The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-08

traps Martlcla Ewing. what hurts is to
think 4 Warfield--any Warfed-can be
such a fool as not to see right through
EN-"
Come home, Aunt Lucinda" John said,
masterfully laying his hand on her Shout
der to turn her about. Sill holding her,
he stepped in front of Miss Marticla, ana
said around her 20 Marcia: Il am sorry, 50
sorry, that these two. who have been more
than mothers to US, have quarelled-but it
must not make any difference with US"
mo! 1t must not" Marcia answered.
Miss Marticia snatehed her in strang-
ling grip and hurried her through the gate
As il shut behind them. she turned and
shook her fist. Miss Lucndy-Tom, turn
ing likewise at almost the same instant
shook hers with equal vigor.
It was certainly a very pretty quarrel
Half the county took sides in it-much the
larger number espousing the side of the
lovers. There was lively speculation as
TO how it would all end. Warfield tenac-
ity was a proverb, and Miss Lucindy-Tom
was a Warfield of WarfieIds. Against that
Ewing blood was hot and heady. Though
Miss Marticia had been always so mild
the slight TO her pride made her ready to
live up to the fullest measure 10 her name.
Her obStinacy was really rooted in love
love for Marcia. 1t set her wild to think
anybody dared object TO her girl, the very
darling of her heart. She tried TO make
up TO the girl for such Sighting with all
manner of indugences. Marcia was NOT
the sort to peak and pine. not even 10 sulk.
She missed John ever, ever 50 much-she
really had not known how fond she was of
him-but that was no reason at all for
making Aunty Marty unhappier than she
was already.
So Marcia went to all the merry-mak-
ings. She was so gay, indeed, Miss Lu-
din flxr-u To-, in lob
that girl cares about YOU" she said
Look at her! She is here, there. every
where laughing and dancing all the
while"
THAT shows she is a wise little girl
John said, Loyalty, but deep down his
heart was sore. He was not very happy
Sarah Ashbel was sin in the house, and
Tanty Tom nagged him perpetually about
Marcia The worst part was he could
not leave her. She had engaged him form
ally as manager, the day he was Free
and the contract had still year to run
Under it he was to receive a certain
proportional share of farm profits for the
full term-meantime charging himself
with all purely personal expenses. If he
held out he would have something-just
how much he did not know. If he broke
the agreement, he forfeited everything.
Hence he worked and waited with what
patience be could muster. He went about
but ltttle--it cost something to go after
the manner of a gentleman-and he was
set on saving. He did not in The least
grudge Marcia her pleasure, but it would
have comforted him if, upon their rare
meetings, he had seen even shade of
sadness in her eyes. They spoke to each
other-not privily, but in open, friendly
fashion. The two aunts made a point
of never seeing each other at such times
as chance threw them in each others
way.
They had quarreled in November In
February afterward the Grabels gave
their big party. Marcia had a gorgeous
new frock for it.$A Gossip reported the
frock to Miss Luoindy-Tom so glowingly
she determined to see it eclipsed, and that
Sarah Ashbel should eclipse it. Miss
Warfield could spend upon sufficient oc-
cas.on. This was she felt sufficient occa-
sion. AS a result, when the day of the
party came, Miss Ashbel was prepared
to discount Solomon in all his glory.
Tanty Tom had not been to a party in
years. but she was bent ON going to this
one, even though it, waR ten miles off.
and the roads simply Fearful She said
nothing of her plan to John. He was
going, she knew-she. wanted the contrast
betwixt Sarah and Marcia to come to him
with the force of shock. Sarah was
certainly stunning, with her dark head
and beautiful white shoulders, rising up
above clouds of flmy spanGled scarlet
stuff, caught in place with diamond stars.
They went in the buggy, Miss Lucindy-
Tom driving. Il wouldn't risk it unless
| did drive" she said. "Why, there is
no bottom to the roads after these two
last warm days" Sarah was something
upset She had expected to go in the
family carriage, with driver and foot
man. and John on horseback, riding be-
side. She did not know the strength of
Miss Lucindy-Toms principles. The car
rage could not have gone, by her con-
sent even to her own funeral, unless the
weather had been fair, and the roads fine.
For reasons purely financial the Ew-
ings had no carriage Miss Marticia had
been content with buggy ever since
her fathers carriage wore out. Marcia
had a pacing horse and handsome sad
die but most times she went abroad sit
ting at Miss Marticias elbow. SO il fell
out that just as Miss LucindyTom drove
off sitting very upright, and Ticking the
horse with her whip, Miss Marticia clam
bered into her own vehicle, settled Marcia
snugly under the robes and took up her
rens with an air of indecision.
(Which way would you go, Marcia?" she
asked; straight, or round by the turn
pike"
Straight It's three miles the shortest
,--v-and we would only have little
tflte CT pike" Marcia said.
Still. ! believe III try it," Miss Mar
ticia said clucking to her horse, Merry
Tom does hate mud and so do l."
Thus it happened that two vehicles
bound for the same place, set out for it
in almost opposite directions. Neither
went by the front way. Miss Lucindy-
Tom headed for Griggs' lane, which ran
along the south side of her farm, and
was reasonably dry. 1t also ran beside
the Ewing farm, a little beyond which it
merged into a mill road, rocky and rutted,
but still passable. At the mouth of the
lane, back of the Warfield farm. was the
turnpike. Miss LucindyTom would unhes-
itatingly(have chosen that route. only that
she knew she would have to pay at two
tollgates for travelling very little more
than five miles.
The lane was narrowish. but vehicles
could pass in 1t, unless they met at the
big hud-hole. There the fences were not
closer than elsewhere, but it was the
footing of which you had to beware. The
mud hole stretched from fence 10 fence;
1t was soft and semi-fuid on top, but got
thicker and sucker the deeper you went
down in it. So long as 1t was not more
than knee deep riders and drivers strug-