The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-03-30
FIRST EASTER.
The DEVON. SUSPICION. That os
sTRoys TIE HAPPINESS or MANY A
HOME
By opse Read
CHAPTER I.

Il 81 @Fs~ ssE~Ns%
| CHAPTER
Allie Harper was the belle OF
neighborhood in northern Missouri,
and Alf Garrett married her. There
had been so much rivalry In this af-
fair that the eourtship was referred
TO Us a .hard fight" Alf was an
impressive fellow, and il was said
that he had a mighty knack' for
making living, and vet Mallie's
surrender to him was the cause of
great surprise; for the consensus of
opinion was, "why, she should have
married anybody" 1t was undoubt-
edly fact that she could have mar.
ried Sol Bidney, and psople won-
dered why she didn't, for Sol had
considerable money and was much
handsomer man than Alf Garrett.
Where there has been much riy-
airy during courtship, there is likely
to be diBcord after marriage. Recol-
lection is spiteful promoter Of dis
sension-it brings back rose hued
chances and pits them against u
dull-colored possession. In Alfs
nature there was but little of the
poetic, and yet the most dellcate ma
ture could not have found him OBJ
jectionably practical; but his wife
found a flaw.
81 thought you were going to
plant flowers here" she said. 1t
was bright morning and Alf was
making garden.
"No, onions," he replied.
"Ah, and your apparent love for
flowers was u mere pretense after
ALL"
"No, | like flowers we'll enough,
but want few onions as | go
along. And BESIDES" he added,
smiling at her. ave got the bright
est flower there is."
She pouted. eff you thought
very much OF me you'd show it."
"Why don't | show it,"
"No-not much"
"Well then, | show little of what
I've got heap of.
This was the very first sugges-
ton of a disagreement. The next
was more pronounced. 1t was sum-
mer and they were sitting on the
veranda.
"Mallie, l tell you that l don't
want that fellow Bldney to come
round here"
"But did | tell him to Gomez" she
quickly spoke up.
81 don't know" he answered.
"You don't know.?"
"That's what l said"
"But is that what you mean?"
i 81 say it is what / said"
81 know what you say; but do
you mean to infer that | want him
to come?'
"That's alright, but it's plain
that you don't want him to stay
away"
calf, that is a mean insinuation.
| have known Sol ever since we were
both children. And | could have
married him." she added.
sits wonder you hadn't"
eyes, it's more than that" she re-
piled. otis pity l hadn't
ado You mean that?' he demand.
ed.
"Do you want me to mean it?'
ado want you to? That's wo-
man, | must say. don't care wheth
er Won mean it Or not.
eff you don't care | mean It,"
Gall right. Madam" he added
: getting up, ''it isn't too late. There
r a courthouse not far away. Good
r BY"
! CALF"
81 said 'good-by."
stWhat are you going to do?" sh,
cried.
"Pm going away-my love i
dead"
d Scarcely able to understand wha
s had occurred, she stood watchin
; him until he had disappeared in tn
s woods.
CHAPTER III.
Nearly two years passed. On
H cold night Alf got off the train a
the dreary railway station not ia
3 from his farm, and, without maxim
himself known to any one, wen
over to his home. The doors wer
!. locked; desoiate COW stood in th
e yard, lowing. He turned away wit
II a shudder and went back to the raj
e way station. He would go ava
s. without having asked question
le He sat on bench with his overcoa
q pulled up over his face. The trai
:. = would soon be due. Two men cam
- in.
"About the coolest weather | eve
saw at this time of year." one {
I. them remarked.
NJ eyes, and if it keeps up the ne
No preacher won't have much of sho
DO for his Easter sermon tomorrow"
DO "That's so. What sort of
DO preacher is be, anyway"
20 "Pretty fair, they say.
W Nobody doubts his sincerity an
oo oo that's good deal in his favor.
oo oo thought he was too frivolous ev
M M to do anything In earnest / SUI
90 pose you have heard a good de
O0 about him"
90 4Can'tsay | have"