Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-03-04

nefcelY.
eyes" he answered humby, not ex-
pressing the surprise he felt at meeting
her there at that early hour, nor making
any explanation as to his own conduct,
while the dull red crept up to the roots
of his black hair.
"What you iollerin' me FORE" she
asked savagely.
Then he did look surprised, for to
him it had seemed Just the other way,
and when he first caught a glimpse of
her dress through the trees, his heat
gave a sudden bound, and for an instant
only, he fiattered himself she came be-
cause he was there; but it was only for
an instant. He made no reply as he
pushed the boat into the water and
threw the chain in, preparing to follow.
"Yore allus III my way she said
roughly.
He looked up quickly.
San r. deeply.
"Yas, allus an allus. wish you'd
go away SO fur It Id never se3 you
ag'ln."
She sat down aud buried her face in
her hands.
"Do you really mean that Wylie
Adamsl" he asked as he stepped into his
little skiif.
"Yas," she nodded, 'I do" and
then she heard the soft dip of the oars as
the boat went from shore, and mi"
gave low, piteous whine, then all was
still Presently tic head that was buried
in the long, brown hands fell over to
one side and rested against the trunk of
a tree, and Wylle Adams slept While the
dog lay doing at her side.
Voices awote her, aud scrambling to
her feet, she saw her father with the
handsome stranger coming towards her.
AGAIN the beautiful blush mounted her
cheeks, and with one bound she was out
Of sight, AMI flying like a frightened
bird through the trees and thick under
brush. When she reached her humble
home again, sac 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 l put on my shoes?"
Mrs. Adams looked up quickly; she
was rough and uncouth. buG the mother
heart was there.
81 d'clar fer't, We look sick. Whar We
bin SO airlY, Wylie2"
Down yonder,' the girl answered,
nodding towards the creek; aud gaining
her mothers consent to don her foot
wear, she FASTENED up 10 the loft aud
put on her one pair of best stockings, a
mixed red aud blue wooden, and her
coarse cowhidc shoes, changed her apron,
smoothed down her hair, and came back
and sat down 10 chair near the fire.
place. The weather was still warm and
balmy, but she felt chilled through.
None too soon, for her father aud Mr.
Howard Arson, the stranger, came 10
almost instantly.
"What's ups" her father asked, see
lug his daughter in holiday attire, while
Mr., Arson, noticing the cnange, was too
well bred to eyincc any surprise; but he
thought;
why, she is quite pretty" and then
forgot all about her
''rm afeerd she's sick, Mrs, Adam;
answered, solicitousIy, and laid her
coarse hand very gcrtly upon the girls
hot forhead.
sob, reckin not, said father, and
turned his attention to his guest, who
began making inquiries about procuring
employees to fell the trees aud prepare the
ground for building.
Wylic Adams and Beechnut Lord had
grown up side by side on the little
woodland farms owned by their parents,
and eacA was an only child.
Wylics was nature always at war
with itself, and yet, though she stung
him with taunts and treated him worse
than her dog, Beechnut toiled for her,
waited upon her, and loved her with a
dumb, hopeless sor5 OF devotion worthy
of any womln's love, one might have
said better cause; but there were deep
wells in Wyie Adams's nature, all un-
tathomed, aad her capabilities for good
aad useiuhess, and kindly turns were
great.
That day WyIie learned tuat Mr. An
son was to board with her parents Tor
several weeks, as Mr.. Adams's house was
the nearest of access to his building site,
and although everything was of the
plainest and coarsest, Mrs. Adams was
very neat, aud the young millionaire was
sensible and content.
The next morning Wylie went about
the house as usual, but she still wore her
shoes and stockings, When Mr. Ausou
returned to his supper that evening,
there was different light in his eyes,
and he regarded the girl curiously.
As day after day passed by, Wylie's
repugnaucs to him grew less, until she
began to long for his presence. Hi;
yery indifference drew her toward him.
She began to do many little fayors for
him, which he seemed 10 take as mat
ter of course.
Poor child, she did not con sider
wealth, education, station or power as
anything to be wished for, or as bar,
rier between herself and anything ttat
she desired. She frequently gathered
fresh flowers aud placed them in his
room, but he always gave her mother
the thanks for beng so kind, and said
nothing to her. Strange to say, she die
not feel piqued-her heart sank and ,
great lonliness stole over her.
Child-like aud ignorant, aud wholly
innocent of any wrong, she began dog
ging his footsteps, aud lying in wait for
him as it were, only that she might b.
near him. If he noticed it he did not
appear to at first, but he began to frown
at her finally, aud then the hot tears
spraug to her eyes aud she hid in the
bushes, aud watched him from her little
window in the loft, fairly deyouring him
with her gaze.
Matters continued in this way for some
time, Mr.. Arson not being able to sc
away as soon as be expected.
Wyiie began to droop and grow pale
and spiritless, mud vet in all this tim,
she had never once given Beeehnnt Lore
one thought.
What's become of Beeehnutl" he
mother asked her, aad sac answered