The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-07-18

meadow You're fond O. flowers, Es.
thcrg They're real heartsomo.'
Eyes" she answered coldly. "rm
FOR takln' IN more ground at the rear
an plantin n flower garden.
lie stared blankly no her
You're what? An what for would
you lay out money for other folk that
way. Esther The Willows VIII be
ready for you, an what's to hinder
the weddin'? I'm wearyin' FOR ye"
She looked straight IN his eyes. How
could he meet her glance and know
be had robbed her?
"Thorell be no weddin' for me. Rob.
ert Jardine,' she said You'll have to
seek your wife elsewhere"
He started forward TO grasp her
hand, but she pushed him back.
mo word more shall cross my lips
bat we'll you know l can never marry
you-now"
Never marry me? An what for,
do you think. / have been toilin a
these years If It wasna to make a
home for you? An now you say you
can never marry me-"
lie stood before her, his face working
with emotion.
Pm no great things. maybe, but I'm
your faithful lover, Esther, an you're
not goin' to throw me over in the face
o. a the neighbors. It's not as If we
were strangers; you ken me lang
enough"
"Ay, fine l ken you, Robert she
said drlly Il woul maybe be hap
pier woman this day if / didna."
I'm hanged If / can make out wha
you're drivin' at" he retorted in an
ger ''Wil We speak straight, an tell
me why you're thorwin' me over?
You're mair glib wi the speech than
me-"
Il have nothing to say II you have
not. I cannot help what the neighbors
think. do not mean to marry you"
$50 be it, then. You'll be flashed WI
me nae mair. Ye can spier me when
We want me back" he said, finging
out. She watched him mounting his
spring cart, and unwilling tears cloud
ed her sight.s
Snow fell late that year, checking
the promise of spring, and the hedges,
instead of whitening with hawthorn
buds, were weighted with a pallid
burden There was much gossip over
the cessation of Robert Jardine's WOO
ing, for every one was interested in
the love story of the mistress Of the
Black Bull.
Esther's heart was heavy, and as the
snow began to thaw she turned her
thoughts to the garden she meant to
lay out to the edge of the pine trees
She killed up her skirts and made hel
walk over the heaps of last years
leaves In a hollow something rec
caught her eye STOPPING over it she
saw that it was a scarlet jacket will
gay brass buttons She took a brancl
and cleared the snow away. Some
bulky thing lay beneath. A shuddel
seized her; it looked like a human
body. Had some poor creature per
ished in the snow? There was a heal
of bones under the scarlet cloth. Again
shudder seized her, though she was
not a nervous woman. She sweep
away the last remnant of snow, anC
there lay bare a CHASTITY object-tht
gigantic skeleton of the lost ape!
She was turning away to MAKE
known her discovery, when somethin.
stopped her. This time it was tn,
glitter of gold. Under the feshles
fingers was a leather bag Some of it
contents lay on the earth. Conquerinl
her repulsion she withdrew the baj
and gathered up the coins. 1t was he
lost property.
A sudden faintness seized her; sh,
remembered in flash the open win
dow, the overturned work table T.
think that she had held Robert Jar
dine for thief and lost him
She concealed the bag under he
!, cloak. No one had known of her loss
: none need know Of it's recovery. Sh
went in by the back kitchen; the SCI
, wants were whispering together in
: group.
= "Haud yer tongue, she'll hear "
What's gaun tae tell her?' some on
said.
, what is it?' she asked sharply
l She turned tc her old Irish cook, who's
! rudy face had grown pale. "Speal
Betty; what is wrong?"
6 They're sayin', mistress, that MI
: Jardine has broke his neck or some
: thin" Biddy blurted out But
wudn't be afther heedin' thin if 1 wa
f you It'll not be a word av thruth'
a be int at all, at all"
But she did not hear the nttemnt q