People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-06-16
CHAPTER IIL-CoNrINUED.

CHAPTER IIL-CONTINUED
He would have liked to tell her then
and there that he would have been
content if those bright, beautiful eyes
had never kindled with anything but
love or womanly aspiration; that that
soft, lazy, caressing voice had never
been lifted beyond the freside or domes-
tic circle; that the sunny, tendriled
Ihair and pink ears had never inclined
10 anything but whispered admiration,
and that the graceful, 1.-the, erect figure,
so independent and self-contained, had
theen satisfied to lean upon his arm for
support He was conscious that this
had been in his mind when he first saw
her; he was equally conscious that she
was more bewilderingly fascinating to
him in her present inaccessible intelli-
gence and practically.
Il confess" he said, looking into her
eyes with a vague smile, 81 did not ex-
pect you would be so forgetful of some
one who had evidently cared for you"
Meaning Mr. Chef Brooks, or Mr..
Joyce Masterton, or both! That's like
most yo' men, Connie 70 reckon
because a girl pleases you she ought to
be grateful all her life, and yo'rs, too!
Yo' thinklifferent now! But yo needn't
act up to it quite so much" She made
a little deprecating gesture with her
disengaged hand as if to ward off any
retaliating gallantry: 81 amt speaking
for myself, connie Yo' and me are
good enough friends, but the girls
round here think yo're trife too much
taken up with rice and niggers. And
looking at it even in your light, connie,
it amt business Yo' want to keep
straight with Maj. Reed, so it would
be just as well to square the majors
woman folks. Tavy and Gussie Reed
amt exactly poisonous, connie, andyo
might see one or the other home from
church next Sunday. The Sunday after
that, just to show you amt particular,
and that yo' go in for being regular
beau, yo' might walk home with me-
Don't be frightened-rve got better
gown than this. It's a new one-just
come from Nashville-and I'll wear it
Tor the occasion"
lie did not dare say that the quaint
frocG she was then wearing-a plain
Checked household bingham used for
Children's pinafOreS, with its ribbons of
the same pattern, gathered in bows at
the smart apron pockets, had become a
part of her beauty, for he was already
hOpelessly conscious that she was love
ly in anything, and he might be i'm
PEELED to say so. He thanked her grave
" and earnestly Put without gallantry
or effusion, and had the satisfaction of
seeing the mischief in her eyes increase
in proportion to his seriousness, and
heard her say with affected concern:
Bear up, connie. Don't let it worry
yo' till the time comes" and took his
leave.
On the following Sunday he was pres
ent at the Redlands Episcopal church,
and after the service stood with out
ward composure but some inward chat
ing among the gallant youth, who,
after the local fashion, had ranged
themselves outside the doors of the
building. He was somewhat surprised
TO find Mr.. Champney evidently as much
out of place as himself, but less self
contained, waiting in the crowd of ex-
pectant cavaliers Although convinced
that the young Englishman had come
only to see Miss Sally, he was glad to
share his awkward isolation with an
other stranger, and greeted him pleas
iantly. The Dows' pew being nearer t.
the entrance than the Reeds, gave up
its occupants first. Col. CORTLAND
Gifted his hat to Miss Miranda and her
niece. at the same moment that Champ
ney moved forward and ranged him
self beside them. Miss Sally, catching
Courtland's eye, showed the whites Of
her own in a backward glance Of mis-
chievous significance to indicate the fol
lowing Reeds. When they approached
CORTLAND joined them. and finding him
self beside Miss 0ctavia, entered int
conversation. Apparently the sup
pressed passion and sardonic melan
choly of that dark-eyed young lad!
=srIrred him to a lighter, gayer humo
,e7an in proportion as Miss Sally's good
natured levity and sunny PRACTICABLE.
made him serious. They presently fel
to the rear. with other couples, ant
wc,- soon quite alone.
4 little naughty, but tall and cree
in her well preserved black grenadin
dress. which gave her the appearance o
n youthful bat implacable widow, Mis-
Reed declared she had not seen tn
connie for "a coon's age" and cel
'tainly had not expected to hay
the honor of his company as lon
sas there were niggers to be elevated