The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-12-23

crime with 4 curious smile, and she con-
tinuei 20 smile after the girl had gone
for her embroidery frame.
Whatever the smile may have meant,
it had no effect On Zepherine. for whom
ever Darlington came to Shady Dale,
which was often, the young woman
promptly disappeared and was seen no
more until after his departure. Mere
than once he made inquiries about hor,
and on one occasion he said he wanted
10 see her for the purpose Of ap~ologiziEg
for his rudeness.
Why, | hope you haven't been rude 10
the child, Randolph" remarked Sarah
Clopton whom he mentioned the matter.
She thinks that she was rude to YOU
Wen, only properly SO. l was irrita-
ted when she came into that house, but
not for long. | soon found that she knows
more about the treatment, of smallpox
tnan | do. She threw my medicine out OF
the window and refused positively to fol-
low my directions; and yet Nan tells me
she's the timidcst, gentlest little thing
in the world. I'm sure | don't understand
her at all Later when Sarah Cloptoa
informed zcphcrine that the doctor had
! AhS'S / - - 'bNi ShC 49, ~
| eyebrows in establishment
For me- she cried.
Yes: he said he wanted to apologize, I"
! replied the older woman dryly.
"Apologize to me- exclaimed Zephe, =
! inc. We'll, poor man, If he knew moth
! ing of sn~allpoX,and know not who should
| apologize, he must have a deep trouble
somewhere. l I'M quite sorrowful Ior
: him." Whereupon Sarah Clopton renewed
the dry smile with which she had regard
cd Zepherire on 4 former occasion. This
time, however, Zepherine saw it, and
seemed to divine its import. oh, now YOU
! are laughing at me-" she cried, blushing
violently. Il am very foolish, | cannot
tell why your Doctor Randolph cause me
to be so out of temper all the time. day
and night.
Why, he's not nearly so important as
that" replied Sarah Clopton; hes moth
ing but a great, big, laundering, good
naturcd man
Icphcrinc tossed her head and her ewes
flashed. "Wcll, | wish | could sec some
Of that great good-naturc," She said
scornfully.
"Wcll, my dear, I'm thinking you'II
have plenty Of opportunities" the older
woman suggested. after a while you'Il
! come to the conclusion that Randolph is
not important enough fer you TO jump
UP and run away every time you hear
bis f~Cotstcp on the gravel outside. He's
been coming here regularly many years.
but I've never taken the trouble to try
and distinguish his footstcp from that
OF other people
oh. but if you were in my place.
said Zepherine. blushing: If you haa
heard him walking as I did, all through
! tho loI0 nipIt while Nan v-oc ca ~
we'll, | think you would know his step
when YOU heard it. I know yours, and
| know Mans. l don't think it so hard
to know the step of those you-oh. | mean
those YOU like or dislike: do you think
so?"
NO. ] suppose not, replied Sarah Clop-
ton.
Zepherine was only too glad of an cx-
cuse to get away from this friend, who
had suddenly developed a desire to tease.
50 she ran off to meet Nan.
rs soon as she saw Zcpherine. She
threw ND her hands with a shrill scream
of delight. She had the most delicious
mystery, and she just knew it would turn
out to be a real and truly romance. She
had gone around TO Mr.. Nalic0mbc.s
shop to find out why he didn't como Ia
Shady Dale any more. and one Of THO
bt'I ti-Iit IL Iid'i W. HUN Iolil
her that Mr.. NaIicombe was not in town
at all: that he had gone to New Or
leans, and that he didn't propose 20 re
turn until-at this point She placed bo:h
bands over her mouth and gave Zcphcr-
inc a Wild look.
What, then, is the matter with You"
Why do YOU begin 10 tell something, ≠
tnen PAUSE III that way inquired The
thoroughly puzzled Miss johns.
oh. | want TO tell YOU, but | mustn't.
Oh, Nj. Sanders would never forgive me.
Indeed he Wouidn t: n" told mo so. II is
tac most perfectly lovely idea l ever
heard Of
But what can it he? IS it about me-
As she spoke, Miss Johns began to blush
even as she blUshcd before Sarah C!on-
ton.
Nan paid no attention TO the bushes.
She simply placed a hand over her mouth
and shook her head. When she did speak.
she pretended to be angry. "You know
J / am just dying to tell you. Oh, if you
knew how wild | am you wouIdn't dare
to ask me-"
l dare? 1t is something terrible. them!