The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-03-04
CHAPTER XIX.
THE MORNING OF @

To his dying day CASTOR will never for
Worth by his side.
On a gently rising hill on the banks OF
the Catawba river rose a splendid old
Southern mansion, its big Greek columns
cleaning through the green trees like
polished ivory. A wide porch ran across
the full width Of the house behind the
big pillars, and smaller columns support
ed the full sweep of a great balcony
above. The house was built of brick with
Portland cement finish, and the whole
painted in two shades of ivory with
moss-green roof and dark rich Pompeian
red rick foundations. With it's green
background of magnolia trees it seemed
like a huge block of solid ivory flashing
in %splendor from it's throne on the hill.
The drive wound down a little dale,
around a great circle filled with beautiful
shrubory and flowers, and up to the pill
Jared pOrte-ccchere. Tears sprang into
Gaston's ~enraptured eyes as the beauty
flashed upon him..
"Oh. what a beautiful homet" he ex-
claimed with feeling.
at is beautiful, isn't it," she said, with
simple delight. 4 love every brick in its
walls, every tree and flower and blade OF
grass"
He helped her from the carriage and
she ran lightly up the high stoop.
Nov come here and look at the view
of the river before papa comes and be-
gins to talk about the tremendous water
power in the falls
He followed her to the end of the lone
! porch overlooking the river. Behind the
house the river abruptly plunged down
ward to the waters edge in a mountain
Gus cliff. The river wound around this
cliff past the house, emerging into a val
ley where it described a graceful curve
almost doubling on itself and rolled soft
ly away amid green ovcrhanging willows
and towering till lost in the
distance toward the blue spurs of Kings
Mountain.
"A glorious View" said Castor, look
ing long and lovingly at the silver sur
face of the river.
DO you love the water, Mr.. CASTOR ?"
"Passionately. I was born among the
hills, but the first time 1 saw the ocean
sweeping over five miles Of SAND reefs
and breaking in white laundering spray
at my feet. I stood there on a sand dune
OH our wild coast and gaZed entranced
for an hour without moving. OF all the
things God ever made on this earth
love the waters of the sea, and all NOV
ing water suggests it to me. That river
says, | must hurry to the seal
ut is strange we should nave such
similar tastes she said seriously. But
it did not seem strange to him. Some
how he expected to find her agree with
every whim and fancy of his nature.
Nov we will find mama. She IS such
an invalid she rarely goes out. Papa
will be home any minute"
" are glad to welcome you, Mr.. Gas
tom said her mother in a kindly man
ner. I'm sure you've enjoyed the drive
this beautiful day if Sallie hasn't been
trying to tease you. TIL boys say she's
very tiresOme at times
why, mama, I'm surprised at you. The
idea of such a thing. There's not a WORD
OF truth in 1T, is there, Mr.. Gaston?"
"Certainly not, Miss Sallie. I'll .testi-
fly, Mrs. Worth, that your daughter has
been simply charming"
She ran to meet her father at the door
There was the sound of a hearty kiss. a
little whispering, and the general stepped
briskly into the parlOr, where she had
left her guest.
PLEASED to welcome you to our home
young man. They say down town that
you made the greatest speech ever heard