The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-11-01
A WELCOME CYCLONE.
HELEN M. WlNSLOW.


there that you don't want me to know
about, all right. 1 won't Co." an
swered bitterly.
1t was the first. yes. the only, time
I ever answered Tom in that way, and
he turned and looked at me in sur
prise. Then he came over and kissed
me.
"Yes, dear. you can go. It's all right.
Get ready, and We'll start early.
II shall not co." replied, in hard,
set tone.
Tom was hurt, and went out with
out knowing how I ached to have him
catch me in his arms and fold me
close to him. And /, now that my Ill
temper had been given rein, thought
only Of the curt refusal he had given
to my request, not remembering how
quickly he had softened to me when
1 showed him that 1 was hurt.
After a little I took his coat and
sat down to mend it. Something fell
out Of the inside pocket-a letter. 1
picked it up. 1t was woman's hand
writing, and not minel
Something whispered:
ut is not yours. Put it back. Trust
him, and he will tell you about it In
good time"
Something else whispered:
"Read it. If he is false to you, you
want to know 1.-THE sooner the bet
ter"
I tore it wildly open and read:
"My Darling Tom-How glad I am
to say I can see you again. Meet me
at Goff's Station, on the 2Gth, at the
go train. 1 know you will be as glad
to see me as to see you, dear boy!
Until then, am your loving
TEENIE."
was struck dumb. Something
seemed to be choking me, to be grip
ping my very heart. l thought 1 was
going to die then ard there.
"Teenier' l had never heard Of her.
Whom was this woman whom Tom
was going to meet? And why had he
not told me? Oh! I saw 1t all. l
knew why l must net go to the station
with him. To-day was the 26th. To
night he was to meet "Teenie." Very
we'll. He should have his house in
which to receive her then.
1 verify believe l was insane as l
rose and made preparations to leave
the little house which for two years
had been paradise to me. Tom had
two hundred dollars in one Of our bu-
reau drawers-money 7 had helped
him to save by close and pinching
economy that summer, towards paying
the only note that he had out against
him. l took the money and hid 1t in
nv bosom. Then 1 wrote note and
left it on the table-precisely as other
women have done when about to
wreck their happiness in fit Of jeal-
Gus anger.
Dear Tom" q said)-"There isn't
room in so small a house for you and
me-and 'Teenie.' l have taken the
money to 60 home with, but will send
it back to you as soon as 1 get there"
That was all. Not even a good-by,
I was so angry.
Then started on foot. could take
a train at six o'clock, precisely, for the
East. 1t was now three o'clock, aud
the distance was seven miles. l was
a good walker in those days, and
could, 1 thought, easily make 1t. Oh,
how miserable 1 was as 1 plodded
along that hard, dusty road! How old
and worn l felt, and how anxious to
get to my mother, where I could die
in peace!
Only once did it occur to me that
Tom would come in, by and by, from
his work, and find my note; that he
might be in despair; that his heart
would be broken, and he would hurry
after me to bring me back. But,
pshaw! This was foolishness, told
myself. He would be glad to go and
meet his "Teenie" and have her to
himself. How I could have been so
wicked 1 cannot understand. My good
and noble Tom. 1 am sure was tenn
porarily insane.
The sun grew very hot, and I found
it much harder to walk that seven
miles than 1 had anticipated. But l
would not give up. 1t was prsbably
about five o'clock, and 1 had some two
miles to so, when, looking up, ! saw
terribly black cloud coming straight
towards me from the west. Cyclones
were not common in those days. and
I did not know what it meant; but
was frightened, nevertheless, and