Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1898-05-26

!
ers, and quietcd down 81 last 10 fall a.
dreaming over the prospective garden
rs II there were nothing IN the world
but flower stems and coiors.
David watched her and understood
how this infancy Of heart had stood
between her and the realization Of
some Of the hard lines Of her past.
He was glad that i was so: but he
hoped that, as life was showing more
happily for her now, she might put
away that childish mood for one more
womanly.
At that instant the playfulress dis
appeared. She looked at him with q.
serious, wistful face, and said simply,
"lou are so kind-I love you.
David tried 10 speak, but his lips
closed upon the words. In his at
tempt to express his feeling he found
himself as hopelessly and helplesslv
dumb as the kitten under Annie's
hand. The outspoken sentiment. the
atfectlonate pathos in her face was
more than his self-conscious dit1idence
could bear. He rose, and with some
excuse of neglected duty went outside
There he sat long time, close TO the
altar Of the great temple, meditating
other offerings Of homely service.
The little scene Of the evening was
characteristic of much of their after
life. Annie's impulsiveness, that had
all the ingenious freedom Ct child
hood, was always surprise to David's
quiet dignity, and her protestations
of gratitude and affection were an en-
barrassment to him. Her easy dem
!, monstration seemed to increase the
: ! weight of his own stolid silence; but,
try as he would, he could not over
come it.
He had no medium Of expression
but that of doing. He applied him
, self carefully TO the wood and water
basis of their housekeeping, anu took
on himself gradually many tasks sup
posed to be within the province Of
womankind Annie was inclined at
; first to oppose his encroacting on her
domain; but, IN time, she came to
forget her unwillingness III the inter
est and amusement Of Watching his
methods
One morning she stood by, laugh
, ing at his awk wardness while he was
:, trying to coerce e newlv lv-bought
washing machine to do It's duty. He
was struggling with the theory of the
, machine, while, propped up against q
: door, her hands behind her back,
Z stood Annie, teasing him about his
new accomplishment with raillery
:, and gayety that made him think oi
the bobolinks outside
), He had perhaps never been moro
:. keenIv conscious OF her dearness L
= hin as he listened to that mcrrs
strain; but his face was very grave
. and silent. She bent toward him sud
!, denly with speech half bantering
half kind; when, because the crit
ical faculty in her was awakening, o.
: from some accident of conditions, i
seemed that for the first time she say
" his face as it really was-stern an
= unresp0nsive. She drew back witt
= quick misgiying. What! didn't h
= like ner?
= = She slipped from the room, ran a
" the stairs and sat down to think abou
: it. 1t was her first mood Of retrospec
- - and questioning. Strange what
=, - rapid growth fungus OF doubt ca
make,
], Yes, she remembered now-he ha
II always looked like that, though some
t how she had never lainded. She ha
~ taken it for granted that he was fon
: oi hex because she cared for him, an
lv it seemed SO lnuch easier for people {
-. care than not to care Shc herself Ia
or love 1all t4 world that she had know
~ -le1 ather. the kitten, the dog. eve
he the pretty snri8sed china had come !
+ for an occasional pat and kind Wort
ha Had she been too sure, too though
n less, too happy: She Laid her hea
hi upon the table and cried. Over al
ON over she nuttered through her tea,
that it was easier to care than not
ri care-surelv no one could have Woc
dcred that size had been 50 blind. s.
he remembered .no~ that he had nev'
answered her when she nal told Ii
&c ell her heart. How cold and silent
~ had been. Trrly she had made a nj
- take, Strange that she had not foU1
NO il ont before
q She rose and went . tie w52doz
David was outside, bending and wor
on ing over something il Lis palm.
is Was = bird with broken wing.
Or Was tending II with all tne Gentlene
eli and patience tina. cocid 1inl expire
le. sion III hls strong hand The slT
I'D became revelation u her She kae
ses nov Why he Aol come u 1er II
"a norulnc after her father death, ~
-ae hal brought t.ar - hi- home He i.