The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-16

ture, all unfathomed, and her capabili-
ties for good and usefulness. and kindly
returns We're great. Spoiled in one
sense, she had become IL little tyrant.
Beechnut Lord would long ago have
turned his eyes and heart in another
direction had it not been for the rare
Intervals of kindly federation which
lifted him TO the seventh heaven. only
to make him her willing slave and
adorer again.
That day Wylie learned that Mr.. An
son was to board with her parents for
several weeks, as Mr.. Adams house
was the nearest of access TO his build
ing site, and, although everything was
OF the plainest and coarscst. Mrs.
Adams was very neat, and the young
millionaire was sensible and content.
The next morning Wylic went about
the house as usual, but she still wore
her shoes and stockings. When Mr..
Arson returned to his supper that
evening, there was Il different light in
his eyes, and he regarded the girl
curiously.
AS day after day passed b., Wylie's
repugnancc to HIM grew less, until she
began to long for his presence. His very
IL.
She began to do many little favors for
him, which he seemed to take as mat
ter of course.
Poor child, she did not consider
wealth, education, station or power as
anything to be wished for, or rs a bar
rier between herself ana anything that
she desired She frequently gathered
fresh flowers and placed them in his
room, but he always gave her mother
the thanks for being SO kind, and said
nothing to her. Strange to say, she did
not feel piqued-her heart sank and q
great loneliness stole over her.
Child-lille and ignorant, aud wholly
innocent of any wrong, she began dog
ging his footsteps, and lying in wait
for him as it were, only that she might
be near him. If he noticed il, he did
not appear to ut first, but he began to
frown Mt her finally, and then the hot
tears sprang to her eyes and she hid in
the bushes, and watched him from her
little window in the loft, fairly dcvour-
ing him with her gaze.
Matters continued in this way for
some time, Mr.. Arson not being able
to get away as soon as he expected.
Wylic began to droop, and grow pale
and spiritless, and yet in all this time
she had never once given Becchnut
Lord one thought.
whats become Of Bccchnut?" her
mother asked her, and she answered:
81 dunno ner don't lxeer."
"Wall, thcts singlcr," Mrs Adams
replied, you RELY don't know"
"No," sharply.
Il IL;
she sighed, and noticed that evening,
for the first time, how gladly and
eagerly Wylie waited upon Mr. Anson,
and how the red blood rushed to her
sallow checks.
She shook her head obviously.
When Howard Arson announced that
he would leave Silver creek the next
morning and could not tell when he
would return, Wylie's heart beat so
unanimously she thought she would
fall. He did not go until tho next
afternoon, however, just before dusk;
and when he had hidden Mr.. and Mrs.
Adams goodby, Wylie was not there,
but waiting for him outside; and when
he passed where she stood hidden, She
stole after him as he strollcd down to-
wards the old ford through the now al
most leafess trees, many of which had
been cut down, and lay in huge piles
about; and, catching up with him,
touched him lightly upon the hand.
lie turned with violent start.
'Mr. -Mr.-Anson, she stammered.
Poor child. she was very innocent of
the worlds ways, and much to be
pitied
He paused and looked at her in as
constituent
We'll, what do you want? Have
you come to say good-by? l remem Der
now that l did not sec You at tho
house" He extended his hand. She
grasped it eagerly, and held it fast
between her two cold, thin hands.
Don't you-don't you care nuthin'
fer me, Mr.. Anson?" meelsly, with the
sound of tears in her voice.
1t hardly seemed possible that this
was the willful. apparently cruel Wylie
of u few weeks previous.
What do you mean? ?" he asked,
sternly.
II like you awful much" here she
broke down and sobbcd aloud. He
took his hand from her OBTAINING grasp
Miss Adams" he said, ~ am sorry
for this; go home; you have been a
great annoyance to me; wish to never
see You again. A girl to do such a
thing" and then he strobe on, leaving
her standing there, cold, still and
white, wishing she were dead.
Somehow the words he uttered made
her think of Beechnut Lord, and her
last words to him.
With sudden revulsion of feeling,
she cried out:
oh, Beechnut, you liked me, you
woulden' her treated me so where are
you, Beecbnut?" And then heavy