Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-06-01

posed to be within tho provil 70 of
womankind. Annie was inclined ut
first to oppose his encroaching on her
domain; but, in time; she came to
forget her unwillingness in the inter:
est and amusement of watching his
methods.
One morning she stood by, laugh
ing at his awkwardness while he was
trying to coerce n newly-bought
washing machine to do its duty. He
was struggling with the theory of the
machine, while, propped up against a
door, her hands behind her back,
stood Annie, teasing him about his
new accomplishment with raillery
and gayety that made him think of
the bobolinks outside.
He had perhaps never been more
keenly conscious of her dearness to
him as he listened to that merry
strain; but his face was very grave
and silent. She bent toward him sud-
denly with q speech half bantering,
half kind; when, because the crit
ical faculty in her was awakening, or
from some accident of conditions, it
seemed that for the first tire she saw
his face as it really was--stern and
unresponsive. She drew back with
quick misgiving. Whati didn't he
like her?
She slipped from the room, ran up
the stairs and sat down to think about
it. 1t was her first mood ofretrospect
and questioning. Strange what a
rapid growth g fungus of doubt can
make!
Yes, she remembered now-he had
always looked like that, though some
how she had never minded. She had
taken it for granted that he was fond
OF, her because she cared for him, and
it seemed so much easier for people to
care than not to care. She herself had
loved all the world that she had known
her father, the kitten, the dog, even
the pretty sprigged china had come in
for an occasional pat and kind word.
Had she been too sure, too thought
less, too happy? She laid her head
upon the table and cried. Over and
over she muttered through her tears
that it was easier to care than not to
care-surely no one could have Won
dered that she had been so blind. She
remembered now that he had never
answered her when she had told him
all her heart. How cold and silent he
had been! Truly she had made mis-
take! Strange that she had not found
it out before!
She rose and went to the window.
David was outside, bending and work
ing over something in his palm. It
was bird with broken wing. He
was tending it with all the gentleness
and patience that could find expres.
became d revelation to her. She knew
now why he had come to her that
morning after her fathers death, and
had brought her to his home. He had
somehow understood how lonely and
wretohed she was; and just as he tried
to heal and mend and save every
broken thing that came in his way, he
had gone to her in her time of need.
That was kind; but-she was no bird
nor dog nor kitten to receive aims OF
love, a pittance doled out to her in
mercy. She was woman, born to
queens right in her cwn home; no
pensioner upon another's kindness.
She paced the floor restlessly few
minutes; then glanced again toward
the window, and this time her eyes
were full of the instinct of freedom
loving creature that has been shared
the instinct to escape. She looked
down the road that led away from the
village. Her fear of the world seemed
to have gone. She longed to be far
away within it, out of sight and hear
ing, in some place where-her child
lips were tremulous at the thought
she might sadden and grow old with
out his pity, wonder and care. 1t was
q proof of her childishness that she
had never thought how strange in it
self was her action, nor thought of the
unpleasantness of the village gossip,
nor recalled David's face as she had
seen it one morning after an eager,
but useless, search for q
stray lamb. She wes mastered by one
:mpulse-that of flight.
She packed bundle of clothing,
found some food, wrote note to
David telling him that she could not
bear to stay, because that she had just
come to know that he did not care for
her, and was soon on the way to the
nearest city. She went hurriedly,
half running at times, her heart beat
ing fast as if she were afraid of pur-
suit. Occasionally some of the vii
layers met her and looked at her in
surprise; but she did not stop for
recognition, and after hesitating and
sometimes looking back, they went on.
1t was growing dark. The city was
O hopeless distance away. There were
8 few lights cleaning along the road;
but she shrank from the thought of
asking for shelter. The touch of the
darkness, loneliness anu cola ua't
brought back to her that old sense of
heing q slight, helpless creature, facing
the immensity OF the world. She was
alone, and night, like great beast of
{. rey, was coming on her there. With
the heart sickness, her strength gave
way. She sank to the ground; then
drew herself to tree standing near,
wound an arm about it, and pressed
her cheek to its rough bark rs if she
were appealing to it for defense. A
rustling in the leaves made her start
TO her feet; but her terror vanished,
for she recognized the man approach
ing.
"Annie, said David quietly.
Under the light of his grave, strong
face, her eyes fell, ashamed and poni-
tent