The Newtown bee., 1904-01-15

1 ~~oo oo w NSSSA N0N'
 On Pontomac Point, the houses al
 face the bay, and, as there is no beach
 drive, visitors have to come into the
 places from the back The kitchen
 standing aloof from the house, or con-
 nected with it by an open gallery, has
 to be passed as the carriage sweeps
 around to the front; and this arrange.
 ment has the great advantage of giv'
 some agile p1ckaninny or grumbling,
 shuffiing old cook, time to go forward and tell the mistress of the house, who
 is coming to call. But when old Ann
 saw Mrs Grayson driving up, she did
 not go forward, but came out of the
 kitchen door and stood with arms fold ed.
 "Nobody ain't to home," she called.
 "Mistah Willse and Miss Juanita dey done gone sallin.' Dey flowed dey
 wanted suffin' in Potosi, but soon as dey gyt out in dey bay de win died down and dere dey is.'' She pointed a knobby, bleached foretinge r in triumph at the white sail of MT Willie's boat. It was lettering in the sunlight half way across the gleaming water which made Pontomac Point the fairest out look in the world.
 Mrs Grayson leaned forward in the buggy, shading her eyes with her hand
 "Ders dey is," Ann repeated. She had no liking for Mrs Grayson, and it did her good that for once the young people were away from the interfer- ence of her mOther-in-law; for Ann had taken Juanita into her good graces, and she now considered Mrs Grayson to be quite as much Juanita's mother-in-law as MT Willie's. "Dey couldn't hear you if you was to call them back till sundown," she went on, anticipating her visitors next impulse; ''an' de way de win has dropped dey won't get dat side of de bay nor dis be- fore midnight. Won't you-all git out an wait for lem, Mis- Grayson."
 '1 should think MT Willie would carry oars so as to row if he gets be- calmed," Mrs Grayson said sternly, "he's likely to meet with an accident if he is out after dark, and it will be very dark to-night.''
 ''Dey ain't in no rush," chuckled Ann. "De honeymoon I'll light 'em. You-all bettah git down. Devil be put out if dey heahs you come an did n't wait."
 Mrs Grayson resented the old wo- mans suavity. "No," she said, "I1l not wait. I think I'll call on Mrs Hollingsworth instead. I may come back if I see their boat come in. If not, tell Miss Juanita, if you please, that l shall be glad to have her visit have her trip for nothing. I'm al- ways at home."
 Old Ann walked down the path to open and shut the gate. "Don't look | like yOu'S home dis evenin'," she mutt tered as the light barrier swung into into place behind the carriage. s'De | Lawd was merciful to Mistah Willie | md Miss Juanita, but dat ain't no scuse fer him dealin' so hand with po' | Mis- Hollingsworth."
 * *
 It was Dorothy's birthday, and MT Charlie had remembered it, though it was not his custom to help celebrate | the birthdays of the family. He had | ] little book for her in his pocket, and | it was the first gift of more signific- | ance than candy or fruit that he had | ever brought in person to the house. She was sitting all alone on the front | gallery, looking through the rose-vines | 1t little white-sailed boat out on the | bay when he came around the corner of the house. The annoyance and ner- vousness which he had felt when Mrs | Grayson left him had fallen behind on the road.
 "Don't stir," he cried as Dorothy rose; "sit right where you are and let me come to you. This is your eigh- teenth birthday, and 1 thought I'd help you celebrate it. Tell me what you we been doing."
 His manner was new and it was hard to tell whether it made him seem older or younger than before. There was certainly something much more per sonal about it than usual, and it be- wildered Dorothy. She thought he must be making special effort to treat her like ''grown folks" And yet this was not at all like his manner to- ward her mother. She sank back into her chair with little laugh. ''Why, I've not been doing very much," she said. "For the last hour I've just watched MT Willie de Ferriere's sail. He and Miss Juanita have such good times, just like two children"
 MT Charlie sat down on the gallery too, for a while. It glistened out there in the midst of the blue like a snowy signal set by these newly mar ried lovers to guide other lovers safe to happiness. Moved by the tide or by some impalpable breath of air, it was stealing forward as slowly as if it's voyage might never end; yet present. ly the lower branches of a live oak shut it from sight. MT Charlie put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the little book. ''I brought you this on account of the day." he said.
 "Oh, thank you," she exclaimed, flushing with pleasure at sight of it, for it was something she had wished: 'you are always too thoughtful" and the moments passed away in si-