Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-10-16

To attempt to cross it she knew would
be like blazing a way through an I'M
broken forest. but to accept the other
alternative and add another mile to her
journey by going around was simply
out of the question.
The opposite side of this field lay
parallel to her fathers orchard. where,
leaning on a gate-post, stood a tall,
athletic appearing young man, intently
watching a peculiar wave which
semeed to be slowly approaching him
through the rye.
Suddenly the tail spears Of grain
parted, and, catching sight of a scarlet
face beneath b white straw hat, he
exclaimed
"Why, Vida Miss Wright what
In the world does this meanY"
At the tone of eager sympathy in his
voice, Wilda's lips quivered and she
began to cry.
Impulsively Theodore grasped her by
the hand and led her through the open
gate into the orchard and sat her down
In the shade of an apple tree.
With a feeling of disgust at herself
for exposing her weakness. Vida
snatched off her hat and threw 1t on
the ground. Theodore quickly took it
up and began to fan her with it and
after she became more composed, he
asked:
"How far have you walkedT"
"Most of the way" was her curt
reply.
"Where did you miss your father?"
"Has he gomez" she asked, eagerly.
eyes. He started early this morn
ing. He didn't know your uncle had
not gone until it was too late to go last
night"
~ rode part way with Mr.. Cline"
''That's how you came to miss him.
Yoa took the south fork?"
ayes, of course" snapped Wilda.
thinking of what she had seen under
the maple trees.
"But you should have either met him,
or he overtaken you. before that" per-
sisted Theodore.
perhaps l should, and he didn't"
retorted Vida, thinking Of the time
she loitered away In the park at
Haven.
Theodore ventured no reply. He
saw plainly that in her state of mind
further questioning was not only USE
less but cruel.
A big. ripe apple fell at .Wilda's feet.
She took it and began to eat %rayenous-
ly. After she had finished and thrown
the core away, Theorode ventured to
ask:
"Why were you so bent on getting
home tonight, Wilda?"
ITO keep my appointment with Wal.
ter Mather," she responded unhesitat-
ingly.
do you think it will pay?"
TT has paid already" she replied
spitefully, at the same time wincing
at the sharp pain that darted through
her foot.
Theodore was startled at the look of
agony that came into her face, and
was just going to speak when she In
terrupted him by saying:
Theodore, 1 am almost dead with
pain in my feet, but 1 want to tell
you one thing, I'm through with Walter
Mather for all time. / tried to make
myself believe / loved him; but I don't.
When he comes tonight I shall not
even see him, and he will not need to
be told why. Now. take me to the
house, for my feet are numbering me.
and 1 am afraid 1 am going to faint"
Then she attempted to rise, but stag
gered and fell fainting into Theodore
Graham's arms When she came to he
was tanning her with all his might
and calling her by all the endearing
names of a lovers calendar. Vida
opened her eyes and smiled, then he
lifted her in his arms and carried her
to the house and laid her On the bed.
That evening, just about shutdown.
Walter Mather came driving up with
a spanking bay team, and a new piano.
box buggy; but Vida was too indis-
posed to see him, and apparently crest
fallen he drove away without even
asking why.
The next night by common consent
of Wilda and her father, Theodore took
her back to her school; her swollen and
blistered feet bandaged and encased in
her fathers slippers; but it was her
last as we'll as her first term of school,
for that night she made her choice, and
a wise one it was, too.-Waverley
Magazine.