Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-04-15

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real kinder chilly"
'tOh, don's believe need anything
extra; ! shan't be cold," Belinda re.
monstrated.
"Yes. you will, too," Mra. Bascom
said decidedly. s'You go right up.
stairs and get your sack"
And Belinda turned and went obed.
iently back to her room.
"It's dreadfully silly 10 have to put
it on" she muttered, nodding to her.
self in the glass. 'fseems as though
was old enough to know;" and she
sighed, netting the shadow of coming
lines in her forehead and the sharper
curve of her cheek. But she; drew
on the little jacket over her tight-ft.
ting black silk basque and smoothed
it down carefully over the bright blue
bow at her throat.
Then she went downstairs again,
but paused a moment on the lowest
step. 81 wonder if I had better put
on my rubbers," she meditated. 81
don't believe need them," with q
sudden guilty look at the closed sit
ting-room door. But she opened it as
she passed and said, stGood.bye,
sarah," very quickly, half fearing
that If she waited her sensitive con.
science might compel her to mention
the neglected rubbers-
Sarah, at the window, watched her
go down the street.
eShe's just as happy as ever" she
said to herself. s.lt's a good deal
better / didn't let John Baker hang
around here. She's one OF those soft.
hearted creatures that'd marry any
man that asked her, ] do believe. But
she wasn't goin' to marry John Baker
II I could help it. I've had expert.
ence with men and know them
through and through.
Mrs. Bascom'ss married life had
been brief and unhappy.
ssWhy, they say that John Baker
smokes, and he don't attend no church
regular. SO far's I can make out.
That's just like Silss, exactly"
Silas was Mrs. Bascom's deceased
husband.
s'She'll be mighty thankful some
day that saved her from o life OF
misery" and Mrs. Bascom sighed
feeingly. '1t's been more'n year
now, and she seems to be gettin' over
it nicely, though I must say I'm
thankful he don't live in this town."
And Mrs. Bascom's eyes returned TO
the village street down which Be-
linda had disappeared.
'I wonder where Belinda was goin'.
10 call on Margaret Brown, / Is'pose.
It's strange Berlinda should take to
Margaret so, such lively young thing
though, as far's that goes, she amt
much younger than Belinda" /" she add
ed, hastily, with sisterly pride; "but
she's so up and comm. It's lucky
she only visits here week or SO, she
might make Belinda just like her.
Mics Ware told me yesterday she
rides bicycle" And Mrs. Bascom's
thoughts stopped in frightened con-
temptation of such arrant boldness.
Meantime Belinda had gone, as her
sister predicted, to call on Margaret,
who was visiting fond, old-fashioned
relatives for o few weeks in this Sc
questered little village. Her friend
was in the back yard with the bicycle,
and caught sight of Belinda walking
primly up the path to the front
door.
"Heigho!" she cried, merrily; and
Belinda came around the corner of
the house and sat on the steps while
Margaret rubbed up her wheel.
There was q great contrast between
the two girls not wholly due to the
mere difference in their ages. Mar
garet Brown had come to womanhood
with many and absorbing interests in
her busy, heslthful career, while Be-
linda seemed to have little to make
her life full and beautiful, and she eun.
consciously felt this the more now
that new possibility had faded from
her horizon with the banished John
Baker. There was, consequently, q
resigned submission in Belinda's sweet
face very different from the fine, alert
strength in Margaret's, and q cei tain
indecision in the droop of her shoul.
ders quite unlike Margaret's queenly
carriage. There might easily have
been five instead OF two years between
them.
s'Oh, have had the most delight.
full ride!" Margaret cried, rubbing
vigorously at the handle-bar of hel
machine.
Belinda sighed wistfully.
''Whst fun it must bep" she mur'
INJURED.
Margaret caught the sadness in he,
voice.
ooh, Belindal" she cried, dropping
the rag with which she was polishing,
'tges on and try lido. I'll hold il
steady"
Belinda shook her head in fright.
ooh, couldn'tl I really couldn't.
'Oh, yes, you could Margare
cried, turning the wheel out into the
garden path. "Come quick!"
Belinda rose from her seat on tht
steps and came over to where Margeref
stood.
"Get on" Margaret said, "I'll holi
you"
Belinda gave @ little cry.
ooh, Nargaretl I'm afraid ! could
n't."
.'Yes, you can, too" Margaret said
determinedly; "get right onl"
Belinda was SO used to obeying that
she put one foot on the pedal; ther
she Withdrew it quickly and locke;
shout.