Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-10-09
A LITTLE COWARD.
BY ANNA SHIELDS.

The words come floating up to me from
group Of children playing under my
window and carry me back two years, to
the summer l spent in Westonville and
the 'little coward" met there.
had been in practice as a physician
for several years, when Aunt Jane, the
rich aunt of the Hutchinson family,
wrote to invite me to spend few weeks
with her. l was rather amazed at the
invitation, as Aunt Jane had never had
the slightest affection for me; but the
letter was cordial enough to tempt me.
~ have three young ladies visiting me-"
she wrote, ''and you may fall in love with
any OF them, with my consent. They are all
well-born and well bred, which is more than
can be said Of most girls nowadays. Serena
Mayburv is lust the woman for physicians
wife self-poSsesSei, calm, courageous and
vet perfectly womsnly. She is very hand
some. too. Julia Strong is literary girl
ami writes for the newspapers. She is pretty,
but distracted, lives in appetite region above
my reach. Susy Markham is scarcely more
q y
As a Girl Of twelve, fair-haired, blue-eyed,
gentle and loving: but will nos attract you,
rs she is the worst little coward | ever saw
screams at a spider, faintS at q mouse,
clngs 10 the boat when on the water and
gets as white as a ghost if horse prauces.
But come and see me and the girls, and stop
poisoning patients, saving bones and pranc-
ing about sick-roomS, for month at least"
So went. had been at Aunt James
il my boyish days, and the large, beauti-
full house, with its wide, high-ceilinged
rooms, its broad porches, and airy halls,
was quite familiar to me. Lying near
liver and in the shadow Of mountain,
Westonville was a most charming summer
residence, and Aunt Jane had visitors
from the first warm day TO the last one,
so that was not surprised to find Others
beside those mentioned in my letter of
invitation.
Pleasant days were the rule, and we
boated rode, drove, clam0erel up the
mountain for picnic parties, played lawn
tennis and croquet, and enjoyed life as
youth only can enjoy it in summer days
free from toll or care.
Aunt Jane gave me a most cordial wei
come, and the first time she was alone
with me, said;
at is time YOU were married, Harry.
have thought it all over, and l mean to
give you house well furnished as soon
as vou Introduce me to Mrs. Hutchinson.
No. You needn't gush about it. l can
aIord it, and you deserve it, But don't
imagine from my letter that the girls
know Of my matchmaking intentions.
They would pack up and leave at five
minutes notice, if they suspected it.
And they are all popular in society, max
ing a sacrifice of other pleasant invita-
tons TO come to Westonville. Serena is
the wife for you, if you can win her."
And cordially admired Serena. Ger
tainly she was the most queenly, self-sus-
tanned, beautiful girl ever met. Moth
ing luttered her, or moved her from a
calm composure. 1t was impossible to
imagine Serena in Mysteries, and her
health was absolutely perfect.
/ devoted myself to Serena, and found
her mind as attractive as her face. She
was well-read, and bad a keen interest
in the current topics of the day. l never
met any one VINO so thoroughly read and
understood a newspa per, and she could
converse we'll on all the political, foreign
and domestic affairs.
Julia was in agonies of composition
gathering scenes and incidents for her
first novel, and going about as II asleep
with her eyes open.
And Susy. The first time saw ouSy
she was in the orchard, dressed in some
thing blue and thin, all rufiles and bows
She was standing under ar apple-tree
absolutely paralyzed with terror and
gazing at huge caterpillar creeping up
her arm. Hearing my step, she raiseu a
colorless face, with stained blue eyes anu
quivering lips, to say =.
sob, take it off, Oh, please take 1t
off,
Another minute found her soobing
Historically, aad with choking woro
of thanks she ran away.
It all passed SO quickly that she was
zone before I saw how pretty she was
leaving behind a half-picture oil snort
polden eurls and frightened baby blue
ewes The next time l saw those eyes
they we're full of fearful gratitude for my
heroic handling of caterPillars-
II was odd how they haunted me-
ou;te resolved to win Serena, if persist
ent wooing would accomplishi'' S'os"s
her on all occasions, but, be'ug uni'eu
marty of friends, we were not often 'e'e-
a-tete. Aud it was to me, always 'na'
susy turned, in hours of peril wnen ("
toad sat upou her white dress wlsn % 'n0
boat tipped hairs breadth more .nan
t.orr;hle crawling things
crossed our paths, and COWS lifted !, 'n'lr %
heads to contemplate US. On all such
occasl,ns, two tiny hands, wnl'e =
milk. soft as satin, suddenly c'aspsd my
arm, aud ooh! OH called my "'''A''0'
to the terror.