Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-07-06


links. the look on her face grew sud
denly uncomfortable TO him.
Mae he cried. what have I doneT
Are you offended with me?''
"No," cried Mae. startled and miser-
able. NO. of course not"
Then why do you treat me like
this ?"
"This?" faltered Mae: then looking
at him she suddenly flushed and with
tears springing hurried away.
Passing on. puzzled and distressed.
around a clump OF hazel. he came
upon the pretty widow; she had
heard.
II am sorry" she said; "oh. 1 wish :
could help" Then. hesitatingly.
perhaps il would be best 10 tell
you"
ITO tell me what?" sternly.
Joe is jealous OF you; see?"
"Joe2 joe"
"You never guessed? Why, il Is an
old affair. since school days and pima
fores."
Joe"
ale has been scolding the poor
child. suppose, and she is afraid 20
be seen with you: OF. perhaps" gem
thy, she doesn't want TO hurt YOU"
"Jocl"
II am so sorry." holding out q
plump, soft little hand $50 sorry"
But poor Barnes could only say
"Joe," The idea. at first incredible
under the bits of evidence that be-
, gan 20 come in. grew past doubt.
! BY the time ne had reached home q
mountain of proof was throbbing in
| his brain. He called himself a bat
! and hourly accumulated misery
I Treacherv. deliberate falsehood. never
occurred TO him.
. perfect day dawned for the golf
ply Old Shucls sat out on his door
stone and gave smiles and blessings
aud smoked his pipe. while the gay
groups came with their bundles and
( greetings. The old man listened keen
" with head bent. identifying step or
voice and giving a jolly comment OF
! grunt all TO himself as they passed
on 20 their game.
"Dat ar stumble b'long ter Marse
Joe: never could lift his feet, dat
boy"
"Marse Barnes? ain like hisself.
Mighty down in de mouf fer Marse
Barnes"
Oars de Ill wilder I'm; step like
a cat. I'm"
"Niss Louise. bossin' de earth. Ia.
don know Miss Louise."
"En Miss sue, trottin' long b'hind,
totin' de left-overs."
"Whar's Miss Mae?" suddenly loud
er. els gwine miss dat chileP
Whar's III Miss Mae?'
Here. Tine Shucks."
Some body throwing bricks az yo',
honey? You walk like yo' stepPin' on
yo' heart"
"she is quite happy. Shueks." said
BARNES voice beside them. but she Is
afraid of hurting some one IL she
shows it"
Shucks turned his sightless eyes
nnxiously from one 20 the other.
de truf bes'. chile; better hurt
: 'em den fash 'em. What yo' happy
, bout. honey?"
/, II don't know faltered Mae.
"Um. What she happy bout. Marse
Barnes?"
1T is her secret-and Joe's.
The old man leaned eagerly 20 catch
her reply. but Macs pretty head was
| tllltO III lhNlEhAtt NA4tA'Ns
"Alarse Barnes" turning broad
:, smile on him. If yo' an Miss Mae
was to 90 ter de spring an fetch
me drink Ia be mighty thankfuli
dat | would"
> II must speak TO YOU" Barnes sai'
|, as the girl would have turned away
from him. LET me at least have
your forgiveness" So they went TO
- eether down the pretty hin path. un
:. der the elm and hawthorn and wind
- ing through witch hazel 10 the oil
: spring.
; I'm" grunted ShuclSs. and hlle,
his pipe, the smile still broad on hi
face.
Presently the pretty widow came L
p. him.
" Have Won SEEN" she began. anN
iously. II mean heard. anything O
Mr.. RarneS?"
'Msrse Barnes gone on ter d
u links" shamelessly, vivid Miss SUI
marin. Yes, marm."
But he shook his grizzled head a
she hurried away. dat how de ca
Jump" he mumbled. "Cm. OF
y Shucks pwine feei a pain in his col
:. science bout dat falsifyin' an ds
barrel o. fine -four. um-uh-who daI
Marse Joe? Yo' late at de link
sar."
=. 81 am not going 10 the links, I'm
Shucks. am hanging about with II
gun. Miss Mae is anxious about yo'
-, chickens; she says sereech owi ge
-, one every night"
l. Dat he does, dat he does" indi