Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-06-13
BY Elsie Snowe.

prlsed when she appeared one evening
IN the middle of May. in company with
oscar. knew her in a moment. and
1ar OF, though had not seen her fol
years, and thrilled with delight te
see That she was as pretty as ever
prettler, indeed, as I soon decided
when became once more accustomed
to her face.
we arrived from different points OF
the compass at the same time, almost. u
she exclaimed, gayly, "and I was still
lnqulring my way when Mr.. Eckstrom
nearing your name, and guessing at
mine, was so good as to take charge
OF me and bring me here, and one cf
the natives, who drove a very diIapi-
| dated animal that may yet, in the
course of evolutionary processes. be-
come horse, has promised to brino
over my trunk some time in the course
of the evening""
! Clare Nelson was seven years young
er than l, and just now in the full
| bloom Of her beauty. 1 had first
known her as mere child, in the
school where had been SO long en-
gagged, and she had loved me-not as
her teacher merely, but as her friend,
and when she had removed with her
parents to j distant city she had writ
ten TO me constantly, and our friend
snip, instead of lessening, had grown
Iondef and stronger with years.
And now to have her entirely to my
self, and to pour into her willing ear
all the secrets Of my u1leventfnl life.
secrets SO innocenf and delight III
and which a certain old-maidish shy-
ness had kept even from my mother.
felt half afraid to be SO happy. IN.
the cool mornings and evenings We
gardened togeth her, Glare and I, pulling
off the dead leaves and flowers, roofing
np weeds. raking the paths and keep
Ing my pretty bit OF ground asmodel
OF neatness and beauty, and IN The
neat OF the day we sewed and read, or
swung in the hammock that Oscar has
swung for us between the peach trees
and after lea we devoted ourselves to
our visitor, for Oscar had fallen into
the habit Of coming to us on every
night Of the week. This had come
about SO naturally that I had not no.
t1ced it, and it was my mother who
first drew my attention to it.
lis Oscar here tonight, too?' she
asked one evening. He had come in
late, and when I chided him for not
coming to tea, he answered, almost
pettishly, that he had "taken some
thing in town, and I needn't bother
about getting him anything to eat"
"Yes, mother, DEAR" answered.
''he comes almost every night now
indeed, every night, think, of late"
A half audible sigh escaped nv
mothers lips.
Il thought heard his voice." she
said, presently, though I haven't seen
him yet"
"He's in the garden with Clare,' I |
answered. "She is so charming, and
he enjoys her company so much"
Il have observed it.' w.
My mother spoke almost bitterly.
and again she sighed, this time deeply
and audibly.
A sharp pain went through my heart,
and dared not ask myself the reason.
AS the evening shadows deepened, and
moved about to place the lamp on
the table and then to find a match to
light it, Oscar and Glare entered the
room together, merry and laughing.
We all chatted and laughed, in
somewhat forced manner, and then Os-
car got the backgammon board and
challenged Glare to a game. I could
not but remember how I had learned
the game merely to please him, and
that he now never asked me to play it.
The evening passed quickly, but not
happily; cloud seemed to be hanging
over us. Oscar put off his 'sgood-
night till the last moment, then sud-
1enly looking at his watch he started
20 his feet, declaring that he would
nave to run to catch his train, and in
he next moment, as it seemed, I
heard his hurried step crunching the
gravel on the pathway, and then the
sound of the gate closing after him.
That was wretched night to me.
IND when at last I slept my dreams
we're troubled. Glare looked pale and
'ad when we met at breakfast in the
morning, but thought she had never
eemed so lovely-her pallor, her dewy
yes, her sweet and tremulous tones I
md plantive mouth, prettier than ever
With the gentle baby-like pout on the
Ielicate lips, had peculiar fascina-
ion. I loved the girl, and though in
ome underlined way felt that she
lad brought darkness into. my life, I
Quld not hate her for it-at 1east-not
ct.
Oscar did not come that evening, :
hree days passed and he did not come j
but in the evening received little | I
ote from him. It was kim and af-
ectionate, and like himself. 4 read it
lore than once, and wondered what s
0uld have made mo feel 11nhannv-ha | +