The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-22
4 By JEAhNETTE H.WALwoRTh3
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COPYRIGHT. 1898 BY THE AyrHoR.) !

go on, please"
st really is q beautiful drive, and
such day and such team would have
been sufficient unto any woman. was
driving along, not thinking of eggs MOI
the overseer's old house in the quarter
lot at Bascom's, just enjoying myself
because I had on good clothes and my
brother owned nice turnout, when
came across damsel in dire distress.
"a girl--a very pretty one, too, by
the way-was sitting on stump by the
roadside, crying as if her heart would
break. Of course stopped to find out
what the trouble was I think she was
little dubious at first about confiding
in me, as was stranger, but coaxed
her to tell me the entire trouble. She
said she had started to go to Miss Bas-
CONS to ask permission to have her
wounded brother taken there, with her
yardman as escort; that at some fork
in the road about a mile from town
three bluecoats from the gunboats in
the river had stepped out and very po-
litely informed her that they needed her
horses; that her old man must go
with them as far as the boats to prevent
bis informing on them, so that she must
find her own way home.
"It seems she didn't want to find her
way home, but persisted in her desire
to go on to her friends"
"My dear Betty, what on earth has
that girl crying by the roadside to do
with what you have to tell mef''
"That girl is the key to the entire
situation. I told her to jump right in
and would drive her wherever she
wanted to go. She hesitated, and that
made me angry. snapped her up pref
ty short by asking her if she thought I
was going to run away with her. Then
she gave me surprise
"She blushed and said Mo- She only
hesitated because she thought maybe l
did not know who she was told her
that didn' have any bearing on the sub
ject; that she was a woman, and
young one, and I could not possibly
drive on and leave her there without
soul within call.
"She got into the carriage and put
out her hand to thank me. She said she
was frightened nearly out Of her senses
when she saw her old Toby riding away
with those men and knew she must go
on. 4 am Marianne Belknap, she said.
blushing like rose, and you are Mr..
Whitney's sister. Everybody in Glover.
dell knows you by sight
II couldn't go back on you, Dennis,
so said, Yes, am Mr.. Whitneys sis.
ter, and this is his turnout, but hope
you will make use of it as far as your
friends house.
"She thanked me with considerable
warmth, said she just must go on and
began to cry again. I made out that she
wanted to go to Miss Bascom s, and I
ordered Chess
Richards. if you please"
well. don't please. ordered your
man to drive straight to Miss Bascom's
gate, and there 1 put my distressed
damsel down. I declare, Dennis, it was
not an agreeable sensation TO sit oppo-
site that child and remember that you
had driven her from her home. I hope
I will never set eyes Oh her again"
rs your story finishedf''
"It isn't begun. I was determined as
long as was that near l would drive
through the old quarter lot"
"Bahl"
"No bah about it. It is well to get
the proper perspective Of things. I
wanted to focus the old place through
new lenses, Aud l am glad I did
"There was swarm of blacks about
the old church building in the lot. You
where it stands, just between
those two big cottonwood trees. And I
could see that something of interest
was going on. Richards stopped of his |
own accord. He isn't too magnificent to
indulge in little wholesome curiosity.
It didn't take us long to find out that
was taking his departure amid
, vast amount Of Handwriting and
roaming. And who do you suppose it !
yas:"
II haven't the shadow of an idea"
at was no one less than John the
Baptist, MY old pansy eyed friend that
told you about"
Whitney was instantly all attention.
"What The old man has turned mp !
gain?"
Betty looked at him out of the corner
+ her eyes.
$50 you begin to see some point in
my story?"
II do indeed. Where is he now?"
81 haven't the shadow of an idea"
"But must know. Did you leave
i'm there?" ]
"No. When I found out that he was
ust closing revival meeting among
he darkies that had extended over two
yeeks and was starting afresh on his
l offered him another lift,
nd he accepted Dennis, whenever I
ome' in contact with that old man I
eel as if I had been sanctitied or regen-
rated or done something TO. 1t doesn't
.st long, but it is comfortable while it
oes last"
"And you have let him slip through
our fingers second time?"
"There was no particular reason why
should have CLOSED my fingers on him,
ven if he were the sort who would stand
reference"
where did you drive him to?''
81 put him six miles on his way to
lack county. 1t was as we drove along
lat he gave you away without in the
asst suspecting that he was talking to
)ur own dear sister. "
Mrs Grosvenor flung herself back in
,r chair with outstretched hands.
Dennis haven't you any imagina-
on at all?"
II don't know what you are driving
-
II sometimes think you are not near
so bright as have been trained to
ink you. With Merriman Bascom
ad you ought to come into your own
aceably."
what do you call my own?"
"Your living wife, the Bascom place