The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-04-17

Affection that she grow pale and felt |
like iainting. Then, like the man ho |
was, ho lost his advantage by begin |
ming 10 tramp mp and down the marrow |
space In the rear OF the apring.houso,
groaning and goatioulaling.
81 wish I'd a &C him. j vow ] wish
I'd a flt him 10
Dolly watched him, az first curiously
and, no doubt, with q certain pleasure
He had had his chance and had not inn
proved il. and now be was being pun
ished for IL, a kind OF poetic justice
which appeals to souls OF all grades.
But soon her mood changed. She
began TO cry hoartbrokenly.
Big Alec Ponland grew as weak as a
baby.
"Dely, IL you won't come out hyar
I'm or comm in thar" he cried, and
in another minute he had her in bis
strong arms.
II was only for o second, however.
Dely's sobs stopped suddenly. She
struggled TO get free.
"Ain't yer 'shamed, Alec Penlan',
an me most ez good ez married ter
Bob Wilson !"
Alec released her instantly and
stood looking at her, his face drawn
and pale.
'You act like a plumb fool, Alec"
whimpered DEFY.
II reckon mabby / do" said Alec,
humbly.
He looked at her, his heart sinking.
bat he saw that che was trembling for
all her harsh words.
''Dely, DEFY, DEFY" called a sharp,
menacing voice.
''That's mai" exclaimed DEFY, wild
ly. "Oh, Alec, don't let her see ye.
She'll bang her head ergin the wall
wus n ever she banged hit when Bob
axed fer me an she banged hit ergin
when Susan Harris brung home my
weddin' gown. Oh, Alec, why won't
yer go? She's er comm !"
Alec went, seeing that the danger
was imminent.
Mrs. Townshend called again. 'T'm
comm, ma" and Miss DEFY hastened.
'What air you er foolin' away your
time for down thar, an here's Jim
Wilson been ter tell yer that Bob's
took powerful bad an the doctor amt
no hopes on him hardly. Err pretty
piece er work tibet is, an you'll git
talked about fine. An yer got yer
weddin' dress an ALL" jeered the old
woman.
Miss DEFY grew sick all over. Was
there then no escape from this LIEF
'Jim wanted yer ter go over thar,
but 1 telled him I wouldn't hev nc
sich work as that-my da'ter running
after a man tibet away"
They had reached the thouse now,
and there in the living-room was the
wedding gown DEFY had been so proud
of.
She began to weep.
''You shet up, DEFY Townshend =
cried her mother. OFF yer don't III
bang my head all to pieces ergin the
wall !" and she gave it hard thump.
"Oh, ma, don't, don'tl" shrieked
DEFY. "I won't cry. I won't do
nothin'."
The old woman sat down in her
splint rocker.
"Yer'd better not then !"
The menace in her black eyes meant
business, and DEFY, choking down hel
sobs, went about getting dinner.
Poor Bob Wilson never recovered
from his sudden illness. He begged
to see Miss DEFY, and in the dead mid
night she stole out trembling and went
and stayed an hour by his sick bed.
81 hate ter leave ye," said Boil
kindly. ''But thar's Alec thinks {
heap on ye. Twas a mighty squar
thing his givin' ye up ter me like hi
did,"
"Oh, Bob, don't talk tibet away +
cried Miss DEFY.
Hers was a sincere soul and here
was Bob dying, but she was absolutely
powerless to tell him the whole truth.
"Well, WE'LL It's all right, I sup
pose," said Bob weakly.
He was SO nearly done with his life
that its loves and hopes did not mattel
| much.
Dely's wedding gown was presently
put away in the old family chest an(
{ DEFY went about her duties with
sa1der face.
ga wilder 'thout ever bein' mar
ried," sneered her mother, and tn
: kind neighbors added that it "'pearet
{ like DEFY Townsend was pintedl.
meant fer an old maid"
In the few weeks that followed Bol
Wilson's death, Alec Penland did 1
deal Of thinking and day dreaming
Pleasant thoughts and pleasant dream
they were, too, one would guess b.
? the serene expression of his strong
kind face. He worked some at "fxir
things" around home.
Alec had lived alone, keeping hous