Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-03-04

the best"
"well," said Rhoda, quietly, 'I'm
going to drive about and sell them for
you"
And she pinned her wide hat more
firmly on her pretty blonde head, and
was gone through the kitchen door with
graceful speed.
"Oh, Mis- Merritt" Mrs. Peterman
begged, in scared tones, don't let her!
| never dreamed O. no such For
goodness sakes, that grill"
"Let her CO." said her kind-hearted
hostess, cheerfully, and with mother S
pride in her tones. "Rhoda isn't
ashamed to do kind turn, whatever it
is. She's woman, Rhoda is.
Rhoda went to where Mrs. Peter
mans old wagon waited, and mounted
to the high seat.
1t was a rattly affair; the horse was
twenty years old If day, and furry
coated; and the tin pals and measures
i,ngled together in the back with alarm.
ing loudness.
But if Rhoda felt any faint, girlish
oualms she WINGED none. She smiled
as she chirruped to the staid old ami
NAL, and hummed a little, and strove TO
believe she was forgetting her own
haunting trouble.
Mrs. Whitaker, laughing at the sight
of Mrs. Peterman's successor till the tears
came, bought eight quarts of berries,
and Mrs. Kelly, next door, bought five.
The SteeIes were next,
Rhoda's pretty color heightened a
little as she drew up at the front gate.
Not that she should ever love Owen
Steele-no; but if he was to be her
husband
Owen was in the yard. So was al
elderly lady in silk and gentleman in
correspoudingly imposing garments.
Ah, yes! Rhoda remembered that
Owens uncle and aunt from the city
had been expected that dsy-au uncle
and aunt from whom, Owen had informed
her, he had expectations.
Oven, in his best clothes and looking
complacent, came to the gate. Not hav-
ing recognized Rboda at distance, he
stared at her now in blank astonishment.
Then he grew red.
"Great guns, Rhoda" he uttered,
shortly, "whi. are you up tol"
Rhoda colored also, her red under lip
between her teeth.
"Can't you see3" she queried. "Sell-
ing Mrs. Peterman's berries for her; she
is sick. Won't you take sonnet Is that
your uncle and aunt, Owen1 I'd like to
meet them"
"That's them," said Owen, in sort
of growl. "For the lands sake, Rhoda,
drive alongl You don't s'pose l want
'em to see you this way or know who
you arel If you amt up to the funniest
things ever girl was! Rhoda,see here.
I'D be rather ashamed to introduce
YOU to 'em like this. You know how
they are, from the city and all, and
Come now, don't stop here, Rhoda. We
don't want no berries"
"Don't you, Oweni I'm selling them
for Mrs. Peterman, you know, who needs
the money so much" Rhoda said, slowly.
Her eyes, grown large and bright, were
fixed upon him with an odd expression
which Oven was not shrewd enough to
fathom.
He felt uncomfortable under her gaze,
aud he wondered why she gave pretty,
ringing laugh as she drove away and
turned aud waved her hand, laughing
still. But he was relieved that she had
gone.
What had possessed her, anyhow
He wiped his hot face-for his vexation
and apprehension had been acute-and
went back to the visitors thankfully.
The lawn of the pretty little East
hampton Hotel, the house which took the
majority of Easthampton'S summer board
ers. was we'll filed when Rhoda reached
there half an hour later.
The wind had rumpIed her yellow
hair, and her eyes looked clear and
bright. She would shirk nothing, she
had said to herself, firmly, and she held
to the resolution.
And she halted before the hotel and
turned her vivid face toward it.
Yes, he was there-she had known be
would be. She saw him first, though
there was porchful of bright gowns and
manly figures, and tennis court full OF
lively players, and a sparkling of para
sols elsewhere,
Aud-yes, he saw her, and left, with
the shabbiest apology Tor bow, the lad,
with whom he had been talking, and