am a little too ~corpulent for extend
ed horseback exercise, ' he added, apOl-
o~gctically.
Annabel Powers gave him a little
grateful glance that went 70 my heart
with the swiftness Of an electric cur
rent, and sent the glad blood tingling
throughout my veins. Ny cOnjectures
of the morning we're verifying them,
selves.
As we rode homeward felt that my
conversation was d little at random,
for my brain was busted with many
thoughts, chicfcst among them being
that ia a few brief hours this lovely
girl, now at my side, would be far from
me.
II dislike TO think that my pleasant
visit is 30 near az end" my fair com
panion said as we rode along.
The thought Of the near tomorrow
and the rapidly lessening opportunity
Of speaking alone with her emboldenec
me TO utter the words that arose pre-
cipitously to my lips.
Riding close 10 her side | took hel
gloved hand within my own.
"Annabcl, become my wife and lie,
me keep you with me always" / cried.
She looked up quickly with a startled
look on her face and drew back from
me.
please say no more" she said, hast
lily. 81 had no thought Of this, and /,
is only painful 10 me TO hear you say
IT,"
But you must hear me- | cried,
hotly. at is true that we have known
each other but a brief while, but even
In this short time you have completely
won my heart love You
Believe me" she said, gently, 81
had no wish nor thought 10 win thi,
declaration from you. n ! have in any
way encouraged IL ] most humbly beg
your pardon. Any gentleman who nc
Loyalty pleads his cause pays a compli
ment most high 10 the lady he thu
honorB. | can only thank you sincere
ly, and frankly say that in the early
autumn ! am 10 marry a young lawyer
for whom ! have a sincere affection.
am sure that you are generous enough
" wish me much happiness" she added
with her beautiful eyes shyly lifted u
mine.
During the remainder Of the ride tn,
silence was scarcely broken. The
world had suddenly become a very
dreary waste 10 me.
bore up m~anfnlly until after the de
Darture OF the ladies on the following