The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-12-06

some tall hydrangea bushes, flower
laden. and beyond them one broad
shaft Of sun smote the creek bends for
a mile IN that fiat land and crossed the
garden like (; bright, taut drawn veil
Harkiess passed the bushes and step
ped out into this gold brilliance Then
he uttered Cry and stopped. Helen
was standing beside the hydrangeas
with both lands pressed to her face
and her eyes cast on the ground She
had run away as far as she could run.
There were high fences extending
down to the creek on each side and the
water was beyond.
You" he said You. You"
She did not LIT her eyes. but began
to move away from him with little
backward steps. When she reached
the bench on the bank she spoke Will
a quick intake of breath and in voice
he almost failed to hear, the merest
whisper. and her words came so SLOW
" that sometimes minutes separated
them. 'Can you-will you keep neon
the Herald?'
keep YOU
He came near her. 81 don't under
stand. Is 1t you-you-who are here
again?'
Have you forgiven me? You know
-now-why l wouldn't resign: You
forgive my-that telegramI
What telegram"
The one that came to yoa-this
morning"
Your telegram
Yes
Did you send NE cne:'
YES"
1T DID not come to me-
"Ies--i1 I'D.
"Dut-what was it about:"
at was signed she said: "it was
s'rned"- Size paused and turned half
away. not lifting tie Gowncast iashes.
IIer hand. resting upon the back OF the
bench, was shaking. She put it behind
her. Then lIer eyes We're lifted little.
and. though they did not meet his. be
saw them. and a glory sprans into be-
| ing in his heart. Her voice fell still
lower, and two heavy tears rolled down
her cheeks 1t was signed, she whls-
peced. lit was signed-'H. Fisbee.' y
He began to tremble from head to
foot. There was a long silence She
had turned full away from him. When
he spoke his voice was as low as hers.
and be spoke as slowly vas she had.
| You mean-then-then it iwas-you?'
Yes"
Your
eyes"
"And you-you have-you have been
here all the time?'
"All-all except the week-you We're
hurt
The bright veil that wrapped them
was drawn away. and they stood in the
quiet, gathering dusk. He tried to
| loosen his neckband; it seemed to be
choking him. II can't don't COM
prehend it. I am trying to realize
what it all MEANS
1T means nothing" she answered.
There was an editorial yesterda. y
he said. IAN editorial that l thought
was about Rodney McCune. Did you
write it?'
Yes"
'It was about-me-wasn't it?'
Eyes"
cit said-it said that-that had won
! the-the-love Of every person in Car
low county,"
Suddenly she found her voice. ''Do
not misunderstood me-" she said rapid
". 81 have done the little that have
| done out of gratitude" She faced him
now, but without meeting his eyes. Il
owed you more gratitude than a WON
an ever owed man before, think.
and 1 would have died to pay part
of it."
"What gratitude did you owe me?"
what gratitude? For what you did
for my father"
Il have never seen your father in my
life"
Listen. My father is a gentle old
man with white hair and kind eyes.
My name is my uncle's. he and my
aunt have been good to me as father
and mother since l was seven years
old. and they gave me their name by
law. and | lived with them. My ia
ther came to see me once year; new
er came to see him. He always told me
everything was we'll with him, that his
life was happy. and l thought it was
easier for him not having me to take
care Of. he has been so poor ever since
| was Il child. Once he lost the little
he had left to him in the world his
only way of making his living. He had
40 friends: he was hungry and desper-
ate. and he wandered. l was dancing
and going about wearing jewelS-onlv
| did not know All the time the brave
heart wrote ne happy letters. should
have known for there was one who
did and who saved him. When at last
I came to see my father he told me-he
had written of his idol before. but Il