The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-03-26

VI Hcr arrested pose.
The man stood a few steps off. with
a look on his face akin to that on The
lace OF nurse who waits for a more
than usually spoiled child.
DO you know I'm beginning TO think
I've gone the wrong way about man.
aging you?''
An involuntary dimple flashed and
disappeared in Miss Dennison's care.
fully averted face. Her betrothed
however, saw only a still distracted
back.
| suppose were to take you at your
| word and leave you to walk home
| alone?"
you are quite unmanly enough TO
do SOP
"Unmanlyve
us it manly to wait round after me.
at my heels, like little dog?'
What, in Heavens name do you
want of me? If 1 rebel you have hys-
terics and call me bruter'
'Vivyellav read Miss Dennison
aloud. What ridiculous waists girls
have on fashion plates! Have you
nOticed?
The man suppressed an exclamation.
But that's rather a sweet blouse
she's wearing. / wonder if 1 could re-
member it. I must make mental
notes."
Miss Denniscon rested her elbows Oh
the railing and buried her chin in her
muff, refectively.
If you think you are going to make
me miss that train by dawdling in this
insensate fashion, you are mistaken"
Sweet sleevew murmured Miss Den
nison. II like the cuff sou
Il shall simply leave you here, you
know"
"But I can't see how it's put on. Oh
it's cut all in one with the sleevev' said
Miss Dennison, with a sudden burst
Of illumination. mo, 1 must learn
that"
Miss Dennison redoubled the fxity
CT her gaze.
II know perfectly we'll you hear
everything I'm saying. Are you COM
ing OF aren't you:"
II believe it's arranged with q gus
setp' announced Miss Dennison.
The man opened his mouth, then sud-
denly turned on his heel and swung
down the road. He had cut the Cor
dian knot. Miss Dennison must make
her deliberate way home alone. He
had gone back to the station and his
city-bound train.
Miss Dennison found herself left
staring at the boarding in an attitude
of mind that can only be described as
one Of stunned amazement Then the
dimples reappeared, and Miss Denni-
son smiled into her muff with an air
of happy power. '.-
1.-THE further he goes, the further
he'll have to come back, so l won't look
around" said the astute and expert
enced Miss Dennison; "and the slower
he is coming back, the surer he'll be
Of missing his train. IF he thinks he's
going to catch it tonight, when | want
him to stay here, he is very much mis-
taken. the ridiculous old thing!'
Miss Dennison began to reperuse the
boarding; it sheltered her pleasantly
from the wind.
"a hundred pounds rewardw
An assuming little notice caught her
eyes. "Vivyella" as subject is cap
able Of exhaustion. Miss Dennison well
coined a change in literature with alac-
Gritty.
AS she read Miss Dennison's face
portrayed a curious panorama OF ey-
preston; her cheeks paled gradually.
The little notice bore q crown, and was
couched in terse and simple language;
it was an earnest invitation to one
eyed gentleman to return to his sor-
rowing friends and guardians at the
convict prison across the marshes. 1t
concluded with q thoughtful warning
to lcnely and unprotected travellers as
to the gentleman's unpreDossessing ap-
pearance and playful disposition.
Miss Dennison reread the bill with
interest no longer histrionic. The sea-
mist was rising on the marshes. The
autumn dusk was closing in. The
charms of meditation in the lonely land
scape seemed suddenly to have lost
their SAVIOUR. Miss Dennison looked
up and down the road; her despised
betrothed had vanished into the mist.
The lights of the station glimmered
vaguely far on the horizon. On the
other side three miles of deserted road
lay between her and her hotel. In the
direction of the station lay nearer safe
ty-but humiliation; for well did Miss
Dcnnison know that her strength lay
in her invulnerability. Let her once
lay down her sceptre and her reign Of
tyranny was over for ever. For six
months she had enjoyed despotism;
was she now to eat humble-pie and cry
out for protection? With Napoleonic
resolution Miss Dennison turned in the
direction Of the hotel.
She took five steps; then, far away
on the distant marshland, she saw a
moving shadow. For the first moment
she assured herself it was but fam
tasy of her imagination. Then the
shadow came nearer and resolved it.
self into human fgure-a shutting,