Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-07-21
Man or
Nous?
By
Martha
NcCulloch-
Williams

NtNA ht aAs wac Eh0hJ ~hhs oh1
the invited young I.orena. moreover
owned all the folly normal To nineteen
So altogether IL would have been mir
acle II things had gone exactly rs they
should. 4 proper young woman of
course would have reckoned chances
before barring her feet and dancing
joyously Ia midstream, where the peb
bles lay smoothly bedded IN fine sand
and cleaning jewel wise wherever u
sun ray struck through the ripples.
I.orena did not let herself remember
that the ford was but fifty yards higher
up or that this special shallow reach OF
the creek lay between the two lakes
that gave the finest fishing. They were
not true lakes, VI course only water
mirrors. still and deep. impoundesl by
dams Of the winter floods building
Lorena did not love them. They were
NJ placid they reminded her somehow
OF Johnny and whatever did that put
her out OF temper.
She loved glitter. motion. excitement
IL was ecstasy 10 her to dance all day
long aud half the night after footing
II AS lightly. AS featly. as wind blown
thistle seed II only she could dance
alone. But since that was out OF the
question she naturally preferred part
ners who kept step and We're nimble
Johnny was neither. yet all the time
she had been engaged to him he had
81 ~ MI. ~ a
dance with him. she must dance with
hardly anybody else
And not at NIL with Granville tore
the very prince or partners. who was
handsome and slender and light heart
ed, with money In both pockets and a
trick Of spending II with both hands
Johnny hated him. without reason sc
far as l.orena could see ut least he
gave her no reason only said. III you
are goin' ever 10 belong 10 me. l.olie
you must be- barely civil 10 that Eel
low"
Somehow the emphasis on the last
word always made LOrena shiver when
she recalled Il How could she hell
II. when Johnny was toward other folk
the soul VI kindly Justice sill she had
felt that he was unfair Ii he reall.
knew anything he might let her know
II likewise
II Johnny could have brought himself
10 tell her the break might not have
come. But he was too proud and mas
terful for that His wife must believe
Al a. A L..
had reasons for any and everything
Besides he was afraid ~ seeming Ell
vious and jealous OF man 80 much
richer and better looking Moreover
he did not really know much that
could be- told categorically II was
Cores general air and manner. con
joined Ia words dropped here aud there
that made Johnny certain he had Nc
real reverence FOR anything feminine
A girl. any girl. was fair game to him
II she hadn't sense enough 10 look ont
for herself he was not bound 10 look
out for her Yet Gore was not distinct
~ vicious ri Their. Unfortunately vain
He did not mean worse by womanklnd
and girlkind than 10 make loye 10 them
then ride away. Marry. Nh he. MOI
the finest girl alive.
II Lorena had known that. Tn
knowing L.. she had thought great
many times and great many things
OF the fascinating Granville In the
three months since the break He had
been away for two Of them. and since
B. 4. l..
In crowds But he had used his eyes -
as TO set her heart wildly
iuttering. But. oddly enough. II had
tuttered even more when by chance
she had encountered Johnny. In his
working clothes. driving his wagon tc
mill.
They had barely nodded to each 9th
er. and she had ridden fast afterward
but not fast enough to get away from
a sense that Johnny. old Johnny al
though his face was impressive. had
turned to look after her as long as she
was In sight
Today she was not thinking OF him
hardly even OF Granville Wading was
such pure joy. The water came above
her ankles. She lifted her skirts light
ly In both hands aud balanced to her
shadow upon the ripping stream. Such
u funny shadow dancing grotesquely
even when she stood still
Rapt In contemplation OF II. she did
not hear footsteps or anything until
u throaty. chuckling voice cried. oh
no. A mermaid. Gore. II the variety
Ii indigenous. understand. shall settle
ia your neighborhood just as soon as
l can buy u place
I.orena flushed scarlet. She let fall
her skirts Needless OF water needless
indeed. Of anything but escape There
were men ON either bank. also one Ia
wading approaching her mldstream
Gore was the farthest OF them Gore
she had never seen. lie looked her
over as though she were a part. curl.
Gus part. Of the landscape with which
be had no sort Of acquaintance.
IL was the man la wadlng who had
spoken. He was stridlng on toward
her. his rod over his shoulder. II broad
grin upon his Hat. red face. Her sun
bonnet. her faded print frock. above
all her present ease. had nearly made
aim believe her some holdenish milk