Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-09-12

pointed, 1t was so unlike what he naC
expected and pictured to himself. Ye
he hardly knew after all what he haC
expected. He had no claim on her
was not even any relation, and sever
years is long time-a girl makes 9th.
er friends. She would not meet his
look as in the old days, but kept hel
eyes bent on the ground. He couldn't
remember just what color they were
and wondered how it was that such
an important point had never inter
ested him before. He could see, in.
deed, that the eyes were fringed with
long, dark lashes, and the outline Of
the face, which was SO carefully turned
from him, was perfect; her figure was
tall and straight, her head erect and
shapely crowned with masses of dark
curling hair, which fell below her
waist. She was decidedly the most
beautiful girl he had ever seen-and
the moment he realized this fact, a per-
Get fury Of jealousy took possession
or him. He understood everything
noN-it was clear as daylight-C Cecilia
had a lover and did not want his
friendship any more!
At last the girl broke the silence.
my father will be 80 pleased to see
you," she said, ''but II you will excuse
me now / will just finish cutting some
roses and be with you presently"
She began to cut roses feverishly.
not seeing or caring where she stepped
till the thorny branches laid hold Of
her long loose hair and held her fast.
almost as though they knew what they
were about. and determined to make
her prisoner.
In her struggles she stepped at last
ON q loose mound Of earth which
gave way suddenly beneath her, and
In q moment myriads Of tiny brown
insects. each carrying precious egg
almost as large as itself, were swarm
ing about her feet and ankles.
She had stumbled into an ants nest!
The young man was just disappear
ing into the house, but at the tlrst cry
he turned and with two or three
bounds, which would have done credit
to an active kangaroo. was by her side
and had taken In the situation, It Is
70 his everlasting credit that he did
not laugh, but treated the affair with
the seriousness It deserved. Forum
ately he carried his ''machetO" with
him, that useful IL rather dangerous
knife without which q Mexican seldom
tides abroad-and with a few strokes
Of the sharp blade he freed the girl
from the priclLIy branches, when she
6ed hastily into the middle Of the
path and commenced to stamp and
shake her slxirts vigorously long after
every insect had taken himself on In q
greater fright than her own.
Then the branches which still chung
70 her hair had to be disentangled. Oh.
70 gsntlyl Such glorious hair. too. the
touch Of e thrilled him. ThOn nho
looked up and their eyes met. and sud
denly the disappointment ana misery
which had seemed 20 real few mia
utss ago al msitSd away and they
knew
"Oh, PIN, am % thankful Won
came" was All she said. but shs gave
4 happy little laugh and tried 10 hide
from his case ~ ahaklng her name
about her hlushing face, buI he took
her hand and drew her 70 him.
"DO you know 1 have had such d
torribIo fright" he said. Il thoneht--
oh, ycu can't think how wretched Il
made me-that some one had stolen
yoa from me; but Il isn't true. CociIia.
ten me Il isn't true"
"Ana thought" she answered.
lvaalng his question. shat the gIrIs
b New York"
There are no girls q New York y
ne young man gravoly intorrunaoa
her. s'There ID only one Girl III tho
Whole world. ana ahe 4. rlght hors
In nv armBs"