The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-07-14
MISS FERGUSON.

Indiana Ferguson impatiently
awaited the evening. For week she
had been visiting her cousin, Silas
Beck, and his wife. and this evening
Robert Scruggs was to come. Had
she known that Mr.. Scruggs was ex-
pected she would not have dared to
visit her cousin just at this time. She
was here, however, and now that he
was coming she did not deceive her.
self by saying that she was sorry.
Miss Ferguson felt that she had
been unkind to Mr.. Scruggs. He had
offered her his heart, and he was a
sincere man. She had answered
coldly: "Mr. Scruggs, it is impos-
sibe." How heartless it seemed to
her now. But there had been Prof.
Edward Cantwell Reed, and it seemed
different then.
Miss Ferguson was a mathema-
tician. Not that she ever did much
in practical way, but she loved the
science for its own sake. She and
Professor Reed had sat by the hour
discussing problems in which they
were interested. But for these meet,
ings her answer to Robert Scruggs
would have been different.
She now sat in meditation before
the bright fire. How stupid she had
been, she thought. to suppose that
she could enjoy sitting forever drill
ing away at her mathematical Do
people ever marry for that? What had
Professor Reed done? Married that
veritable chatterbox and mischief low
ing Tomboy, Sadie Moore. As for
herself, did she ever really love Pro-
fessor Reed? Well, perhaps. Any
how, she was very stupid : she was
sure she was stupid.
And now-certainly fate had thrown
her in the way of the man whom she
rejected. He believed in woman's in
tuition, and that intuition told her
that this was fortuitous. She was al
most happy.
When at last she heard Mr.. Scruggs
stamping the wet snow off his boots
outside the door she felt that she
turned little pale. She was certain
ly nervous-an unusual thing for her.
When he addressed her as "Miss
Ferguson" it sounded odd and cold.
He used to call her 'Tndia."
80 you're acquaintedr exclaimed
Mrs. Beck, as they sat about the fire,
her face radiant with amiability.
''Now, I'm afraid we'll have to watch
You two. But then, if you'd a-been
marrying people-too such people as
you--you'd a-been married, both of
you, long ago."
''You may trust Miss Ferguson,
answered Mr.. Scruggs. I'm an
audacious scoundrel, you know, but
you will find Miss Ferguson as rigid
as--as the North pole"
Miss Ferguson could not have felt
more uncomfortable than she did now.
To conceal her confusion she turned
to arrange some grasses in q vase,
which, as soon as she touched it,
tumbled TO the floor, breaking into a
dozen pieces. STOPPING quickly to
pick these up, now blushing very red,
she awkwardly upset large easel and
its painting Then she rose up very
quickly aud left the room, mortified
to the verge of despair. She wondered
if she would ever dare to see Mr..
Scruggs again.
The following morning she had her
breakfast sent to her, complaining of
a headache. and did not venture down
stairs until she heard Mr. Scruggs'
footsteps going ont of the little gate
Snd down toward cabin where one
OF his queer fancies took him at every
opportunity to converse With an
ignorant but self important and
garrulous woodman settler. Then she
crept softly down and entered the
parlor- and there sat Mr.. Scruggs
looking into the fire.
With an effort Miss Ferguson con- |
trolled herself!
Good morning, Mr.. Scruggs," she
said. II thought I heard you going
out this morning."
mot i, this day." be replied. sI
am disposed to NOPE. l have sent
Silas down to bring my woodman
friend to see if he cannot cheer me
up. Are you ill, Miss Ferguson? 1
imagine that you used to look
stronger.
II am well now," she answered. az
have changed since You saw me last"
II believe you are more beautiful"
he declared.
Don't EATER me-" she protested.
81, fatterl' he exclaimed. when
will you learn, Miss Ferguson, that /
am incapable of the art? You have
not changed Sd much, then, after all"
"You are cruel il you contradict
me-, she replied.
"And were you never cruelp" he
asked.
"Perhaps, she answered. But l
repented.
Repentance means sorrow" he
said. "Will you lie sorry for me now?
/ have the blues"
AT this moment Silas Beck came in.
followed by the woodman, and when
Mr.. Scrusgs turned to introduce his
friend to Miss Ferguson she was gone.
On the following day Mr.. Scruges
put on his overcoat and left the house
as soon as breakfast was over. What
this meant to Miss Ferguson she
would not acknowledge even to her.
self. 1t was a lonely day the lon slest
that she ever passed. Mrs. Beck. to
be sure, never ceased to chatter, but
what woman's talk can fill the empti-
ness of woman's lonely heart?
When Miss Ferguson put on her arc
tics to walk down to the village post
office Mrs. Peck spoke of Robert
Scruggs. aud she sat down to listen.
Directly Mrs. Beck's gossip diverted
itself o O nsighbor who claimed to |
b.svs 4 cousin who married niece If