The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-06
CLOT'IIDA.
BY LULU JUDsON.


On hot August afternoon when the
bees were humming sleepiy and the bright
sunbeams were doing their best to peep in
at every little crevice in the closed shut
ters, Clotilda lay on cool, white bed
where she had hastily thrown herself after
dinner. The day had been so warm and
she felt such sense of WEAKNESS that
almost as she touched the bed sleep
closed her eyelids.
She now lay drowsily, her breath COM
ing softly as child's, her eyes turned
from the light, until she was aroused by
the half defined consciousness that John
would be wanting her. She opened her
eyes and gazed ref1ectively for a moment
at a sianting sunbeam that cast a golden
ray across the room. Little flec1s of
dust, beautiful and white foated lightly
up and down its brilliant length like an
gels on a Jacobs ladder. Yes She thought
lazily, John would want her. and she
wanted John. When she had reached this
conclusion, she arose and with little
yawn went softly down the stairs. Many
of her sex would have at least given a
glance at the mirror, but there was not a
bit of vanity in Clotilda's little head
Down stairs she found the house de-
serted. A careful search of the parlor, din
ing room, library and even the pantry
proved fruitless-- In the library, on the
floor by the lounge lay the book John had
been reading. He had thrown it there
like the careless boy he was. Clinging to
1t were suggestions of the cigarette he had
been smoking, and Clotilda did not like the
odor of tobacco; but she kissed the book
softly, nevertheless. Where could he be?
Sometimes on summers afternoon they
would go to the wood. Perhaps he was
there. She turned to go, when she heard
a voice grooming in the kitchen
Old nanny, the cook, was making a
cake. delicious spicy fragrance filed
| the air, and on the table was quite a row
| which, cemented with some nectar-like
filing, were soon to assume the Imposing
| and tempting proportions of a 'layer-
| cake" Mammy's black face was shining
| from the heat but as Clotilda stood for
| moment in the doorway she looked up
| from her labors with a smile and pre-
| sented her with a generous piece of the
"tryer."
"Massa John been a-lookin' fur you," she
| said. with shake of her head. HE done
| gone down to de weed widout YOU
| Clotilda turned away and went qficl>ly
through the hall. out at the front door
| and down the stepe into the beautiful old
\ yard. The great oak trees made dark
/ shadows on the green grass. and over in
| a sweet, cool nook a hammock swung in
! willingly, swaying gently to and fro in the
|
| the lawn many sparrows were hopping
| gayly about with what seemed to Ciotflda
| unnecessary and unreasonable energy. AS
| she approached they hurried away like a
lot of busy-bodies caught gossiping.
The shortest way to the wood was
| through the front gate, down the hill to
| the road, and along the road about a
| quarter of a mile-and there you wee.
| But Clotilda knew a shorter way through
| the meadow. So she crossed the yard and
| climbed the fence with easy grace. for
| she had not lived in the country all her
| life for nothing. AS she went happily
along she passed great bushes of golden
| rod that would soon put forth matchfeSs
| blooms to brighten the earth with their
| radiance. Somewhere not far away sweet
| her., or fern whose elusive fragrance
1 coming to one now and then on the
| warm summer air made walk through
| the meadow delight Above in the blue
1 sky were a few white clouds, snail and
/ STILL like sail boats becalmed on summer
4 sea. brown and yellow butterfly flashed
/ merry challenge in Clotilda's very face.
| and she gave chase with enthusiasm, but
| soon was forced to pause. painting from the
| heart
Suddenly with startling distinctness a
| shot rang out--then another and another.
| For a moment she stood still, trembling
4 violently. "A life spent in the country where
| game was plentiful, and among family of
| men who hunted persistentiy could never
| reconcile her to the noise of FIRE arms. She
| detested them. Some one had given John a
| gun that morning and now he was in the
| wood trying IL. She had great notion to
| go back to the house; but as the shooting