Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-03-10

ting all that might lead him to suspect
a change in her circumstances. AS
often as he attempted to lead up to
the fact of his marriage, with her
quick woman's intuition of what was
coming, she interrupted him with an
other question. Never had she been
80 gay, so animated, and it was with
out effort, too, for she really delighted
in living over the past in company
with her handsome old playmate.
For soma time their talk was merely
such as might have passed between any
two old friends, and they both enjoyed
it thoroughly; but Edith did not
intend to let her old sweetheart of
without some punishment. Seeing his
careful avoidance of tender topics, she
interrupted him in description OF
lifo in South Africa, and then with a
sudden change of tone, said: eyes,
Cliff, you men have much the best of
it in case OF this kind" What kind,
he was left to infer. s'When you are
compelled to leave the girl you like,
though it may be wrench at first,
you have so much to do and to think
about, your lives are so full, that you
have but little time to grieve; while
we poor women have to stay at home
with no absorbing work 10 bury our
selves and our troubles ID, with moth
ing to do but to count the minutes and
wish they would fly faster. Now while
you have been out in q far off land,
like Ulysses, winning wealth and glory
(and coat OF tan too, Cliff, which is
very becoming!) l like poor, patient
Penelope have been spinning"
"Yarns, I'll wager !" lie interrupted,
laughingly, ''for they're the only
things ever heard of your spinning. "
She joined in his laugh, but added
severely: ''Your levity is unseemly,
sir, when it spoils such fine compari-
son. But seriously, I do wonder
sometimes" she wert on, getting
pathetic, show / have stood the last
three years-without you, I mean.
But don't believe you have cared one
bit, Cliff" And she shot challenge
from her blue eyes into his gray ones.
Z; %sS e5s s6s1 t1 rssdifza.
tion of his position came to him, and
he remained silent.
'sYou say Edith just as you used
to say it when tormented you so,
when we were--children. never
used to like my name until you told
me you thought it pretty. Then,
whenever you would say 1t, l used to
think it was the very prettiest name
in the world"
She said all this with little droop
of her head which struck chill to
Clifford DunnePs heart. The conyer-
sation was plainly becoming danger
Gus. What should he do? Edith
evidently believed in the reality of his
attachment for her, and meant to re-
sumo their relations at the point where
they had been broken off when he went
TO South Africa, to seek the fortune
which was to win the favor of her
guardian. A years absence had calmed
his youthful ardor, and elk months
companionship with the pretty daugh-
ter OF his employer had given rise to
another attachment which he realized
was the grand passion Of his manhood.
and not the lmpulsive affection OF
youth. There had been no corre-
spondence between himself and Edith,
according to the mandate OF her
guardian. 1t would have been an easy
matter to write her the news of his
marriage, but to tell it to her with her
eyes looking into his was task before
which he quailed. Ii she still loved
him, how could he bear to see her
radiant face overclouded by the story
of his faithlessness?
He stole look at her, and his heart
failed him. She was sitting. on limb
of the linden, now, her hands ct her
side lightly touching the tree, and one
little arched foot idly drawing figures
on the ground, while smile curved
her rosy, wiIful mouth. She wore a
dark blue skirt, and blue and white
shirt waist, with high white collar and
black satin tie; this, with blue
walking hat and natty feather belt,
completed q rather masculine costume,
which suited to perfection the trim,
slender figure. The sunlight gilt
tered through The branches, and
cleaned upon her bronze colored hair,
which waved in q wealth OF ripples
about her small, well-shaped head.
Clifford felt the old witchery coming
over him, when suddenly he seemed
to see the picture of dear form, tall
and willowy; one, who, womanlY in
everything, never affected the man
nish mode of dressing, but preferred
soft, clinging stuffs and dainty laces;
one who was the light and happiness
of his life. In place of the imperious
dark blue eyes he seemed to see a
pair of warm brown ones, whose every
glance told of tender. affectionate
nature. Then he said with good
deal of emphasis:
ssl think it is one of the sweetest
names in the world"
"One OF the sweetest? You used to
say it was the very sweetest. Now,
Cliff, believe some one has wheedled
you into saying her name is the sweet.
est. Villain, speak !" with mock trag-
edy.
He felt that his opportunity had
come.
"Well, you see, after the senior
partner came out to Johannesburg l
used to go to his house q good deal,
mad he-you see, had q daughter,
and"
'I thought sol What was her name,
piease?"
Dorothy"
'sSoi And you consider that old
fashioned name prettier than Edith ?
( don't admire your taste. sirl Do
you ramember the verses you scribbled
on my autograph FAM"
His golden opportunity for confes'
sion was lost, and he looked down at