Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-12-24

plantation, dancing merrily to the music
OF the fiddle.
In the parlors of the ''big house all
is life and light and joy. While the
elders nave formed whis parties or sit
quietly converSing, the young people
q nee
tJrto 2 slow waltz melody. whose fau
AnI rise Of cadence. rytl:I-s ical aI.l sweet,
HOLLIS inits sTeil ;i@lr gT9- lUi. moving feet.
The lamps glow benea n the soften
ilg tint OF their crimson shades. The
freight dances and CLEANS over the
warln-hJed carpets, Lighting UP the deli
cate tint Of the walls, refecting itself
in silver and glass, and making more
ruddy the berries of holly and yapon
a abOve the windows and arching doors.
No one hears the swift beat OF horses
feet upon the hard bed Of the broad
avenue. No one secs the paiT' o. jaded
ANIMALS with their weary riders, IS they
canter on the soft grass OF the lawn up
to the gardens gate, and, hitching
their brides to the fence, walk slowly
up the path to the gre front door,
closed it is true, but with its glowing
welcome showing out boldly in the
moonlight, and with ruddy CLEANS
shining through the wide tran ON above
it. They take each others h4nds, and
the girl smiles wanly as the man knocks
boldly, comrnandingly, at the door.
1he gray-haired butler answers the
summons.
who shall say, sah?'' he asks, ush-
ering them into a small ante-roon.
/, The man hesitates, but the girl re-
plies:
'sSay belated travellers who would
like to see Mr.. Cheverlli.''
The host. half unwiilngly, lays down
his hand at whist, and, excusing HIM
self, answers the summons.
As he enters the room he recognizes
the girl as the daughter of an old friend
"a fellow planter who lives thirty
miles away.
why, my dear Miss Duncan, what
is the meaning Of this-almost mid
night, and You here?"
The girl lays her hand in his profered
one. and says simply
| Il am Mrs. Robinson now, and this
gentleman is my husband"
In ''this gentleman Mr.. Cheverin
recognizes the overseer of his friend,
and hardens immediately Dropping
the girls hand, he says, shortly, I'm
possible!'' and awaits their explanation.
His tone stings the young man.
at is a fact, Mr.. Cl7-. H." he be-
gins impetuously. II courted Miss Dun
can openly and honora bly,. but her
father laughed me to scorn and bid me
pay my court to one in my own sphere.
We kept apart then, attending to my
duties, and hoping time would soften
HIM. At last / went to him again and
asked his consent to the renewal of my
attentions. He hooted a the very idea
Of such a thing, and bid me remember
that planters daughters did not marry
their fathers overseers. Stung to fury.
told him I should win Miss Duncan in
spite of him, and he, believing it but
an idle boast, allowed me to stay on,
and So
s'You abused his confidence. VIII
you tell me, sir, why you come with all
this TO nae?'
10. Mr.. Cheveriu, listen to me-
tplealed the girl. i loved him so, and
could not bear to give him up. He
wanted to go away. saying he knew II
was not right to drag nc below my sta
ton, but my sorrow, my tears over
came his resolutions, and we-''
Ran away and got married, like
two fools!'' put in the planter, angrily.
i"What do you suppose 1 can do about
1T? don't approve of il at al, | can
tell you You have lost the sta ton you
i have held as Miss DuTcan-vou can
louly rank as Mrs. Robin III. now and
henceforth-' -
81 know it, she said. quist tiy. anc
booked up smiling in her husbands s tace.