The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-24

Ine DeSt. -,
"Wen," said Rhoda. quietly, "Tm
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. Petsrnan
begged, in scared tones, "don't let her
I never dreamed o no such For
goodness sakes, that grill"
"Let her CO." said her kind-hearted
hostess, cheerfully, and with mothers
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 Z rattly affair; the horse was
twenty years old if day, and furry
coated; and the tin pals and measures
iinsled 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 staio olc ami
NAL, and hummed 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 tVe.
The Steeles were next:
Rhodas 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 an
elderly lady in silk and a gentleman in
correspondingly imposing garments.
All, yes! Rhoda remembered that
Ovens uncle and aunt from the city
had been expected that day-an uncle
and aunt from whom, Owen had informed
her, he had expectations.
owen, in his best clothes and looking
complacent, came to the gate. Not hav-
ing recognized Rhoda at distance, he
stared at her now in blank astonishment.
Then he grew red.
"Great guns, Rhoda" he uttered,
shortly, "what are you up to2"
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, Owena I'd like to
meet them"
"That's them," said Owen, in a sort
of growl. "For the lands sake, Rhoda,
drive alongI You don't s'pose I want
'em to see you this way or know who
you are9 If you amt up to the funniest
things evera 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, Owen2 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 Owen was not shrewd enough to
fathom.
He felt uncomfortable under her gaze,
and he wondered why she gave pretty,
ringing laugh as she drove away and
turned and waved her hand, laughing
still. But he. was relieved that she had
gone.
What had possessed her, anyhow2
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 filled when Rhoda reached
there half an hour later.
The wind had rumpled 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 he
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
soils elsewhere.
And-yes, he saw her, and left, with
the shabbiest apology for bow, the lady
with whom he had been talking, ano
went running down the steps and the
walk, hat in hand, and brought up be-
side Mrs. Peterman's wagon with
bound.
"Why, Miss Merritt" he CREDITS
it you2 couldn't believe it at first, but
it IS! What are you doingG How jolly"
His handsome young face was aglow
with pleasure-with the mere pleasure OF
seeing her once more. He forgot all
else, and stood joyfully gazing up at
her.
"What fun" he reiterated, gaily.
"I'm selling blackberries for Mrs.
Petcrman," SAID Rhoda; but her voice
trembled, and she could not trust her
eyes to meet his. "Do you think they
will take some here?'
"I'll 60 and see," said George Olm-
stei, eagerly.
All the boarders we're staring at him,
but he did not even see them. He ran
into the kitchen with boyish leaps and
skips, aud came back with the cook and
two great pans.
Well take what you've got left!" he