Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-10-07

/
had fallen through the logs on the
hearth. Somehow, spite of her asser
ton self-reliance and independence
she felt very lonely this October after
noon.
'T'll go for walk" thought Violet
! Perhaps a little exercise will dissi-
pate this gathering dependency"
She tied round hat under her curls
put on coquettish scarlet bolero, tas-
seled with white silk, which, accord
ing to her loving nieces, made hel
look like a delicious little Red Riding
Hood" and went into the fresh aut-
umn air, where the woods, all radiant
with gold and crimson glories, were
showering their leafy trophies on the
walks below, as she entered their silent
aisles.
Autumn" she thought, sadly, chow
soon it has come upon us! And it is
but a little while since spring was
here with her dew and roses. My
spring has vanished, too, and, unlike
the sacred season of birds and blCs-
some, it will never return to me again.
Heigho!. | wonder what l was born
into this world for. | don't seem to be
of very much use to anybody"
Violet was thinking thus, little
pensively, as she sat on a moss-enam-
eled fallen tree, tapping the drifts of
yellow leaves with the point of her
parasol, and letting the fresh, fragrant
wind blow the gold-brown curls back
| from her forehead She was net
thinking how picturesque was her at
| titude, nor how beautiful her face
looked in its oval clearness, with a
| pink flush on each cheek, but both
these facts struck the perceptions of a
| tall stranger, carrying a valise in
his left hand, who had just crossed the
stile leading from the main road, and
entered the illuminated glow of the
autumnal woods.
He raised his hat with a courteous
motion as Miss Brown started at his
advancing footsteps.
Il beg your pardon; l fear l have
unintentionally startled you"
NV at OIL NAOIOI lOCh6u up 0dIu IL
estly at his face as she answered
Perhaps you can direct me to the
shortest cut across these woods to
Millhambury?? l am not quite certain
as to my localities"
you are on the direct path now,
Clarence Smith"
He started, in his turn, and gazed
scrutinizingly into her face.
II thought it was familiar to mel"
he exclaimed, "and now | know it.
Violet! who would have thought of
meeting you here?"
Violet Brown trembled like an aspen
leaf, but she strove to control herself.
''The world is full of just chance
meetings, Clarence"
She had half turned away, but the
gentleman had put down his valise.
and was evidently inclined not to part
with her So readily.
"Stop, Violet-do not go away. Ny
love, l have so longed to see you, all
these years. Tell me that you have
not entirely forgotten the past-that
you have still a word of tenderness for
the hayward lover who flung away his
brightest chances of happiness long
ago, Violet, you were my first love
be my last?"
do you love me still. Clarense?"
she asked. the blue-gray eyes soften
ing to strangely tender brightness.
do / breathe and exist still? l
tell you, Violet, my heart is like the
century plant, which only blossoms
once-and its blossoming is in the
sunshine of your love alone
She was silent-lovelier than ever,
Clarence thought, in the momentary
indecision, the shy hesitation of her
manner. as she stood under the old
trees, gold-tinted leaf drifting
down here and there around her, and
her tremulous hands clasped to hide
their fiutter as far as might be.
Violet, darling! tell me that you
love me-"
II love you, Clarencel"
There is a Garden of Eden created
anew for every happy pair of lovers
and Clarence and Violet stood in
Paradise now,
But, Clarence" resumed Violet.
when the first all-absorbed words and
glances of their new happiness had
been exchanged; 81 don't comprehend
this at all. How did you come here !?
and how did you know where to find
me?"
Il did not know where to find you.
Violet, Chance has been my friend
here; and as for my opportune ap-
pearance on the scene. it is very cas-
lily accounted for. l have been called
to take charge of the parish of Mill
hamburg"
Clarence, you are not the new min
ister?"
But | am the new minister"
His name is John Smith,
i beg your pardon, my darling-it
is John Clarence Smith,
And Violet's surprise was sufficient
ly amusing to the reverend gentlemen
at her side.
Old Mrs Bezabel Marsh and her
two elderly hard-favored daughters,
had made the parsonage all ready. ev-
en- to lighting the evening lamps on
the study table, and poking the clear
anthracite fire that burned in the din
ing-room CRATE.
Mebetable had turned the tumbler
of crimson currant jelly into its cut
glass dish, and disposed the green
sprigs of parsley to the most striking
effect round the thinly-cut slices of
boiled tongue. while Mrs. Sarah made
a Leaning Tower of Pisa of the but
termilk biscuits, and whisked the
flies away from the sugar basin, in
readiness for the expected guest. and
like the hero of song, still he came
mott"