The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-10-23

among tho woodbino and climbing
roses that lwinod around The pillars
aud swung from the roof Of the eosoy
cotiage-poroh. And, oil the while,
people talked and spoculaiedi the
girls enviod Miss Beasioi the boys
hated Mr. Gaiues-and VIII Farms
worth was miserable.
For a time ho kept away from tho
house, but finally absence grew too
heavy a burden for endurance, and, at
the risk Of increasing his unhappiness,
he resolved 10 SEQ her. For once she
was not in the porch, nor yet within,
where he sought her. unnecessarily,
until directed by Mrs. Wells TO the
garden. Turning his steps thither,
he presently came upon a picture
which, however charming from an ar
tistio point Of view, was anything but
pleasing 10 the unappreciatiye gaze at
that moment bent upon IT. Standing
beside Bessie Alfred Gaines held her in
the swing with one arm, while the other
was stretched upward in the endoavor
to gain something which, with both
hands, she held away from him. Both
we're laughing, but not too heartily TO
hear the rustic made by the intruder,
as, in turning quickly, his hand hit
and shook housekeeping apple-bough
that fell across the path. Reeogniz-
ing him in the clear moonlight, Bessie
started so violently as to throw her
head against Mr.. Gaines shoulder,
but for which, and the encircling arm,
she would have fallen to the ground.
Immediately recovering herself, how
ever, she drew away from him into a
patch Of shadow near by, leaving Will
no choice but to advance, with very
hot and uncomfortable sense of false
position, indicated by his first words.
"Cood-evening," he began, doubt
fully, addressing no one in particular
-"I hope I'm not intruding ?"
Beyond a corresponding salutation
Bessie made no, reply, but her COM
panion was not 80 reticent,
"On the contrary" he said with a
mischievous laugh, glancing toward
the girl-''you are extremely welcome
to me, at least. have quite worn
myself out with swinging Miss Bessie
whose weight is really something
surprisingl-and shall be glad to find
so able a substitute.
But, with a saucy retort, Bessie de-
clared herself tired of the sport, and
the party sought the porch. Here,
however, it was no better. A spell of
mischief seemed to hold Bessie, who
could not or would not talk, but sat
silently weaving a wreath of rosebuds
with the ivy that entwined one of the
rustic pillars. Chilled with this cold
reception, Will very soon rose to go,
but, making one last effort, he said,
hurriedly:
"Bessie, won't you walk down to
the gate with me? I've a message for
you"
Slowly and reluctantly the girl COM
piled, stopping short at the gate, and
asking, coldly:
| well, what's your messenger I
shall be taking cold here.
| Now Wills message was some I'M
important trihe which might as we'll
have been reserved for another time,
| and, having heard it, she tossed her
head, saying:
! ooh, is that all? I'll go back,
then. Good night"
! "Well, go back!" said Will, fierce
! ly, as she turned away-''go back to
! him, if you want to, but swear"
; "What do you mean?" she cried,
; half frightened by the savage whisper,
! the abrupt stop, seeming to mask
some terrible meaning, and the des-
perate, passionate face revealed by the
moonlight-"What we're you saying
please, WHIP"
She took a step toward him, just
touching his arm with her hand, but
he shook it of, and muttering -"Nc
mntter-I'll not keep you here, .
pulled open the gate,nnd walked down
the lane without single backward