The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-01
4ss-eBy JOet Chandler HarrIs@-<<<


groes were compelled to bear the brunt
Of all the excitement and Indignation.
One of the first to seek Cephas out was
Nan Darlington, and this was precisely
what the young hero wanted. he was
very cold and Indifferent when Nan De-
sought him to tell her all about his trip.
How did he enjoy himself? and didn't he
wish he was back at home many time?
And what did Paul and Jesse have TO sayY
All, Cephas had his innings now!
II didn't see Paul and JESSE" replied
Cephas. land 1 didn't see Francis Be-
thune"
But gradually Cephas thawed out. One
or the other had to surrender, and the
small boy had no such incentive to silence
as Nan had His pride was not involved,
! whereas Nan would have gone to the
/ rack and suffered herself to be pulled to
pieces before she would have asked any
direct questions about Gabriel.
I'm mighty sorry went" said Cephas
finally, and then he stopped short.
| 'Why?' inquired Nan.
"Oh, WE'LL don't know exactly.
thought 1 would find everybody just like
they were before they went away, and
| the one l saw looked like drove OF
mules had trompled him. He didn't
have on any coat, and his shirt was torn
and dirty, and his face looked like he had
! Deen SICK q month. Ills eyes were nOl-
| low, and had black circles around them"
Ibid he say anything?" asked Nan in
low tone.
Yes. he said. Brace up, old m
WAS that all?"
And then he finally asked if anybody
had sent him any word. and L said, No
body but Mr.. Sanders; and then he said
L might have known that he wouldn't
! forget me- Cephas could see Nan crush
| hpr han II of in har nd he
enjoyed it immensely.
was he angry with any one?" Nan
| asked.
why, when did anybody ever hear OF
his being angry with any one he thought
was a friend?" exclaimed Cephas scorn-
| fully. Nan writhed at this, and Cephas
| went on. "He had been tied up by the
wrists, and then he had been put in a
sweat-box and nearly roasted-yes, by
grabs, pretty nigh cooked. Cephas had
the unmixed pleasure of seeing Nan turn
pale. 81 think you are simply awful"
she gasped you are cruel, and you are
unkind. You know very we'll that I care
something for Gabriel. Haven't we been
friends since we were children together?
Do you suppose l have no feeings?'
II know what you said when L told you
l was going to see Gabriel"
what was that?' inquired Nan.
why, you said, Well what is that to
me?'" exclaimed Cephas. He twisted his
face awry, and mimced Mans voice with
considerable success, only he made it
more spiteful than that charming young
woman could have DONE
Yes. I did say that, but didn't 1 go
to your house, and tell you what to say
to Gabriel?"
Cephas laughed scornfully. Ibid you
think l going to swallow the joke
that you and that Claiborne girl Matched
up between you? Do you reckon I'm fool
enough to tell Gabriel that you'll die If
he don't come home soon?"
you didn't tell him, Them
mo, 1 didn't" replied Cephas IT
would cut off one of my fingers before
I'd let him know that there were people
here at home making fun OF him.,
Nan gazed at Cephas as If she sus-
pected him of Joke. But she saw that
he was very much in earnest. I'm glad
you didn't tell him. she said finally.
Then she laughed. saying. "Cephas,
really did think you had little sense"
Il have sense enough not to hurt the
feelings of them that like me- the boy
replied And he went on his way try
Ing to reconcile Nan Darlington, who
used to be so kind to him, with the Nan
Darlington who was flirting and fitting
around with long skirts on. He failed,
as older and more experienced persons
have failed
When Nan met Cephas, on the occasion
OF the interview which has just been
reproted. she was on her way to Neigh
Dor Tomlin's to pay a visit to Margaret
Gather. Margaret happened to be out at
the moment, but Fanny insisted that
Nan should come in anyhow.
Margaret will be back directly" Miss
Fanny said, "she has only gone to the
store to match a piece of ribbon Be-
sides, / want to talk to you a little
while. But good gracious! what is the
matter with you? expected cheerfulness
from you at least but what do L find?
Well, you and Margaret should live In
the same house; they say misery loves
company Here l was about to ask YOU
why Margaret is unhappy and I find
you looking out of Margaret's eyes Are
you unhappy, too?"
mo, Aunt Fanny, I'm not unhappy:
I'm angry. l don't see why girls should
become grown. Why, l was always in
good humor until I put on long skirts.
and then my troubles began. can
'either run nor play; must be on nv
dignity all the time for fear some one
Will raise her hands and say, DO look
at that Nan Darlington, Ism she bold
piece@ l never was so tired of anything
In my life as I am of being grown.
never will get used to 1t. II 1 can't be
myself, I'll do like Leese Clopton did.
I'll go into convent"
We'll, you certainly would astonish the
nuns when you began to cut some of
your capers" Miss Fanny declared
Am 1 as bad all that? Tell me
honestly, Aunt Fanny, now while am in
the humor to hear 1t, what do do that
Is terrible?
Honestly, Nan, you do nothing terri
BILE at all. I'll tell you where all the
trouble Is, Nan; you are sensitive and
you have an idea that you must behave
as some of the other girls do-that YOU
must hold your hands and your head
just so. If you would be yourself, and
forget all about etiquette and manners
you'd satisfy everybody, especially your
self"
why, that is what worries me now: T
do forget all about those things, and
then, all of sudden, 1 realize that I am
acting like child, and very noisy child
at that.
well, when you get as old as I am"
sighed Miss Fanny, you won't mind lit
tie things like that. Margaret is coming
now. I'll leave you with her. Try to find
out why she is unhappy. Pulaski is
nearly worried to death about it, and so
am t.
Margaret Gather came In as sedatey
as an old woman. She was very fond of
Nan, and greeted her accordingly.
Whatever her trouble was 1t had made
no attack on her health She had a fire
color, and her eyes were bright; but
there was a little frown between her
eyebrows that gave her a troubled look