Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-12-26

1t seemed pitifuly unkind when
was old enough to feel the slurs OF
fortune, for my comrades and friends
my brothers more than anyone-to
nickname me "Sorrel' because OF the
color Of my hair!
For years this was a sore subject to
me: many a crying spell have ! had
owing to that and the laughter OF my
thouchtlcss companions. Everyone
called me Sorrel. My own name,
Ethel. was so seldom spoken ! failed
to answer II when heard!
We went up to the country early
that SIMMER, for It was unusually
warm and | was restless for the free
life and exercise TO which l. owed my
perfect health.
81 shall have Sidney Burnett W this
summer" Tom declared as decidedly
as !, in the laying Of plans. II was
awfully good to me, you know, when I
was down in the dumps that time at
college, and during our summering to-
rcther last summer"
The weather was divine: for the
FIRST two weeks we simply reveled in
lNe lIetuDh anu bltu me men lblu
friend came. and | liked him from the
first because he had been so good to
Tom. He was big and broad-shoul.
dered and stern at times, with his
clear gray eyes searching ones soul,
and no smiling Of the mouth under the
brown mustache.
Inez was my special chum at school,
and when we parted the day after
graduation she promised me a month
at the end of summer, and she did not
forget. We c~orresponded. of course,
and told her of Toms friend along
with the rest of my brothers, and of
our pleasant life in the old country
house. so that when she came she
knew our routine pretty thoroughly.
But in her letters not a hint did h
give that she and Tom and Toms
friend were not strangers!
She was a beautiful girl, tall and
willowy. with large, soft black eyes
and an abundance Of black hair al.
ways becomlngly arranged, and did
not wonder that Tom and Toms friend
started when they saw her, for ] had
simply told them OF her as Inez. my
chum al school, and ! met her at the
station and brought her home in my
dogcart while they were of on the
hills, and coming in late to dinner,
their eyes fell upon her. cool, quiet,
beautiful, sitting opposite me, and
they started visibly. paling a trife.
Then Tom bit his lip and Mr.. Burnett
frowned and the stern expression
1900 u-1rvvr IT. r,a-.k nnah kau-;-c
with cold ~politeness in recognition Of
the introduction, as she lifted her
magnificent eyes straight TO theirs for
one brief minute, smiling softly, muir
mu-inE in her exquisite voice how odd
It was that they should meet again
this summer in their summering!
Neither smiled in answer, though ]
wondered how they could remain SO
stolidly cold to her.
Why didn't you tell me you knew
them?' | demanded half angrily, as
we stood in the shadows Of the piazza
vines.
She laughed lightly, her laughter
like music In the soft silence as she
said, tapping my cheek with the deep
red rose in her hand:
"Itjsn't a tragedy, Sorrel; don't
look so cross at me-! They helped
make last summer pass pleasantly,
that is all. Only, my dearest" and
there was an inscrutable tone in her
voice, her black eyes burning into
mine through the dusk, don't lose
your heart to your brothers friend.
Great Mogul as he is, he isn't worthy
that" and she laughed again.
Toms friend was unusually gay,
treating my beautiful Inez as doubt.
less he would have treated any casual
acquaintance in the house OF a friend,
while Dick and Ned tried their wits
upon her, appearing to adore her
mutually from the first; and / was
too h~opelessly healthy 10 degenerate
at once into a "lovelorn maiden" and
with spirits happy and heart strong
! set my wits against hers, astonish.
ing ever myself with my brilliance.
For with the heart of a healthy girl !
believed / loved Inez truly, and II
Toms friend-but there ! always end
ed. ] never allowed more minute
reasoning.
The month was nearly over wher
suddenly the web of mystery tangled
for me and then as suddenly broke
We were out on a anter through tn,
hills, the boys, Toms friend. N,
friend and / and my fiery chestnut
Katahdin's blood being VI, we dasher
on and away from the others reckless
ly, thoughtlessly, delightfully."-, my hal
becoming undone, tumbling down owe
my shoulders In all its heavy weigh
Of color, Then, with a merry though
of my inhospitality of winning tn
race so far ahead. | wheeled Katahdi
n RODE back more sedately.
The turf was soft and thick and m
horse made no noise save the dea
crush Of the grass as we passed S
slowly back, when presently beside
wood Ranking a deep embankmen
the sound Of voices came to my ear
and | drew rein to call If It were an
Of our party, But at that instant Il
voice Of Toms friend stirred the qui'
air and my voice was hushed, not
idle curiosity, but stunned by sudde
knowledge.
You say 1t is nothing 10 me II yC
choose 10 come here TO visit 20,
friend Your friend!" Was 1t scol
of her or Of me IN his voice? / fe
myself turning TO stone, yet could on
listen. rs there aught Of her TO col