The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-01

dstest her; 90 much are We ourselves
akin to the capricious powers we raj
against But l melted completely wher
/ che stood gazing at me silently ant
wistfully az ! put tho last touches X
my toilet while old Telegraph and thu
buggy awaited Us at the door. All tn,
yesrning and wonder about the great
world Of Strathboro, all my fascination
as its representative. and more still al
kinswoman Of Elmore's. were ex
pressed in her serious. fine little face.
To me II was any thing but an anti
climax when she touched with reverent
finger my jacket and half whispered.
"Air that the faehionf" -...
The poor little daughter Of Eve, with
her heavy heart, and yet room in II
for this sweet interest in that great ab.
straction, the fashionl
Before left promised to send hel
patterns Of every visible garment
wore saw her again sooner than
expected. Indeed there was then little
reason to suppose we should meet again.
| We were to stay but week at Cous-
in Nancy's and we would then pass
over the utmost boundary of her world
into that unimagined universe beyond
Strathboro Cousin Nancy's sternly
handsome profile grew sterner when
attempted to gossip lightly about our
hosts, the Nonlys Through long and
lonely life she had too conscientiously
asserted her class superiority-such as
1t was--against poverty and misal.
e1iance and an untoward environment to
find 1t practicable to approach the sub.
ject Of the Nonlys in this easy, matter
Of course, undetining way. Moreover.
it appeared that the Nonlys were In d
measure disgraced among their own
class
''Bob Monty Is a distiller," said
Cousin Nancy finally and with final
air. Up to a recent date the temper
ance sentiments Of the south found
their chief IL not their sole expression
in the social ostracism Of all but the
rgest and most prosperous Of the deal.
ers in spirituous liquors The thorough
going nature Of this ban atoned by
severity upon the weak for its relaxa.
ton In favor of the strong and relieved
most minds Of any sense Of further OBJ.
legation to the morals Of the question.
Bob Monty, we were told, now found
his associates chiefly among the neigh.
boring mountaineers, whose code on
whisky making Is even more liberal
than the governments, and his chill
= dren were growing up with little
more manners or learning than IL they
lived on the mountain themselves. J."
proceeded Cousin Nancy, warming to
the subject with human interest despite
herself.
Two days later Elmore Unexpectedly
appeared from Strathboro. I was sit
ting wrapped in a shawl on the lopsided
old porch steps. watching the sunset be-
tween the two holly trees at the paint
less old gate. Elmore came riding up
managing little flourish Of a dramatic
entrance even after such journey. He
hitched his horse at the gate-he missed
the luxury and effect of throwing the
reins to one Of Judge Kilbraith's me-
groes-and came up to me with smile
like an angels for sweetness and light.
"Are you enjoying the beauties Of
nature, cousinP" quoth be.
II am watching the sun 60 down."
I said.
He turned and looked long and 81
lently, his soft hat in his hand on bis
hip-you would have loved him IL
you'd seen him-and then he said,
''I've come up to drink at this fountain
with you for few days"
That night as was roasting a sweet
potato in the ashes and Elmore was at.
titudinizing and watching me, I said:
"We spent our first night up here
with ono Of your neighbors. We got
lost and were taken in by the Nonlys."
Aha, my young man, sol He did not
stir. His expression did not obviously
change; but, more significant, he grew
fixed and still where he stood.
II was delighted with them all, but
I fell in love with the girl" went on.
''For the Lords sake. Adeline, don't
go to talking about Monty girls here"
broke in Cousin Nancy sharply from
the other side Of the fireplace and civ.
ing one quick glance at Elmore. "Thers
are entirely too many such around here
! should think you and Elmore could
find plenty Of Strathboro young people
to talk about"
My chief occupation this week was
going on long, irregular rambles over
the rough, wild country. The loveliest
place l found was little lonely, laurel
empowered spot around moss banked
apring, where summer longest tarried.
After two visits, Of course, l felt that
l had created it and that it existed only
for me. How far egotism may mislead
one l found when discovered that it
was lovers trysting place.
l was coming through the woods with
old Tige, the yellow farm dog, at my
heels, when suddenly through the
bushes saw Elmore and Patsyl More
than that, he was at that moment kiss
ing her, and doing it very prettily.
must admit
In such case there can be no question
that it is the miserable intruder who is
most to be pitied. Lovers are buoyed
up by the complacency peculiar to their
state.
They saw me when 1t was just too
late. For some moments my own dis
comfort occupied all my thoughts
When saw anything. it was that e.
more was much disconnected, and that
Patsy. despite her conflicting emotions,
was not. Patsy plainly felt that her
blush at last was justified. She had not
expressed unmaidenly emotion about
an indifferent stranger, but quite maid
emily emotion about her own lover and
amid sentiments now she was shyly
pleased to have things set right before
me. No conventional views about clan.
destine love affairs imposed upon Patsy
in fact, l don't suppose she had ever
heard of any. All betrothals are, be-
lieve, more or less clandestine among
her class until actual preparations for
the wedding begin, and the most ad.
vanced individualism regarding mat
rimonial contracts prevails in this
otherwise unevolved society.