Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-01-27

met again. 1ueiE o1yS Va iuSSe.nf
were over now, Gertrude thought,
sitting another sigh. Her brief play.
time-and she permitted herself to
sigh at this-was over too. The wed.
ding was thing of the past; she had
had her little hour of happiness; she
had looked SO young and pretty in her
bridesmaids dress, that Bob Norman
might almost have been glad to come
and talk to her even if Mrs. Vierling
hadn't managed it-but henceforth she
must think of her pupils and of her
practicing and Of showing cheerful
face to Kitty, who was noddiug eagerly
from the window of their fat as the
carrisge drew up at the door. Ger
irude hurried upstairs and Kitty
helped her off with her things in the
modest parlcr, where the fading fur
niture formed q giaripg contrast to the
aggressively new wall paper. Ger
trude reproached herself Tor noticing
this dismal fact; it would never do to
lot Kitty guess her state OF mind.
Therefore, she shook herself mentally
and plunged into lively account of
the mornings festivities. KITTY list.
| ened, revolving about her sister, and
| deriving much amusement from an
account of Leila's charms. Gertrude
put the lucky sixpence into ssfe
corper of her shabby little purse, and
set about getting superior the
afternoon had flown. She and Kitty
had wedding cake for dessert. and she
assented to Kitty's suggestion that
they should sleep with some under
their pillows. 1t was unreasonable OF
Gertie, after tempting fate in that
manner, to be vexed at dreaming OF
the wedding and of Robert Norman's
face, 80 downcast as he said goodbye.
She threw away her cake next morn.
ing, resolved to have no more OF that
nonsense. The episode was indeed
finished, but she was not as glad as
she might have been, to remember,
that after the distant way she had
parted from him, there was no danger
of Mr.. Norman's venturing to seek
her company thereafter. Unfortun-
ateIy. though she didn't see him,
there were circumstances which kept
the thought of him before her; for
he had gained prominence in certain
attempts at improving the city politics,
and speech of his at reform club
banquet was being vigorously discussed
iu the newspapers. 1t was, perhaps,
not SO much sign that the speech was
| good, as that t1mes-from the-;5ur.
nalistic point of view-Yers DULL, but
Gertrude did not reslize that fact and
assured herself that few men were SO
clsxsr. -
! II was three weeks after the we'd
ding, and Gertrude was hurrying
across he centre OF the city on the
way home from her last lesson. Snow
was falling and melting as it fell, and
the exertion OF carrying two big rolls
OF music and of holding up her skirts
from contact with the muddy pave
ments had added to the fatigues
engendered by the musical vagaries of
an unusually stupid pupil. She was
exasperated at herself for stopping at
news stand because she caught q
glimpse of Bob Norman's name on a
front coiunn headline, but she hadn't
strength Of mind enough just then to
resist the impulse. Her weskne IS was
punished, for as she tried to find q
penny, her chilled fingers fnmbled the
purse, which tipped sideways, allowing.
a bright bit of silver to escape and
roll across the pavement. Gertrude
started after it, with little cry OF
distress, but someone elee started too,
and in a second Mr.. Norman came
forward, lifting his hat, and holding
Leila's gift in his other hand.
go! thank you SO much" said Ger
tlude breathlessly, trying to arrange
her burdens. "It's my lucky, six.
pence. 1 wouldn't have lost it for
anything" ~
lawfully glad to see you. Never
thought OF meeting you here" said
he, his face beaming.
"I'vs just gotten through my les
sons" said Gertruie-very primly,
because she felt csrtain he knew why
she'd bought that paper. She shook
hands because he so plainly expected
it, but when he essayed to talk little
further, and would have commenced
by asking news of the bride, her en-
barrassment increased with The
thought of that wedding day, and she
abruptly cut him short, remarking
coldly that she must hurry, and, hav-
ing bowed stifiy, hastened on. straight
through a mud-puddle which com.
pleted the ruin Of her poor little
shoes. She had not gone half a block
before she asked herself why she had
done it; he was talking to her then OF
his own accord and she need not have
been SO disagreeable. Well, all was
certainly over now. He would never
try to speak to her again, and she was
very tired, and her feet were wet, and
it was absurd to pretend to herself
that this was snow melting on her eye
lashes. .
"AIiss Wilbur Miss Gertrude u
sounded suddenly behind her and she
turned, winking away the snow fakes,
to behold Mr.. Norman, flushed from
fast walking, holding out that lucky
sixpence in well-gloved hand. 81
forgot to give you this after all; it's
very stupid in me" ho began. rather
formally, and then, as she tried to
SHIFT her music rolls, he took them
gently from her.
"Let me carry them for you-Pm
going this way" he said in quite an,
other tone; for he hal seen those tell.
tale lashes and it occurred to him that
she had been abrupt only because she
yas troubled or tired.
He took possession Of her news.
paper, too, in the most matter'of-
course way in the world, and pro.
ceeded to ask her questions about the
coin he held. And Gertie, in the vlgor
OF her peniteuce, exrla ned in the