The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-08-11

mind.
Priscilla, you know love you, thai
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 fine
lady. When l shall have finished my
two years course in Chicago [ shall be at
the best but semistarved country doctor.
| felt | must say Il love yeu ! although
there is no use in hoping-now =
'No." she said softly. She colered
deep, delicious pink "Tm awfully sorry,
Willie. Everything is changed now
Priscilla !" He pulled around in the
seat and was looking down upon her. II
wonder if you remember how once, long
time ago, you strayed away from home.
There had been storm. You could
not be discovered anywhere. The
folks were nearly crazy. 1t was L
who found you You were a good way
down the creek. You were wet and hun
gry, tired and cold You were scratched
by briers, had lost your shoe and were al
together forlorn When you saw me, you
held out your arms, with the gladdest cry
| ever heard. oh, take me home, Will
lie 7 you cried. Il was trying to find the
end of the rainbow I | 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, Priscilla p
'sNo-ah, no What cruel prophe-
cy p She laughed little nervously.
''Here we are The train-is it on
time, | wonder 2
The train was on time The Willitses
were on hand Gaunt and lugubrious
they loomed up on the platform.
''Don't worry about me, Aunt Maryl'
Priscilla entreated. tFll come to see
you, and I'll bring you real camel S hair
shawl and velvet gown T.
'sNever mind them,' returned Mrs.
Willis huskily. aBut you come, sure r
ssNever mind them-come, sure I
urged Elihu like an echo.
They kissed her. Lester held her hand
tight minute. Then the train was
writhing eastward like great black serpent.
Such different world was that into
which she went-such a world of ease, of
luxury, of artistic delight At first she
was deliciously dazed by it all. The i'm
mense, beautiful house; the velvet laid
corridos; the trained, deft servants; the
crested, fragrant linen; the tall, reddish
sideboard, on which the silver cleaned a
drift of moonlit frost; the high jars of
aromatic rose leaves; the enhancing, gold
bound pictures, the glowing draperies, the
loose masses of cut flowers, the universal
air of aloofness, made up the environment
of ideal existence.
Then her grandparents were such charm
ing old aristocrats. Money could never
have made them. First, centuries before,
were blood and breeding. The advant-
ages which money could buy had supple
mented these. They decided that per-
sonally 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 stimulated
to the utmost, her fresh young beauty set
off with Partisan toilets, she was quite the
most bewitching creature society had seen
for long time. She wrote regularly to
the old couple on Dry creek. She en-
joyed her life heartily. At Rome its cur
rent was changed. She fell in love with
a singer whose superb voice and face Of
brigandish beauty had taken the musical
world by storm Old Calvin Whyland
frowned on the affair. He took his grand
daughter away. De Lalenier followed
obtained an interview Carried away by
his earnestness, his personality, his pas
sion, she promised to marry him. Her
grandfather heard of questioned her.
"Ask him, cried the old man, CHASTITY
with rage, ''ifhe wants you or the money
he believes you will inherit y
ssNever p she replied with scorn. 81
shall never so insult him T.
A fortnight latter Mr.. Whyland caught
the Roman fever and died When his
will was opened, it was found to bear the
date of his interview with his rebellious
grandchild After certain share to his
wife all his estate was left to distant
branch of his family. Priscilla was pen
niless. She took the news lightly. She
had Adrain love- He heard the rumor.
He crme to see her.
"Yes,' she answered him. at is
true. | have been disinherited. y
He rose. He took up his hat. He
bowed profoundly.
isYou are the sweetest woman in the
world, Miss Whyland, but | must say
goodby.'
She stared at him in bewilderment.
All at once comprehension, complete and
terrible, came to her She was Tilted !!
"You mean
'sThat LIN your expressive tongue
am scoundrel Forgive me if you can.
Goodby r
Then he was gone.
The spirit of spring was abroad. The
newly turned burrows in the cornfelds
were black and moist. Lines Of tender
green defined the hollows in the Scared
earth. Everywhere was the subtle sense
of awakening, everywhere the wholesome,
familiar smell of ssgreen things growing.
The trees along the creek had burst into
myriads Of brownish buds Once in awhile
sounded the contented note of the meadow
lark from its nest in the prairie grasses
s.Tllbe glad when the young chickens
are fit to fry" Mrs. Willis was saying.
She leaned forward to lay the circle of
biscuit dough she held on the bnbbling
contents of the big iron pot. s'Not but
that fat old one does make a good pot
pie Ny How Priscilla relished my