The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-08-24
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4 lil not KIM" N4AN
had been extended"
PRAY don't apologize. The mistake
was very natural
MAY | not even ask after your weI-
fare, Ida?'
She looked over his shoulders 70
where Ninette, standing up in the cart.
was eagerly pointing out the flowers OF
her preference 10 Nora
~ am in perfect health, thank you.
What an angelic child think the lit
tie lady is growing impatient"
John bit his rnuhtache nervously,
and, turning on his heel, walked hur-
riedly back TO the cart. Something had
got wrong with the harness while the
horse had been backing and Siding,
and it had To be remedied before ne re-
surned the reins
MISS Fairbanks lifted the basket OF
flowers from the sunny roadside. Nj
nette sent shri}l petition towards her
before anyone could interfere:
Lady, Ninette wants one. white
one"
A large white japonica came fiutter-
ing through the air, falling directly
into the child's lap. The "tiower-lady,'
as Ninette called her, kissed her hand
70 the small beggar, smiled at the chllds
scream of gratitude, and then placidly
turned her back on the disabled cart.
"Who is she, John?" Nora asked, lean
ing over the dashboard to note progress.
Miss Fairbanks"
"And hey name Is Ida?"
"How did you learn SO much in such a
short while?"
He was tightening a knot with his
teeth. Mrs. John laughed maliciously.
She was busy fecking the dust from
Ninette's soiled plumes with her hand
kerchief.
81 heard you call her Ida, my dear. "
"You have sharp ears" said John,
looking at her without any confusion,
as he resumed his place in the cart and
took the reins from her hand. 81 told
YOU that we knew the Fairbanks"
ultimately, should judge. But
what was she doing sitting on the
public road side with that big basket OF
cut flowers at her feet? How very
strange it loOked"
She sells HOWcTS, L dIII LOIl.
And was sitting at receipt of custom
Ali"
I'm point of fact" said John, with
some asperity, 'she was not ON the pub
lie road. 1t seems the boundary fence
has been moved, and the old road Is
now in Che Glenburnie grounds. We
are trespassers. fancy she has to get
the flowers off the premises without the
! old mans knowledge"
Then the old man. as you call him
/ Is not an amiable old man?''
| Far from it. He is an Internal ole
| churl But haven't we had about enough
of the Genburnie people for this OnceP'
Not by half On the whole, thinl
| am going to find the Fairbanks alto
| gether the most interesting people
about White Cliffs"
1t was not the words themselves, bu
certain tenseness of voice and manner
which removed them from the realm o
simple feminine curiosity. John fel
unaccountably irritated by her manner
Nothing pleasant occurring to him t.
say, he lapsed into grave revery, which
lasted until the gate Of White Cliffs wa!
close in front of them.
Suddenly he shook himself, YER,
much after the fashion of big New
foundland dog that has been uncom
fortably dampened. He flung off hi
depression with visible physical effor!
and with it the feeling Of .nexplicabl
dissatisfaction with Nora He freed hi
right hand from the whip and seins an
slipped his arm about her round wais
There was no one to see.
"Norrie," he said, coaxingly, don
let the child make a display of tha
. flower. Put it in water upstairs, som,
! where"
"Why?"
because flowers like that bloom N
WIN "'enbur0ie."