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

noted with keen, silent, still sort 0
pleasure the signs of approaching spring
AT her feet and about her little tufts an,
patches of dead grass peeped up her
and there above the partially melted
snow, like diugy GASES in desert o
glitterng white.
Edna was gay, spirited girl, but a
times, in solitude, her love Of nature
threw glow of sombre enthusiasm ovel
her face in place of the usual levity.
Turning her eyes once more toward the
road she beheld the bri shtness Of the
suulit road, clouded aud obscurcG 10y tho
gloomy shade of slow w-moving funeral
procession.
Only an instant before the bounding
blood in her veins. the breath of spring
iu the air had suggested naught but life.
Now, with shiver, its complement,
death, threw II shadow upon her heart.
Edna closed her eyes, pressed her hand
over them and leaned in a subdued stti-
tude with her face on her horses neck.
"Life-DeathI Iife-Death!
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 as flash the
softened look vanished from her face,
giving way to an angry petulance.
"Why can l never be alone for an in
p slant but what you must come to annoy
me2" she exclaimed.
"Ladylikc, as usual" returned the
man, whose tall, stately figure and strong
though not handsome face should have
elected kinder or at least more re-
spectful greeting. ~ happened to be
driving along on my way to visit pa
tient. The case is not u very urgent
one, so you need not look as though you
would soon get rid of me. You see l
fell IN with the end of the funeral, and =,
although we doctors are supposed to oc-
casion many, still had no fancy for tag
ging along at the end OF this. Seeing
you wrapped in a lofty reverie I left my
buggy on tho road, quietly walked here
rcac: yoaT thoughts and supplemented
them with strain Oh tho same subject
''You are n wicked wizardi How
Care you say what / was thinking of2'
she snapped.
Apparently hcodless of her anger, he
smiled in calm superiority and ans swered ::
~ sweet names that, ont of the fulne.s of
your amiability, you have bestowed on
Inc. Wicked wizard; that is not so
bad-'W. W. 1t reminds me OF an
inscription on an old tombstone
Here lies W. W.,
Who will never more trouble you, trouble
you."
al wish you would follow his exa H.
PIE them" said she, spiteiully.
81 could not lie," he retorted: 81
am not built that way. lam CONSTRUCTED !
with timbers of truth, jois,s of cuudor,
boards of honesty, screws Of integrity
and nails Of common sense"
."SpaIc me-" she cried satirically,
"from further culogium of tho great q
am,'" and, scorning his protfered aid
she sprang to her horse, settled herself
across HIM, then glanced at the docto
deiantly, as, with somewhat scandal
lied expression, he said:
al you huro adopsoos sho effvfduC
skirt
eyes" she answ cred, 'tand much
more safe and comfortable way find
this of riding. You, of all people, who
pretend to study health, should be tho
first to admire this improved method
You know full we'll that riding sideways
one side, and is wholly injurious. Bu
10! don't admit it'll You are too strait
laced aud narrow minded. The Onl!
brond thing about you is your shoulders,
she added sneeringly.
"I confess to being narrow minded
enough to esteem propriety and to ad
mire womanly woman rather than 9
tomboy."
"You would make an excellent prin
old maid, or very proper grandmother.
Pity you miss your vocation by being a
man. Farewell, am off for sail or
the bay" she cried pertly. Then,
touching her horse and waving her hant
she dashed off.
He stood few minutes watching the
flying figure and murmured:
"Pretty, willful child. That fond
aunt has spoiled her. Still she has
warm little heart under all her imperti
nence. How sweet and good her fac
looked before she knew 1 was here
Always petted, she resents the slightes
tone of authority use, and accordingly
detests me. But think will make my
wild bird love me yet," he continued,
closing his rather thin lips with the OK
preston OF man who never admits to
his vocabulary the word fail. ",ler
very warmth and eagerness to sting me
shows some feeling, which is far better
than cool indifference"
Meanwhile, as he slowly retraced his
steps to the buggy, Edna cantered up
the avenue to her home, jumped from
her horse and darted into the house,
almost running against a mild-eyed, silk
---s; :i.sd- elderly lady. who greetei her
with;
"why, my pot, how flushed you look
Has anything gone wrong|
"That horrid DIR. GrahamT cried the
mpetuous girl. "He always rubs me
nc wrong way and rouses my temper;
come, aunty," throwing her arms around
yer neck and drawing her to lounge,
come, coax, pet and talk nice 10 me.
ell me how GOOD am and everything
weet. need It badly, for that old
s'ar has done nothing but scOld and lind