Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-10-09

HMk~YN' J,t$t.. back porch, and
~aNS1GSJ%N turned her head
./Il<NLSSN at an approaching
~ aSSJ( step, dropped her
" hands Imply,
while look of amazement bordering
on horror stole over her placid black
features.
Certainly am, Peggy. Why not?
cannot ride comfortably in anything
else."
Peggy shook her head gloomily.
'.I dunno, Miss JESSIE" she said,
ST dunno nu6rs OF de styles Norf, but
I'd feel mighty bad if Colonel Pres
toms Mis- 1mogen or Mis- Payson-
Smith meets yo' on de road lookin'
like dat.
Nonsense, peggyl am perfectly
willing to meet the whole county al
once; and it is not o question OF style
but o question of comfort? you must
remember that"
She spoke indifferently, but she was
conscious of q slight inward shiver al
the thought of the general dlsapproval
her innovation of riding to the school.
house on bicycle might meet. with,
in view OF the fact that it had begun
at her very door.
She was trim, sweet-looking girl,
with pretty brown eyes, fresh color
and soft, brown hair of snDniness
that was reflected in her eyes, and she
wore q modest dark-blue frock that
fitted her slight figure well, reaching
just to her shoe tops, tan leggirgs and
shoes, that would not show the dust
of the road, and blue sailor hat to
shield her face from the warm Sep
tember sun.
She wheeled the new bicycle, the
first, the only one in Harmon, out In.
to the yard. and mounting it easily,
she was off like bird down the coun'
try road, with the sunlight catching
the shining wheel, and Peggy watch
ing her an1iously and mnttering re-
newed hopes that she would not meet
above all, the coloners family.
Jessie Tuthill was a Northern girl.
who for the year past had been en-
ployed by dozen of the old familie:
of Harmon, Virginia, to conduct s
small school for their children. Be
fore the war Harmon had been gay
spot, noted for its beautiful places anf
hospitality, but since then it seemed
to have fallen alseep, awaiting some
royal touch to awaken it again. Jessie
was distantly connected with the Pay
son.Smiths, one of these old families
and so with that recommendation ant
letters from several distinguished
Northerners, vouching for her capa
bility as teacher, she had secured
the position which the dozen familie
had found some difficulty in agreein!
upon filling, and she had soon wor
the confidence and love of the children
and the gratitude of their parent
for her gentle influence upon then
and for their progress. Her morning
were DEVOTED to the younger scholars
and the afternoons to tutoring clas
of half a dozen boys preparing 10.
college. She had been home Nortt
for July and August and she had JUS
returned. How she had enjoyed thos
two months of freedom among her olt
friends in the dear little home she hat
grown up in on the Hudson, which, i
it were email, had such big view o
river and misty hills, and which sh
was so loath to leave but that sh
would not stay and be burden whert
there was not always enough, and tn
position South was very good one
While she had been gone she hat
tried one day to ride girl cousin
bicycle, and learned SO quickly an
enjoyed it SO thoroughly that he
uncle, who would have done more TO,
her if the girls independence woul'
have let him, presented her with on
for her own as parting gift; and nov
this morning she was riding it for th
first time to the little school house
three miles away from where she lived
J finding it great relief from hurryinl
along on foot as she had been oblige'
to do all the year before, and yet
with all the exhilaration of the exe1
else in the fresh morning air, still
dreading little the criticism this in
novation might meet with. For o
Harmon was less wealthy than in tn
old time, it was proportionately NOR
formal, and woe betide the individual
and especially an outsider, who dare
to do anything for which he or sh
could find no former shining exam
pie.
The country road was hard an
smooth, and in spite of her fears, sh
was beginning to be quite happy
when she heard the sound of carriag
coming behind her. She glance
hurriedly back. Feggy's worst feal
were realized. 1t was the colonel
wife, both of whose daughters, know
as ''the Preston twins" attended til
school. Jessie slowed up to let th
carriage pass; she could easily hsy
outstripped the numbering farm horse
drawing it. but she considered th
moment was not favorable for the dil
plsy of her racing powers, and sh
smiled CHEEKY good-morning, tryin
to appear as unconcerned as possible
though her wheel was wobblin
horribly from her nervousness, and
detracted from her sense of dignity.
In the brief moment of passing
Mrs. Preston regarded her with a
tonishment and favored her with
bow that was blood-curdling in i
frigidity. The whirling dust fro
the horses feet choked her for q
instant, and then the carriage turne
into another road, and she was alor
once more in the sweet Virgin
wooded country, feeling the soft q
grateful to her burning cheeks.
A number of the children wei
gathered abont the door of the schoc
house, waiting for her as usual, ar
they greeted her approach rapturousl,,
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