Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-06-14

most bled when he heard her ob as
she turned to go back to the house.
When he came to dinner he read the
letter again, but he and Myra ate in
silence.
Hope came week from that day.
Myra went to u railroad station three
miles distant to meet her.
'It'll be better for me to meet her
than for you, if you are bound and de-
termined to keep up this nonsense
while she's here" said Myra. "5he
doesn't know thing about it; you
may be sure 1 haven't written word
of it to the poor child, and L dread to
tell her of it now. It's shame, q burs.
ing shame, Simeon Sayles, for you to
spoil Hopes first visit home just to carry
out silly VOW that it was wicked for
you ever to make in the first place:
It's piece of wickedness right
straight throughr'
A visible pallor had come into Sim;
cons face at tile mention of Hope s
little girl: No one knew how much
and how tenderly this little girl whom
he had never seen had been in his
thoughts: He was fond of children,
and no child in the world could be as
dear to him as this little girl IF Hopes.
He and Myra had looked forward so
eagerly to the time when Hope should
bring her to them, and they read so
proudly of all her infautile charms and
accomplishments as set forth in Hopes
letters!
He stole softly into the seldom
opened parlor when Myra had gone.
Several photographs of Hopes little
girl, taken at different stages of her
infantile career, were in the album on
the parlor table. Simeon took up this
album and gazed at these photographs,
one by one, with unhappy eyes.
He wandered round the house aud
yard until the time drew near for
Myra's return with Hope and little
Grace. Then he went down the road
to meet them. He had gone perhaps
quarter of mile when he sat down
by the wayside to wait until they
should drive around turn in the road
g hundred yards or more distant.
He had waited not more than five
minutes when he heard the sound of
wheels and voices around the curve in
the road. He heard the sudden, sweet
laugh of child and was on his feet in
all instant.
At that same instant a man on bi.
cycle dashed past him. Bicycles were
still an almost unheard of thing in
that part of the country. Simeon had
never seen but three or four of them,
and the appearance of this one whirl-
ing along at such speed startled him.
It's rider sent it flying on down the
road, and it whirled around the curve,
to the surprise Of Miss Myra and to
the terror of old Hector, the horse she
was driving Tie reins were lying
loosely in Myra's hands. and before
she could gather them up old Hector
jumped aside, rearing and plungiug,
and the next ext BfUaaA instant pe erTHs
him, while Hope clung to little Grace
and screamed. :.
"Whoa! Whoa, Hector" cried Myra
in voice so awful with terror that II
frightened old Hector the more.
"Whoa, Hector, whoa!"
This time old Hector pricked up his
ears, for the voice that spoke was a
firm. commanding one, and the neH'
moment strong hand grasped his
bride while the voice repeated:
''Whoa! Whca!" :,
1t was a harsh, stern voice, but IL
sounded like the sweetest music IL
Myra's ears. 1t was Simeon's, ano
Simeon was holding to the bit. H'
held it until old Hector came to a halt
and then he turned and said calmly:
"Don't be scared, Hope. child
you're all right now. Give me th'
little one.
He held out his arms and Hope pu
the little girl into them, saying as sh
did so: d.
sIt's your Uncle Simmy, dear! fu
vour arms around his neck and gly
him kiss, and let him hear how wei
YOU can say Uncle Simmy.'
A pair of soft little arms stole aroun
Simeon:s sunburned neck; q soft llttl
cheek was laid on his rough, bearae
one. and when she had Kissed Ill
twice she said:
"Dee Nuacle> fhimmy!'
sThe blessed little creetur!" he sal'
winking his eyes and hug5lng NJ
close to his heart.
And when she and her mother we!
asleep in Hopes old room that niSn
Simeon came into the kitchen whe
MIRA was setting some bread to II
and softly humming a gospel hymn
praise ont OF the Joy of her heaEt' al
Simeon said:
sWell, Myra--'
, "Well, Simeou?"
5 "Well-er-well, what did ho
say, anyhow, when you told her,
r ''When L told ner Wuul: VIZ, "o0
l vour-your-la, Simeon, the mlnnt
o cclapped eyes on that blessed chil{! iS!
e knew there wasn't any use IN telli
Hone anything about it. / knew yo'
o lust have to speak to that baby!
:, / never lisped syllable about II
= sHope, and she never shall knoN
i j word about it if I can help 1t: l W
- - you'd fetch me in a basket, OF NICE
" chips. The>moon shines so bright
can see to pick them up. wan
- quick fire in the morning, so L can 4
% hot biscuits for Hopes breakfast )
,e ~ always was 50 fond of them . :,
40 40 And Simeon took the chlp-pas
-, - and went out into the moonlight
+; a. lonr-silent lips softly hummlng
~ ,s same song of praise Myra hao
,s rs singing. Youths Companion.
10 Writers Dilemma.
=. 800 of tba LARGE QOWnt