The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1901-09-27

I clear them away. even at the sacrific
Of her honesty?
Each superstition seemed to Cliffor'
more improbable than the last; an,
when. after compromising Jem Seckel
for his roll in the mud by THROWN,
him a half-crown which had been lef
In his pocket untouched by the mid
night thief. he caught sight Of Nell oil
the opposite bank Of the river, he wa
again ready to throw his doubts to TIN
winds.
There was always a boat moored t.
each side Of the river at this point. 81
Clifford ran down to the waters edge
and punted himself across.
Jem Stickles burst into a hooking
insulting laugh. but Clifford did moi
care. As his friends, Jordan and Otto
Conybeare would have said. he was by
this time ''too far gone"
Nell had disappeared again by the
time be got back into the garden. and
he had to look about for some min
utes before he perceived her. crossing
the fields. this time in the direction of
Fleet, at a great rate. She had a
basket on her arm. and she was walk
ing SO quickly that Clifford could at
first scarcely believe that the figure
which had got over so much ground in
so few minutes could really be that Of
the girl he had seen in her uncle's gar
den q few minutes before.
He was determined to show her his
recovered watch, always hoping
against hope that fresh development
Of the mystery would bring about the
longed-for explanation. But before he
could over-take her. she disappeared
from his sight over the crest Of the
rising ground at Fleet. and when he
got upon the hill. in his turn. she was
nowhere to be seen.
1t was not for some time. after ex-
ploring right and left, that he saw
Nell. with an old broom In her hand,
emerge from a poor little cottage
which stood by itself on the marsh be-
low. She set to work very vigorously
to sweep out the dust Of the cottage.
the doorstep and the bit Of paved
ground outside; and Clifford had stood
for some seconds at q little distance,
warned by the expression Of her face
that she was In no mood for CONVEX
safion. when she at last raised her eyes
md met his.
A shock Of pain convulsed the young
man when he saw what q change the
past few hours had made In the girl.
Instead Of the placid sweetness Of the
lay before. there was In her eyes such
! world Of sadness. Of terror. that Cliff
'ord's heart smote him. and he wished
hat he had suffered his loss quietly
Without word to anybody at the inn.
She stopped In her work when she
'aw him and stood erect, waiting, in
N attitude which had something Of |
lehance In Il.
you have something to say to me. I |
she said at once. coldly.
Clifford did not Immediately answer,
ut his hand went Involuntary up to
be chain Of his watch, which he was
ow wearing.
In an instant her face became as
Fhite as that Of dead person.
"Where-where did you find itr'
hammered she.
And she trembled % violently that
be broom slipped out Of her hand and
I'll to the ground.
II found 1t on the grass, on the 9TH
; side Of the river." answered Cliff
'rd. who was quite as much agitated
} she.
The blood suddenly rushed back to
er cheeks, and she began to breathe
, heavily that Clifford thought she
a. In danger Of q At Of some sort.
"What-what are you going to dor
le stammered out, waving him back
it'll q gesture which was almost
srce. a. he moved forward as II to ,
lpport her. l,
'Do3 Nothing" said be.
You are not going to prosecute me
e theftY' asked she. In q tone which
u meant to be hard and scofing, but 7
hich was only 4 pitiful little make
lieve. after all.
ANell oh. Nell. how can you say
ca . thing to meT cried Clifford,
arsely. Ii
BE did not even know that he had 1
He'd her BY her christian name. But Z
e knew, ana In the midst Of her agi- )
tion she cast at him q shy glance, d
which there was q CLEAN of some q
Ing that was neither displeasure nor
noyance. He saw II, and his heart b
mt out to the girl: he was ready to t
EEL at her feet But she recalled '
n to his senses with q very unro-
lntic remark:
If you win excuse me, then, III 20
with my sweeping"
md with great vigor and energy she q
Iumed her task. leaving clifford v
aid to come within the range Of her q
erafions. Jet unwilling to retire. La
It - very good Of you to come and c
the old woman's sweeping for her, b
remarked presently. w
It Int for IN old woman, but for d