The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-01-19

j
mounted their horses and rode silently
on in the direction that had been point
ed out to them.
CHAPTER Ill
Some DE- had passed when Craymer
rode -Ae rancheira late one even
ing wAeA. water color box, block and
brushes.
"Your pony is somewhat tagged -
said Wilmot as the Indian led it away.
(Which way did you go toda..
.sI'm not good at points Of compass, y
was the evasive answer.
Just at that moment the water color
pad slipped from his hands and fell un-
der the full light from swinging lamp
ON the veranda. Wilmot caught sight
of the old hut with it's picturesque sur
roundings.
"You have been there, he said Sc
verely, notwithstanding that he had
thought over and over about going there
himself. Indeed, the memory of that
lonely place and its inhabitants had
haunted him until there were times
when he felt that he must make sure
that it was true-that there was such a
wild place, and that it held such gentle
dwellers. He had not owned that he
would assure himself that she was real
" safe; that the clouds and the great
white mountain had kept watch oyer
her by day and the desert had entrapped
any foot that would do her harm by
night.
"You have been there. he said again
more severely.
Craymer threw himself into ham,
mock and waited to roll a cigarette
with his delicate fingers before he an
swered, ':Don't get excited. !"
Then he lighted the trife and watch
ed the smoke curl slowly from his
pursed up lips.
eyes, I went there shortly after our
impromptu visit. Party call, you know.
Devoirs to the young hostess. Don't
look so severe She doesn't care for me.
She always asks about th tall un' in
shy way-not in the least as she would
ask you about me. She lives 80 among
mighty mountains that man who
measures less than 6 feet is beneath
her notice. 1t would be cruel for you to
go there, but it isn't SO with me. .
Wilmot felt his fingers tingle to lay
hold of this careless speaker. "Then
you've been there more than once, I" he
"a ~r.%1, oIdo1 cfo,,onocc
Craymer nodded. ST came here to
sketch the country and the people. And
it's worth going farther to get such a
wild young thing, to say nothing OF the
other members Of the family. couldn't
do them justice in one nor in several
visits.
Then Wilmot remembered how very
little he had seen Of Craymer since the
night when they were sheltered at the
hut. He had never cared for the COM
pany Of this man and had been rather
glad than otherwise when day after
day had passed without his presence.
But now fiery rage arose within him.
Craymer saw it, and being in satanic
humor just then went into the ranchei-
"a and presently came cut with hand
full of sketches.
"These may interest you, he said,
with sardonic smile. Then, whistling
..The Little Maid of Already, % he spread
out sketch after sketch done in vivid
way, with faultless drawing and clean
handling.
.'That's the grandfather-a fine old
heather, with dignity in the face and
figure. And that is the grandmother
Here is the child, and here are some Of
the beasts, as they call them. Gothic
in style, you see, but picturesque, yery.
And here is the little rhododendron
herself.
"By the way, he interpolated laugh,
ingly as he held the other sketches in
his hand, "such deplorable ignorance!
It seems that she's troubling her pretty
head with new and strange thoughts.
She asked me who God is; il he paints
pictures, or whether he Is q man like
you. Hard on me, now, wasn't it,"
"And what did you tell herF' asked
Wilmot.
Pretended not to have heard and
gave her q picture to look at. Queer,
wasn't it?'
every queer assented Wilmot.
Then Craymer laid out several
sketches Of the figure Wilmot remem-
bered so well-the face with its tender,
sedate mouth; the soft masses of straight,
dark hair, parted above the low fore
head, and the trustful eyes, with that
little lift to the lower lid that comes to
one who gazes over wide distances and
that gave rare fascination to this face.
"Well,' said Wilmot tentatively,
turning from one to another. Then as
the other did not speak, "What are you
going to do with all these?" he asked
in a dry tone.
"Work them up and sweep things at
the next 'ex;;' send two or three across
the pond to my old market and make
my fortune. -
A long pause followed. Then Wilmot