The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1894-08-10
was excited. confused, agitated. q

was excited, confused, agitated. Ht
hardly knew why then.
They crossed the ferry together, ano
he spoke no word to her, nor she to
him. He handed her into the cars.
Then he pressed her hand.
"Good-by, until we meet" he said,
and stepped to the platform.
There stood one of those white
bearded, red-cheeked old gentlemen
who are always members Of clubs, who
are always fast, to certain degree,
and who affect to be ''judges OF wo-
men" in a way that is insulting to
every woman, since it places her on a
level with wine and horses, having
nothing whatever to do with anything
but her personal attractions.
s'Ah, how de do?" said this old gen
tleman, grasping Lukes hand. "Glad
to see you, my boy. Doing the gal
liant, see. No relation?"
'No," said Luke.
ssThought not, said the old gentle
man. '.We let our sisters and cousins
take care of themselves, for the most
part. Pretty figure rather; good
step; but COMPOUNDED ugly red mark.
A man wouldn't like that-eh, Luke9"
"No, said Luke "a man wouldn't
like it.
Something rustled at his elbow.
Ell left my parcel, Mr.. Robbins"
said cold little voice. Fanny stood
there, SO pale that the mark looked
pure scarlet. "Thanks. Don't trouble
yourself.
But he went back to the car with
her, and he would have pressed her
hand once more, only she kept it from
him somehow.
She had heard his speech, "a man
wouldn't like it. She had heard the
speech that caused his answer.
'sShe heard me, {" said Luke to him.
self. "She heard him-confound him"
And as he looked after the flying
car, two tears came into his eyes.
They trickled down upon his cheeks;
he wiped them away. Suddenly he
felt that he loved Fanny Rushton from
his soul-that this cowardly sort OF
trouble that the remarks and chances
of strangers had caused him would
never make him ashamed OF himself
again.
Fanny, my darling" he said to
himself "Fanny, my love, your face
is dearer to me for its hlemish, and
you shall know 1t before Isleep. You
should, were you beggar. I'll hide
it from the worlds cold eyes on my
bosom, darling and I'll love you all
the more for it." And but for the
place in which he stood, he would have
sobbed aloud in his agitation.
He took the next train to Mill Hol-
low. He walked up the garden path
in the twilight. He asked for Miss
Fanny.
"She hasn't come in yet" said the
'They are so frightened
about her-master and missus-but I
tell 'em she'll turn up all right"
Luke's heart stood still. A pre-
sentiment of evil filed his mind He
had seen Fanny into the car, and the
train stopped within sight of her
fathers door. So, in the gathering
two anxious men went down
to the depot, hoping against hope.
'She stepped out on the platform
suddenly. Either she was bewildered,
or she did it on purpose. We were
going full speed. She had blue dress
and white hat, and there's red
mark on her face. They'll know her
by that"
That was the conductors story.
That was the story that Luke and
Fanny's father heard at last.
Did she step out on purpose or was
she "bewildered? God only knows
no living being. Luke tried to be-
lieve that what she had heard him say
had nothing to do with it. But it
was too late now to tell her what he
felt-too late to hide her sweet face
On his heart. He could only stoop
over her, as she lay in her coffin, and
press the last kiss his lips ever offered
to any woman upon the cold cheek
that, even in the death hour, bore
still upon it that fatal red mark.
Desiccated Cocoanut.