Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-02-12

you positively must amuse me
And to think | haven't seen you
Tor three whole years! I've sc
much to tell you and ask you that
it will take hours And these
beautiful grounds have just the
ovliest places, where we can he all
to ourselves. Do you see that
large linden? Let's go there
| Dunnels belplesSly followed the
Ipretty tyrant, with q rewOrseful
ihought of his bride left alone up
stairs with a binding headache.
| He turned to his companion with
al excuse at the end of his tongue,
but now she was tripping ahead
with the airy grace OF nympIh,
and CRYING gally. Hurry, Cliff
Do come and look! Here are some
of the dearest little ducks. See,
aren't they cunningP
Her clear silvery laugh rang out
with the musical ring he remem
bared so well, when the girl before
him was a budding woman of
seventeen, aud he slender yonth
OF twenty, her devoted slave. The
excuse died on his lips, and be
Joined IN her laugh, as the mother
duck, with angry, startled quacks,
led ner seminary of dOwny duck
liAgs away to the pond, cleaning
silver blue through the trees.
Edith. yon are as much of a
child az ever. | thought three
years would surely make a young
lady of you.'
'N-verl | shall never he any
rhIng but n child, l fear. Bnt come,
sit down by me bere;' and then, as
he sat down on the rustic bench
beside her, 'dOsent il seem like old
times TO be together once mortf
Nrw am prepared to hear all the
news. Pray tell me, sir, what have
you been doing for the past three
, ears-sirce | bade you tesrtnl
farewellT
With genuine interest she fol-
lowed the recital of his varied ex.
perit ritnces-battleS hardly won,
obstacles overcome with difficulty,
| md ultimate success; while Dan
nefs forgot time, place, circum'
stances, every thing in the pleasure
of answering her eager questions,
and IN asking news Of Old scenes
and mutual friends. She told him
the history OF her life during his
his three years. absence, carefully
| Omiting all that might lead hlm
te suspect change III her .clrcnm
stances. As often as he attempted
to lead up to the fact OF his mar
riage, with her quick wOman'S ill.,
tutlOn of what was coming, she
interrupted him with another
question. Never had she been so
gay, animated, and 1t was without
effort, too, for she really delighted
IN living over the past in company
with her handsome old playmate.
For some time their talk was
merely such az might have passed
hetween any two old friends, and
they both enjoyed 1t thoroughly,
bat Edith did not intend to let her
old sweetheart of without some
punish ment. Seeing his careful
avoidance of tender topics. she In
terTuptsd him in a description OF
life IN South Africa, and then with
a sudden changeof tone, said: YES,
lChtt, you men have much the best
of 1t in a case of this kind What
kind, he was lett TO infer. 'WheD
YOU are compelled to leave the girl
lyou like, though 1t may be d
Iwrtnc at 1rst, YOU have so much
I to do aud 10 think about, your
> lives are so full, that you have bnt
Illtue time to griSve.. while we pool
women have to stay at home witt
Iuo absorbing work to bury our
selves and our troubles in, with
nothing to do but TO count the
minutes and wish they would 6y
| faster. Now while you have beer
out in a far off land, like UlJ sses
Winning wealth and glory (and I
cnat of tan too, Cliff, which Is yer,
necomine) 1 like poor, patient
enelope have been splnning-
Yarns, I'll wageIp he interrupt
ed, laughingIy, 'for they're thu
only things | ever heard of you
spinning
She joined in his laugh, bat al
ded severely; Your levIty is IN
seemly, SIT, when it spoils such
fine comparison. But seriously,
do wonder sometimes she wen
lon, getting pathetic, 'how | bav'
? Istood the last three years-with
Tout you, | mean. But l dom