The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-10-27

was nearly dark, and when I heard
the clock strike I swore to myself
that if Witch did not appear before
the Ginning of the quarter I would
row the old boat down to the bridge,
give boy sixpence to bring it back
again, and--well, when Witch want
ed me she might send for me That
was ALL
It must have been very near the
quarter when I saw stealing down
the garden, her head and shoulders
wrapped up in white cloud, my
Witch. A least thought so at
first, but I soon saw it wasn't. It
was some one more kin and less
kind. Nevertheless, as the form
drew near, peering about in the
dusk, I sprang forward, caught her
in my arms and kissed her. She
struggled, but held her fast. She
had no breath with which to utter
sound. She could only listen to my
ardent-far more ardent than ever
bestowed on Witch-expressions Of
affection.
"My darling" I went on, II
know you would never have made
such little fool of yourself if it
hadn't been for that malicious oata-
maran, Aunt Betsy Jane" The form
within my arms struggled. was
holding her tightly, Or my face
might have suffered. "But I'll tell
you tale, dear, about her. I'm
the only living soul that knows, now
old nurse is dead" You couldn't
hear the form breathe, so still was
it. went on: "Aunt Betsy Jane
is Is now"-the form wriggled.
about Is years ago''-I could hear
her heart beat. I relented. mo.
Witch, Twill nottell you that story.
You have come to me, and I can af-
ford to pity Aunt Betsy Jane. She
was badly used when she was young,
and she can't bear to see people
happy now she is old.''
The form nauttered. Iopened my
arms. want to fetch something,
dear9 You shall; only come back
at once, or I shall feel like telling
that old tale about Aunt Betsy
Jane"
She scuttled off to the house, and
in minute or two Witch came.
down the garden in very digniied
manner. I let her come right to
the edge Of the water and peer
about. Iknew che couldn' t see me.
Presently she said anxiously:
"Johnl'' My heart jumped, but
I didn't intend to give myself away,
SO I simply said, "Well" But she
didn't intend to give herself away
either. She turned. Then I saw
that I had my work cut out for me.
"Stay, Witchl I'm in the boat, )"
exclaimed in tone of deepest en-
treaty. as scrambled on shore. She
paused. l caught hold of her hand.
witch" I cried reproachfully,
i've been waiting here for nearly
eight hours, and I'm so faint I can
hardly speak. !"
;. That fetched her. A woman will
go cheerfully for hours without
crumb, do yards and yards Of shop
ping on a halfpenny bun and think
nothing of it, but let a man only cay
that he has missed his lunch, and
she makes as much fuss over him
as if he had suffered the martyrdom
Of St. Lawrence.
"You poor thingl' exclaimed my
darling. Come in at once and
have something to eat. ;"
mo, Witch" I said family, but
firmly. "You must forgive me-"
Forgive youa Of course I for
give you Ididn't know you had
been here all that time. Do come
in at once, or you'll die, I know you
will"
But ! stuck to my guns, and I
didn't go indoors until I had made
Witch promise that we should be
married that day month. Then I
consented to go in and work
mighty havoc among the eatables.
Aunt Betsy Jane came to our we'd
ding and. made us a handsome pres
ent. Then she went to live with
some friends in the north. think
the poor old soul had had some sus-
picion that knew her story, and so
tried to part me and. Witch. She
took my note from Amelia in the
morning and kept it for that reason.
My darling did not know l was in
the boat until Aunt Betsy Jane came
in from the garden and told her.
But l have never told my wife
word 1t ism t wise to tell your, wife
all the little peccadillos of your
Friends and relatives -Douoh htRr