The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-06-22

1ESA a lean-to and porch. Be
hind it grew row of cherry trees, and
on one side ran picturesque hedge Of
lilac bushes; but on the right. stretch
ing the entire length of her tiny farm,
was high board fence.
Miss Eliza Webb frowned at the
fence and at the great house and stable
which loomed up behind it.
These big buildings cut off large
portion of the river view from the red
cottage but Miss Webb could still have
seen part of the valley from her win
dows had that obnoxious fence been
removed.
= "Insultin'-' murmured Miss Webb.
~Right down insultin'! And just be-
cause 1 told him plain out what 1
thought of him.
She fixed her eyes OF the fence and
went on watering the gay nasturtium
bed, till little muddy rivulets ran away
from it and settled about her slippered
feet.
Fifty years before all those broad
acres stretching from the lilac hedge
across the hills to the little river wind
ing through the valley beneath had
belonged to Miss Webb's father He
had often stood on the porch of the red
cottage with his wife and daughter
beside him, building air-castles on the
very spot now occupied by the great
house. But years brought losses to
Simeon Webb. and the site of his air
castle had to be sold.
Miss Webb had never greatly felt the
: loss, however, until this summer, when
her limits We're defined by the hideous
fence, and the hill beyond was cut into
for the foundations of the Traffords'
house and stable.
Old Mr.. Trafford was anxious to buy
the land clear through to the lilac
hedge. He tried TO persuade Miss
Webb, into whose hands the property
had descended, to sell her small farm,
and have the red cottage moved to an
other spot in the village.
But she refused to consider the propo-
sitiop, and her refusal was given in
such an indignant way that the old
mans wrath was reused. and he built
the fence out of spite. On Mr.. Traf-
ford's side trellis Of Srapevines ran
the entire length Of it, but on hers no
trailing vines or flowers covered the
rough, unpainted boards.
"Mercy mer' cried Miss Webb, sud-
denly conscious Of the cold stream
-~trickling into her cloth slippers. She
held her alpaca skirts high in one hand.
and stepped gingerly on to bit Of
dry ground.
'Mercy me! I don't know but what
I'm losin' my senses over that pesky
fence and those toplofty Traffords.
They needn't have 1een so scared. /
wouldn't have gone near 'em, fence or
no fence. They amt what I want to
see. It's the river and the valley, that
I've been used to lookin' out on ever
since I was born" She picked up the
waterlng-pot and walked angrily into
the house.
That afternoon her theory Of the top
iostiness of the Traffords was shaken.
At exactly 4 O'Clock, which was visit
clicked. Peeping out from behind the
drawn window shade, Miss Webb saw
young Mrs. Trafford ct ming slowly up
the walk.
"My land, If there amt the Widow
Trafford, the old mans daughter-in-
law! Well, she can knock and knock,
for all.she'l get in here"
Mrs. Trafford was aware Of the angry
: eyes fixed on her from behind the buff
window shade, but she repeated her
knocks several times. At last, despair
ing Of effecting an entrance by the
usual method, she took step back
from the little porch, looked up sud-
denly at the window. and nodded pleas
antly. Then she nodded again.
Miss Webb left the window and stood
In the middle of her best room,
trembling with indignation.
"Of all the sass and impudence"
she gasped. "I'll have to open the door
now, an she knows it."
With reluctant hands she turned the
rusty key.
"How do you do:" said her visitor.
smiling brightly into the grim face
above her. 1--WE are such near neigh
bors that think it is about time we
knew each other. should have waited
for you to call first. but rs you did not,
j feared you might be i'll, or too
busy"
Always we'll, and 1 Amt ever par
tic'iarly busy" interrupted Miss Webb.
"Ohw returned Mrs. Trafford. oh
well, am very glad to hear that. Good
health is a great blessing"
Miss Webb swung the door back and
forth suggestively, without answer
ing. Mrs. Trafford held out a basket
of delicious looking strawberries.
won't you accept this:' she said
persuasively. 1T is early for straw
berries, know, but our gardener is
very fond of these, for they are IN
usally sweet"
81 wouldn't touch one of 'em," said
Miss Webb, fiercely, no more than l
would a stone right out of the street"
"Really:" Mrs. Trafford flushed, then
said sweetly, II know they do disa-
gree with some people. You are very
wise in refusing them, then, for infi-
gestion Is SO unpleasant. Good-by ~