Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-03-19
THURM0NT, Frederick County, Maryland Thursday March 10. 1885,
Miss De|y's Two TyIants.

Miss Dely was down at the spring
place.
1t was an area Of soft turf few yards
square. worn by footpaths, lying in a
basin between two hills. The branch
ran through it, and kept the grass green
and tender, and the spring, which bub.
bled cold and delicious at the foot Of a
giant planetree, contributed its largest
to this end. A little square Of wet
earth just below the spring was almost
constantly marked by footprints.
An expert rider, swinging downward
from his seat. could easily grasp the
long-handled gourd that hung from the
trees brown bole and refresh himself
and bis horse at the same time.
Dely had spread the long breadths Of
cotton sheeting, which had just come
from her loom, on the grass to bleach,
and seemed now to be studying the
footprints. Her eyes wandered from
them to the farmhouse on the hill, and
again to the mountain which lifted its
blue shoulder above the crest of the
nearest hill.
ut do pintedly eeem like ma gifts
wusser and wusser the hull time. l amt
he'd mite of peace all summer said
Dely addressing the footprints.
why she should suspicion at them
ar hoofmarks war made by Alec PEN
lan's horse l can't surmise. An Bob
Wilson a acomin' reglar au' tue license
got and everythiug.'
'Oh, Miss Dely, Miss Dely 7 called a
soft. drawling voice.
D-ly faced quickly around.
THAT you Bud Harris? What yel
want2 Don't holler thet,a.way? ? with
a furtive glance at the house.
She looked at the boy as calmly as II
be had been a post. And yet he was g
picture. He set all hygienic theories
at defiance. Cornbread and bacon
sodden biscuit and buttermilk, stewec
beans plentifully seasoned with bacon
made the menu by which Bud had com'
to such a glory Of satiny olive skin, n,clea1
eyes and sturdy growth.
What yer want p repeated Miss Del.
imperturably.
Bud was only eight and Dely wa
twenty. nine.
He's over yon-back O the spring
house-waitin' ter see yer, said Bud
breathlessly.
Looks o. pleasure and fright chased
each other other over Miss Dely's face
'Ycu 90 along, Bud, and don't tel
nobody she said.
Bud gigeled' caught bis breath ane
then gazed soberly at Miss DeIy, WHIT
went at once to the springhouse. Sh'
opened the door end entered.
It was clean and sweet and cool, anC
pervaded by soft gloom, only broker
by the streaks of light that marked
where the chinking had fallen from be
tween the logs. The stone floor wat
damp and mossy. Jars OF milk and but
ter stood in a deep trough along ont
side, ,and the water went purling between
them. dripped from the trough into
channel and went gurgling off into the
branch.
Miss Dely bent her face to the widest
crevice between the logs.
What you want AlecT
1t was a shaggy head that approached
hers and pair Of keen blue eyes, rim
med by blond brows already triAc
frosted that were framed in by the edges
Of the logs.
Jest ter see yer. DEFY was the reply
in softest tones. jest ter see yer once
more. can't come ter the weddin-
yer couldn't expect that
why not? interrupted Dely.
'She axes me why groaned Alec
GONE out hyar Dely. 1t amt comfort
able ter talk with them logo atween US.
u cant; maw'll see me. And don
reckon it's any use talkin.'
ITS the last time,' pleaded Alec
When I give yer up ter Bob Wilson
Yer didn't give me up interrupted
Dely almost angrily. Yer couldn't be
cause yer never had me-
AN why didn't hev yer" demanded
Alec, piteously. u lowed 'twer al
settled only we had ter brake it ter yel
ma gradooal-Mis Townsends SO sen
sitive. Oh Dely, come out h'ar.'
u amt ergoin ter. You war clever
year brsakin it and Bob Wilson only
TUX two months said Miss Dely, the
wild apple tint in her cheeks growing
roster.
AN it never war all settled nohow
Ye he'd yer chance an We didn't tex it
I dunno why. If yer RELY he'd cared
for