Middletown transcript., 1895-04-27
|HiS-
| ........LOrdShip

NJ Sandy, stretched
at full length, could only answer her
TRADE of girlish talk in monosyllables
for looking at her. She was snrpass-
iugfy pretty, with auburn hair which
the Southern sun kissed into ropes of
gold. Her eyes were brown with a
dangerous tendency to grow soft and
deep. Her skin was very fair, with
clear pink coloring and some tiny
freckles. She sat leaning against
moss-covered tree trunk, her hands
toying with pine cone as she talked.
81 should have been a man." she
said. "When 1 graduated last June
/ had very fair prospect in the world.
When one is born merely a society
girl ones place is in city, of course.
1 had no thought under heaven but
that I should stay in London and enjoy
living. Then, when papa announced
his intentions of going to Florida in
the autumn, looked upon it merely
as lark. Now 1 know. And we are
to live here always. Think of it! In
the wilderness, with no advantages. NO
servants. Some of my girl friend:
write to me. do not tell them wash
the dishes and make the fire for my
mother to get the meals upon. l an
learning to cook"
"What do you tell themP" asked
Sandy, to brighten her thoughts.
81 tell each one something different
tell my art student friend of tine
beautiful scenery; my literary chum Of
the queer backwood people. To another
1 write merely chatter. l wrote Of
the dance we went to in Fallonton's
barn. IL described the only man
have met. That is you, sir.'
"How did you describe me ?" he
asked.
81 told her you were as tall as
the pine-trees, and just as painfully
thin. Nay, now, but 1 did not. ]
said you were tall and slender, with
blue eyes, dark hair, and fine teeth.
I said that you did not talk much, but
that what you said was good" Her
eyes laughed.
"Does she know you well?" he
asked.
"Better than anyone"
Doubtless, then, she will under
stand that I cannot find opportunities
to talk much.
There was little silence after this,
broken by Sandy's peculiar soft laugh.
"My lady," he said gently, ".hat is
but as one of the pine-needles. II
pricks bit, but it is easily bent."
"Then l told her," continued Girls
''thst you had come frora Scotland fol
your health, and that, like myself, yor
were poor, and trying to raise crop ol
potatoes off patch of ground nc
larger than mans hand"
Sandy blushed family, but he die
not remove his blue eyes from hel
sparkling face. Girls, quite uneon
cerned, finished her story.
"My friend calls you 'his lordship.'
"She invests prosaic me with 1
romance, then ?"
"Yes. 1t makes it more interesting
you know" Girls rose, 81 am going
You need not come. Call for me OF
Sunday at four O'clock"
"Then you will 60 rowing afte
all?" he asked eagerly.
Eyes, of course. I was only tanta
lizing you. Goodbye, your lordship,
she laughed.
"Good-bye, your ladyship," he said
lifting his hat.
Cristine Hayden, commonly calle'
Girls, went her way over the fallel
pine-needles, and he went his. H
walked with his head bent, thinking.
| 81 have known her five months. Sh
is only eighteen; am twenty five. Sh
has beauty, health, youth, no regrets
I have but delicate body and min
oppressed. Obi well. 1t may all com
right some day yetp'
Heaving a tremendous sigh he struc
into brisk pace, and soon neared tn
little piece of land and the cabin h
called home, and as he beheld it ligh
danced into his clear eyes, and he CAV
a short, mirthful laugh.
Girls, meantime, had a longer roa
to travel. The soft-carpeted wood
were with her for the most part; the
along the river, and SO home.
Then she went indoors to help he
mother prepare dinner. At the tabl
Mr.. Hayden was quite talkative, an
had much to say about the orang
plantation where his business interest
lay.
"Cris. your friend Mr.. Irwin ha
been promoted. The boss is very wei
pleased with him. Quiet young man
but good worker. Delicate, isn't hep
"Yes, but Sandy Irwin has a brav
spirit. think he is an honest younl
man."
"Precisely. That is why they raiset
him."
So, he had been promoted and hat
not told herl What queer fellow b,
was. But then, it was her own fault
1t was just as he had said. She hat
met him by accident as she walked
home through the woods, and she hat
at once begun to tell him of a report
she had heard. The district schoo
was in need of teacher and sht
wanted the place In order 10 make {
little money for herself. They had
always talked poverty to each other