The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-08-01

"Wlll you let ME drive Priscilla to
the train?" he asked
Willis, hooked of nose, gray of
beard, shabby of attire, irascible OF
, speech and just now bitter Of heart,
was about to irritably refuse on the
spot.
"Ycs, my boy" he said.
For suddenly he had recalled q GER
tain dark, rainy, sweet scented spring
night when he had walked home from
prayer meeting with her who now had
been his faithful wife for 20 years and
had kissed her for the first time.
SO Lester drove Priscilla to the train.
But 1t was not until they had left the
farmhouse far behind, not until they
had whirlcd through the struggling
street OF the little. unprosperous town.
not, indeed, until they were in sight Of
the red rooted depot, that he found
courage to speak his mind.
Priscilla, you know love you, that
I've always loved you, yes. since you
came here child. There Is no use in
talking Of that now. You are going to
be q fine lady. When shall have fin
ished my two years course in Chicago,
shall be at the best but q semistarved
country doctor. felt I must say Il
love your although there fs no use in
hoping-nowT
"No." she said softly. She colored
deep, delicious pink. "I'm awfully
sorry, Willie. Everything is changed
now"
"Priscillav' He pulled around In the
seat and was looking down upon her.
"I wonder If you remember how once,
long time ago. you strayed away
from home. There had been q storm.
You could not be discovered anywhere.
The folks were nearly crazy. 1t was
who found you. You were good way
down the creek. You were wet and
hungry, tired and cold. You were
scratched by briers, had lost your shoe
ard were altogether forlorn. When
you saw me, you held out your arms,
with the gladdest cry ever heard.
oh, take me home, Willie! you cried.
| Il was trying to find the end Of the
| rainbow did take you home, and
you slept every bit Of the way with
your little wet head cuddled on my
shoulder. Do you know, cannot help
thinking that you are-are going to
find the end Of another rainbow, Prls-
cillev'
-"No-ah, no! What a cruel prophe-
cyw She laughed little nervously.
"Here we nre! The train-is it on
time, wonder?"
The train was on time. The WillltseS
were on hand. Gaunt and lugubrlous
they loomed up on the platform.
Don't worry about me, Aunt Maryw
Priscilla entreated. 'T'll come to see
you, and I'll bring you q real camers
hair shawl and n velvet gown"
"Never mind them," returned Mrs
Willis huskily. "But you come.
surev'
"Neyer mind them-come, snrey'
urged Elihu like On echo.
They kissed her. Lester held her
hand tight minute. Then the train
was writhing eastward like great
! black serpent.
| Such a different world was that into
which she went-such world of ease.
| Of luxury. of artistic delight! at first
she was deliciously dazed by It oil.
The immense, beautiful house; the vel
A., vet iaid corridors; the trained. deft
servants; the crested, fragrant linen;
| the tall, reddish sideboard, on which
the silver gleaiued DRIFT OF moon
lit frost; tho high Jars OK aromatic
rose leaves; tba enhancing, gold bound
pictures, the glowing draperies, the
loose .nasses ee cnt sewers, the unssef-
sal all OF a:oofness. made up the en-
vironment OF ideal existence.
Then her grandparents were such
| charming old aristocrats. Money could
| never have made them. First, CEN
turies before, were blood and breed
| ing. The advantages which money
could buy had supplemented these.
/ They decided that personally Priscilla
| was perfection. Masters Of music, of
dancing, of languages. came daily, and
the polish Of accomplishments was
added To her store of fascination.
Abroad, her grandparents were de-
lighted with the sensation she created.
With her natural intelligence stimulat-
ed to the utmost, her fresh young
beauty set of with Partisan toilets, she
was quite the most bewitching crea-
ture society had seen for long time.
She wrote regularly to the old couple
on Dry creek. She enjoyed her life
heartily. At Rome its current was
changed. She fell In love with O sing
er whose superb voice and face Of
brigandish beauty had taken the musi-
| : cal world by storm. Old Calvin Why
land frowned on the affair. He took
his granddaughter away. De Lalenier
followed-obtained an interview. Car
ried away by his earnestness, his per-
sonality, his passion, she promised to
marry him. Her grandfather heard of
it-Questioned her.
"Ask HIM." cried the old man, ghast.
ly with rage, "if he wants you or the
money he believes you viii inheritr
'sNeyerr' she replied with scorn. 81
shall never SO insult himy'
A fortnight later Mr.. Whyland
caught the Roman fever and died.
When his will was opened, IL was
found TO bear the date OF his interview
with his rebellious gfandchild. Aftes