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


WHO is he, pap9 an what duz he
want hyer?"
"a young chap as is rich us all git
out, an he's goin' to build big, fine
house down thar by the old ford, an
reckin he'll bring his folks hyer arter
that, tho he didn't say"
Wylie Adams didn't wait for more,
but, with u little dry, choking sob, hur-
ried away and up the ladder to the loft
she called her room; but she did not
go to bed; she sat down on the floor by
the tiny window, with look on her
face it had never known before, and
watched the moon us it came slowly
up through the trees and silvered the
waters of the wide creek
II hate him." she murmured. and
again that dry, choking sob. There
was glitter in her eyes that shone
brightly under the radiance of the
moon, and in her heart Il sensation,
born of woe, that this stranger was n
usurper and had no right to this spot,
these trees, this ripping water, this
place that seemed to her had known
her always, though the land was his
before she was born. All night long
she sat until the day broke, then, with
pale face and weary eyes, she crept
down the ladder, and motioning to
Nil" the dog, who lay at the foot of
the bed where her parents slept, the
two went softly out in the early
autumn dawn and down to the old
ford.
Her heart ached SO she was nearly
i'll.
Though scarcely four o'clock, Beech
nut Lord, her companion of the night
previous, was before her and unfasten-
ing his boat.
You here?" she spoke almost fierce
ly.
Eyes" he answered, humbly, not ex-
pressing the surprise he felt at meeting
her there at that early hour, nor making
any explanations as to his own CON
duct, while the dull red crept up to the
roots of his black hair.
What you follerin' me for?" she
asked savagcly.
Then he did look surprised, for to
him it had seemed just the other yvay;
and when he first caught glimpse of
her dress through the trees, his heart
gave sudden bound, and, for an in
slant only, he flattercd himself she
came because he was there; but it was
only for an instant. He made no re-
ply as he pushed the boat into the
water and threw the chain in, prcpar-
ing to follow.
"Yore nllus in my way" she said
roughly.
He looked up quickly.
Gam -" deeply.
"Yas, allus an allus. l wish you'd
go away SO fur It I'd never see you
ag'in."
She sat down and buried her face in
her hands.
"Do You RELY mean that, Wylie
Adams?" he asked, as he stepped into
| his little sliiff.
"Yas," she nodded, Il do;" and then
she heard the soft dip of the oars rs
| the boat went from shore, and Nip
| gave low, piteous whine, then all
was still. Presently the head that was
buried in the long, brown hands fell
over to one side and rested against the
trunk of a tree, and Wylie Adams slept
while the dog lay doing at her side.
Voices awoke her, and, scrambling to
her feet, she saw her father, with the
handsome stranger, coming towards
her. Again the pitiful blush mounted
her checks, and with one bound she
was out of sight, and flying like a
frightened bird through the trees and
thick underbrush. When she reached
her humble home again, she paused at
the watering trough and bathed her
face hands and feet
Mother" she said, coming close to
her side where she sat in the open
door, I'm sick, can't 1 put on my
shoes?"
Mrs. Adams looked up quickly; she
was rough and uncouth, but the mother
heart was there
II dclar fer't, ye look sick. Whar We
bin so airly, Wylie?"
down yonder," the girl answered,
| nodding towards the creek; and, gain
ing her mothers consent to don her
footwear, she FASTENED up to the loft
and put on her one pair of best stock
| ings, n.iXed red and blue wooden,
and her coarse cowhide Shoes changed
| her apron, smoothed out her hair and
came back and sat down in chair
near the fireplace. The weather was
still warm and balmy, but she felt
chilled through.
None too soon, for her father and Mr..
| Howard Arson. the stranger, came in
| almost instantly.
Whats up?" her father asked,
seeing his daughter in holiday attire,
while Mr.. Arson, noticing the change.
was too we'll bred to evince any sur
prise; but he thought:
"Why, she is quite pretty" and then
| forgot all about her.
Pm afeerd she's Sick" Mrs. Adams
answered, solicitonsly, and laid her
coarse hand very gently upon the girls
| hot forehead.