Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1903-10-29

sojourner here. can learn no Eore
than that"
That will be sufficient" cried Donald.
Again that deep flush swept over the
face of the girl, but neither saw it.
Il must go now, Don" said Avery,
consulting his watch. MY friends are
waiting by this time. You see we were
hunting and | climbed the hill to get a
better view of the valley Good-by. "
And Avery waved his hand and hurried
away.
But his coming had served to bring
matters to crisis between these two,
who had known silent companionship
for three long weeks. Elda Leigh
watched Avery until he was lost to view.
Then she arose and turned toward DON
aid. 1t seemed to him she was about to
speak, and he was hardly surprised
when she addressed him.
81 must beg your pardon" she said,
"for the deception have practiced upon
you.
"You understand" she continued,
that did not foresee should become
an eayesdropper. | saw you coming up
the hill that first day, and not wishing to
retire or be disturbed, acted on the i'm
pulse of the moment, and"
May ask, Miss Leigh" he said, why
yon should undeceive me on this, ouI
last day together?'
81 thought it just possible that we
night meet again, some day. and then
you would learn the truth, and perhaps
have less charity for me than If made
confession now"
She believed he would seek her. DON
aid thought, otherwise she would not
have feared meeting him again. He had
chosen to take refuge from his awkward
, position in cold reserve. He knew any
advances made at this time would be
premature
Shall wait and carry your easel?'
| he asked, as he was about to pass her
! on his way down the hill.
mo, thank you," she replied, quickly;
81 am not going for some time yet"
1t was summer time and the balmy ali
was laden with perfume Of countless
| flowers. The country hotel was crowded
with guests 1t was situated among the
Adirondacks, near a silvery lake, which
bore upon its bosom great fragrant water
| lilies that quivered with each ripple
There were several artists among the
| guests, drawn there by the wild, pic
turesque scenery. Elda Leigh was one
of them.
/ One day among the late arrivals she
saw Donald Grosvenor. When they met
he bowed with cold politeness and mur'
INJURED something that sounded like "ar
unexpected pleasure" After that she
saw him every day, but she took no no
! tice of him except to give him careless
nod or smile each morning, and he. in
turn. never addressed her. Though Elda
tried so hard to appear Indifferent to his
/! coldness, she felt the sting of it neverthe-
! less, and hardened her heart against him
The climax came one evening about
/ four weeks after Donald's advent to the
hotel The whole party of guests, with
the single exception of Elda Leigh, had
gone down to the lake to watch the moon
rise over the water. Donald, having
missed Elda, returned at once to- the
| hotel. Standing IN the doorway for an
| instant, he beheld her sitting on the
piazza, gazing straight before her. She
was in such deep reverie that she did not
see him until he was by her side. She
was startled into speaking then.
81 thought you went with the others,
she said.
He did not answer, but took seat be-
| side her and gazed toward the lake, as II
utterlyoblivious of her presence.
There is a much better view from
here" she said to cover her embarrass-
ment
| Still no answer.
| Presently. from sheer nervousness al
the embarrassing situation, she dropped
her fan, and before she could reach tc
get II. Donald had picked 1t up and re-
stored it to her.
! Thank you" she said. and raised her
eyes for moment.
But Donald only shook his head grave
ly and pointed to his lips and ears, as
she had done on the day of their first
injecting The hot b'ood mounted to heI
cheeks, and her vioet eyes darkened
with anger Never again should she fee
humiliated in n~his presence because Of
| her conduct last autumn.
She rose TO her feet, her head held
high. but Donald had placed himself in
her way. and before she could pass him
had caught her bands and was looking
into her eyes with an eager gaze, as il
searching her very heart Their two
souls met and recognized each other in
their prolonged gaze. Then. with a
slow, deliberate movement. in which
there was much tenderness, he drew her
into his arms.-Prairie Farmer