Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1900-05-17
MISS FERGUSON.

X
awaited the evening For week she
had been visiting her cousin. Silas
Beck, and his wife, and this evening
Rooert Scruggs was to come Had
she known that Mr. Scruggs was ex-
pected she would not have dared to
visit her cousin just at tl.ls time She
was here, however. and HOW 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.. Scruegs. He had
offered her his heart, and he was a
sincere man. She had answered
coldly: "Mr. Scruggs, it is impos-
sibe. How hear,less it seemed TO
her now. But there had been Prof
Edward Cantwell Reed, and it seemed
different then.
tician. Not that she ever did much
in a practical way, but she loved the
science for its own sake. She and
Professor Reed had sat by the hour
discussing problems III 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 mathematics. Do
people ever marry for that? What had
Professor Red done? Married that
veritable chatterbox and mi chief Low
ing Tombov. 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-certainl fate had thrown
her in the way Of the man whom she
, rejected. He believed III woman's in
tuition. aud that intuition told her
that this was fortuitous. She was al
most happy.
When at last she heard Mr.. Scruggs
stamping the wet snow of his boots
outside the door she felt that she
turned little pale She was certain
! ly nervous-an unusual thing for her
J Mhen he addressed ler as Miss
Ferguson il sounded odd and cold
He used 10 call her India
IS" you're acIuaiutedH' exclaime 1
Mrs. Beck, as they sat about the tire,
4 her fac radiant with amiabilitv
/ "Now. III afraid we'll have TO watch
marrying reopletoo such people as
! vou-von'd a-heen married, both OF
/ you, long ago.
You may trust Miss Ferguson,
/ answered Mr.. Scrnggs I'm an
audacious scoundrel, you know, bu,
! YOU will find Miss Ferguson az rigid
| as-as the North pole .
Miss Ferguson could not have fel'
more uncomfortable than she did now.
| To conceal her confusion she turned
to arrange some grasses in vase
which, as soon r. she touched ii
mbled TO the floor, breaking into :
dozen pieces. STOPPING ouickly 4
pick these mp. now blushing very red
she awkwardlv upset la ge easel and
its painting. Then she rose up ven
/ quickly and left the room, raortiiie.
10 the verge Of despair. She won ieree
If she would ever dare TO see Nr
Scruggs again
The following ming she had lie
breakfast seut - her, complaining o
| headache, and did not venture dow
stairs until she heard Nj Scruggs
footsteps going ont 0: the little gat.
ard down toward cabin where on,
OF his queer fancies too. hiu al eve,
opportunity 70 converse with q,
ignorant bat self-Im portan. an,
carrulous voodman set.lef Then sh
crept softly down and entered th
parlos and there sat Mr. Scrugg
looking into the fire
With al effort Miss Ferguson con
trolled herself.
Good morning, M Scruggs, IL
said Il though / aeari you goin
out this morning