The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1907-04-11

also new to Canaan. He was letting
Mamie Pike have it all at once.
The impr; >Sion was as large as he
could have leSircd She remained at
the opening in the canvas and watch
cd him until he wagged his shoulders
round the next corner and disappeared
into cross street. AS for Eugene. he
was calm with great calm and very
red
He had not covered great distance,
however, before his gravity was re-
placed by his former smiling look OF
the landed 'entleman amused by the
innocent p shines Of the peasants,
though there was no one In sight eX-
cept q woman sweeping some snow
from the front steps Of q cottage, and
she, not perceiving him. retired in
doors without knowing her loss. He
had come to a thinly built part Of the
town. the perfect quiet of which made
the sound he heard as he opencl the
picket gate Of his own home al the
frantic and terror stricken.
Eugene stopped. with the gate half
open.
Out Of the winter skeleton Of grape
arbor at one side of the four square
brick house brown faced girl of sew
enteen precipitated herself through the
air in the midst of q shower Of torn
cardboard which she threw before her
as she leaped. She lit upon her toes
and headed for the gate at top speed.
pursued by a pale young man whose
thin arms strove spasmodical!y to
reach her. Scattering snow behind
them, hair flying, the pair sped on Ike
two tattered branches before Il high
wind, for, as they came nearer Eugene.
of whom, in the tensity Of their flight,
they took no note. it was to be seen
that both were so shabbily dressed as
to be almost ragged:
The girl ran beautifully. but feete-
foot was behind her and, though she
lodged and evaded like creature or
the woods, the reaching hand fell upon
the loose sleeve Of her red blouse. nor
fel lightly. She gave wrench Of fren-
Zy. The antique fabric refused the
strain. parted at the Ahou,der seam so
thoroughly that the whole sleeve came
away, but not to its owners release.
for she had been brought round by the
Jerk, so that. agile as she had shown
herself. the pCrsrer threw an arm
about her neck before she could twist
away AID held Ter.
There was slap strugg,e as short
as 1t was fierce Neither Of these extra
ordinary wrest.e:s SPOKE. Tley fought.
Victory hung in the balance for per-
haps four Se"o2;.s. Then tie girl was
thrown heav::!y upon her back In such
a turmoil CT snow that she seemed to
be the mere Nucleus Of white comet.
She s.rugg ell to get up. plying knee
and elbow with u very anguish or de-
termination. but her opponent held her,
pinioned both her wrists with one hand
and with the other rubbed great hand
fuls Of snow into her face, sparlpg mel
ther mouth nor eyes.
You will" he cried. You will tear
up my pictures! a dirty trick. and you
get washed for it,"
Half suffocated. choking. sasping.
she still fought on. squirming and
kicking with such spirit that tae pair
Of them appeared to the beholGer like
figures Of mist writhing In fountain
Of snow.
More violence was to mar the peace
Of morning. Unexpectedly attacked
from the rear. the colqueror was seiz-
ed by the nape Of the neck and one
wrist and jerked to his feet, stimuli
taneously receiving succession Of
kicks from his asSailant. Prompted
by an entirely natural curiosity. be es-
sayed 10 turn his head to set who
this might be. but twist Of lis fore
arm and the pressure Of strong fingers
under his ear constrained E.m to re-
main a; he was. therefore. abandoning
resistance and. eddy enough. accept
., NiluDul l.lC iiuiNStAN.i
that h.S cap:or desired to remain for
the moment incognito. he resorted
ca!u!!: to explanations.
"Shc tore Up picture Of mine" be
said. receiving the punishment with
out apparent emotion ''She seemed to
think because she'd drawn 1t herself
she had q right to-"
There was O slight whimsical droop
at the corner Of his mouth as he
spoke. which might have been thought
characteristic Of him. He was an odd
looking boy. not i'll made. though very
thin and not tall. His pallor was
clear and even. as though constitution
al: the features were delicate, almost
childlike. but they were very slightly
distorted. through nervous habit. to
al expression at once wistful and hu-
moroGs: one eyebrow was q shade
higher than the other. one side Of the
mouth slightly drawn down: the eye
lies tw.,chcd q little. habitually: the
fne. blue eyes themselves were almost