The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-06-24

pleasure tho signs Of approaching spring.
Az her feet and about her little tufts and
patches of dead grass pecpcd up here
and there above tho partially melted
SNOW, like dingy GASES In desert OF
glittoring white.
Edna was gay, spirited girl, but at
times, in solitude, hor lovo OF nature
threw glow of sOmbre enthusiasm Ovor
her fnco in place of the usual lovity.
Turning her eyes once moro toward the
road she bchcld tho bri ,htness OF the
suulit road, clouded and Obscurod by tho
gloomy shade of a slow moving funeral
procession.
Only an instant before the bounding
blood in her veins. the breath Of spring
in the air had suggested naught but life.
Now, with shiver, its complement,
death, threw II shadow upon her heart.
Edna closed her eyes, pressed hor hand
over them and leaned in II smbduod atti
tudc with her face on her horsc's neck.
"Lirc-DcnthI Iife-Deathl
Such is the burden OF human breath"
came in the deep bass of manly voice,
so near her that she started violently and
opened her eyes. Quick rs n flash the
softencd look vanished from her face,
giving way to an angry petulancc.
"Why can never be alone for AN in
- slant but what you must como to annoy
me?" she exclaimed.
"Ladylikc, as usual" returned tho
man, whose tall, stately figure and strong
though not handsome facc should havo
elected kinder or ut least more re-
spcctful greeting. al happened to be
driving along on my way to visit pa
ticnt. Tho case is not very urgent
one, so You need not look rs though you
would soon get rid of me. You see |
fell ~ with tho cnd of tho funeral, and,
although we doctors arc supposed to oc-
cnsion many, still l had no fnncy f.. tag
ging along ut the end of this. Seeing
you wrapped in II lofty rcvcric | left my
buggy on tho road, quietly walkco here,
rcnd your thoughts aud supplemented
them with strain on tho same subject
"You arc II wicked wizard! How
dare you say what was thinking OFF,
she snapped.
Apparently needless of her anger, he
smiled in calm superiority and answered:
"rhat only adds another to the list
of sweet names that, out OF the fulnc,s of
your amiablity, you have bestowed on
me. Wicked wizarl;' that is not so
bad-'W. W. 1t reminds mo OF nu
inscription on an old tombstone
"Hrrc lies w. w,
Who will mover moro trouble you, trouble
you."
al wish you would follow his cNa ~
pie them" said she, spitclully.
al could not lic," hc rct"rtcd: "l
am mot built that way. | am constrn"tc
with tImhcrs of truth, josts Of candor,
boards OF honesty, screws of integrity
nnd nails Of common sense
."SpaIc me-" she cried satirically,
"irom further culogium OF tho great '
am,'' and, scorning his protfcrci MD
she sprang 10 her horse, settled herself
across hlm, then glanced nL the dOCto
dciiantly, ns, with II somewhat scandal
izcd expression, he said:
.u---~-yuu hrrv a,foPtve' ehro 'rfvfcr1r
skirt
eyes" she ausw cred, "aud much
more sufo aud comfortable way find
this of riding. You, of all people, wii'
pretend to study health, should bc th
first to admire this improved method
You know iuil we'll thrt riding sidoway'
twists the body, contracts the ribs %
one side, and il wholly injurious. Bn
not don't admit it'll You arc too STRAIT
laced aud narrow minded. The onl
brond thing about YOU Is your shoulders
she added snccringly.
az confess to being narrow -mindo,
enough to esteem propricty and to ad
mire womauly woman rather than
tomboy."
"You would make an excellent priu
old maid, orr very proper grandmother
Pity you miss your vocation by being ,
man. Farewell, i am of for sail OF
the bay" she cried pertly. Then
touching her horse and waving her han,
she dashed off.
He stood few minutes watching tn,
flying figure and murmurcd:
"Pretty, wiliful child. That fonc
aunt has spoiled her. Still she has
warm little heart under all her imperti
ncuce. How sweet and good her fac
looked before she knew | was her,
Always petted, she resents the slighto,
tone of authority use, aud accordingly
detests me. But think | will make m,
wild bird love me yet," he continued
closing his rather thin lips with the cx
preston of man who never admits t,
his vocabulary the word fail. ",le
very warmth and eagerness to sting m
shows some feeling, which is far bette
than cool indifference"
Meanwhile, as he slowly retraccd hi
steps to the buggy, Edna cantered vi
the avenue to her home, jumped from
her horse and darted into the house
almost running against a mild-eyed, silk
20 49, Snea elderly lady, who greeted he
With:
"why, my pct, how flushed you look
Has anything gone wrong"
"That horrid DR.. Graham! cried TN
mpetuous girl. "lIe always rubs III
nc wrong way and rouscs my tcmpcr
.'Dme, aunty," throwing her arms ar 'nn
;er neck and drawing ncr to II iohl5c
come, coax, pet and talk nic1 To m'
81! :iiv Low @ood avn and crcrythn
veet. need it badly, for that oil
sar has done nothing but scold and TIM
ut with me. He thinks himself 81
ri"iIy superior and me simply silly
Grant, pert miss. OH how [ nat