Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-03-19

hI6tANND GEN6SS SS0AASes we
| never noticing that little Sawney. with
muttered me divine, too," was reso-
lutely following her. The way led along
q pleasant country road, as level as q
table, which ran, with scarcely bend
or turning, straight from the Masons'
back gate over to the ancient home of
the Byrd family at Shirley. Overhead
the interlacing branches Of oak and mag
nolia trees made a gorgeous canopy Of
glossy green and russell, and the sunshine
hltering through the leaves embroidered
the old road with an intricate pattern Of
light and shadow. Now and then q
made a lovely dash of color, and glowed
all over with suggestions Of Christmas
and rejoicing.
Pocahontas sauntered slowly, enjoy
ing the beauty of the morning, and
thinking happy thoughts of the past, in
which were mingled memories of the
three Byrd girls, who had been her play
mates, and of Jim. It was just beside
that holly that Nina Byrd, an enterpris-
ing child, had fallen over the fence into
a mud puddle while in pursuit Of a little
striped ground squirrel, and soiled her
hands and dress, and afterward shook
her and Susie because they laughed at
her. Nina was always PASSIONATE. And
over in that meadow she had once been
forced to take refuge in a tree from the
hostile demonstrations Of an unruly
heifer, whose calf she had annoyed with
overtures of friendship. She had sat
among the branches, forlorn and fright
ened, for more than an hour, feeling
that each moment was q month and
that such a thing as forgetfulness was
impossible to the bovine mind, when
Jim, cantering home from school over
in the village, had spied her out and
! rescued her.
| Passing from retrospect to anticipa-
ton, the girls mind wandered to the
new arrivals, and idle speculations about
them filed it. Naturally her thoughts
! were colored by her wishes, and she
, pleased herself with fancying them agree
able people, refined and cultured, with
whom association would be pleasant. Her
fancy was untrammeled, for her facts
were few ard the name afforded no clew
whatever. People named Smith might be
| anything-or nothing, regarded socially.
The name was noncommittal, but it sug
gested possibilities, and its range was in
finite. Wits, felons, clergymen, adven
turers, millionaires aud spendthrifts-all
had answered to the unobtrusive cog
nomen. 1t was plain and commonplace
but as battling as disguise.
With Talbot, Meredith or Percival the
case is different, such nomenclature pre-
supposes gentility. AS the name "Per
cival" crossed the girls mind in hel
| Lo,. -
upon it and fitted it instantly to the
name which had preceded it, Percival-
and Smith! Percival SMITH That wa
the name signed to the letter they haG
rediscovered after it's sleep of years
the letter telling them Of Temple. Thi
newcomer was, or had been, an army
oficer-a general. Suppose it should b.
the same person? Nay; it must be-
wasI Her mind 1eaped to the delightful
conclusion impetuously, and before sh'
had proceeded ten yards further Poca
hontas was fully convinced of the cor
rectness of her conclusion and busy witt
plans for returning the kindness the,
had received.
Filled with pleasure in her though
her steps quickened, as though her fee
were trying to keep pace with her brigh
imaginings. And so engrossed was sh
with castle building, that it was onl,
when she stopped to climb fence sepa
rating the road from field through
which lay short cut to Aunt Violet
cabin, that she became aware Of he
small attendant.
why, Sawney, who told you to conner
| she questioned, as she sprang to tn
: ground on the other side. The littl
! fellow slowly and carefully mounted tn
,, fence, balancing his fat body on the to
! rail as he turned circumspectly in orde
!, | to scramble down. When the landin
bad been safely effected, he peered up q
, her with twinkling eyes and announced
with the air Of one imparting gratifying
! intelligence: Nobody. tum myself.
, divine longer YOU"
: "There are sheep in this field; you
, better run home. They'll scare you
death"
, "Ain't 'feard," was the valiant n
Spouse.
: Pocahontas wrinkled up her brows.
= was almost too far to send him bac
alone, and there was no one passing alon
: the road who could escort him to til
home gate even If he would go, whiC
was unlikely. IL Woulo uOb 10 10 SLtG
him home with the certainty that /
would return the instant her eye was o
= him and stand by the fence peepin
u through the cracks until she should g
), back to him. Since he had followed h
a 80 far it would be better to let him go q
" the way.
"Come them" she said doubtfully, {
D. suppose must take you, although yC
J. had no business to follow me. II Il
o sheep come after US, Sawney, rememb
# that you're not afraid. You must n
" cry or hold on to my dress with your dir
little hands. Do you hear?'
Q, "Ya-m," acquiesced Sawney, with 80
d picious readiness, resuming his line
"a march behind her.
10 They pursued their way uneventful