St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-01-11
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)

It seemed pftifu1y unkind when I
was old enough to feel the slurs of
fortune, for my comrades and friends
my brothers more than anyone-to
nickname me "SorreT' because of the
color Of my hair!
For years this was sore subject to
me; many crying spell'' have l had
owing to that and the laughter of my
thoUghtless companions. Everyone
called me Sorrel. My own name,
Ethel, was so seldom spoken failed
10 answer it when heard!
We went up to the country early
that summer, for it was unusually
warm and l was restless for the free
life and exercise to which l owed my
perfect health.
Il shall have Sidney Burnett up this
summer" Tom declared as decidedly
as I, in the laying of plans. He was
a"fully good to me, you know, when
was down in the dumps that time at
college, and during our summering to-
gether last summer"
The weather was divine; for the
first two weeks we simply reveled in
the freedom and open life Then Toms
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 month
at the end of summer, and she did not
forget. We correspondent, Of course,
and l 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 hint did she
give that she and Tom and Tom S
friend were not strangers!
She was beautiful girl, tall and
willowy, with large, soft black eyes
and an abundance of black hair al
ways becomingly arranged, and I did
not wonder that Tom and Toms friend
started when they saw her, for l had
simply told them of her as Inez, my
chum at school, and 1 met her at the
station and brought her home in my
dogcart while they were off 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 trif1e.
Then Tom bit his lip and Mr.. Burnett
frowned and the stern expression
came around his mouth, each bowling
with cold politeness in recognition of
the Introduction, as she lifted her
magnificent eyes straight to theirs for
one brief minute, smiling softly, MUIR
muring in her exquisite voice how odd
1t 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?" l 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:
ut isn't tragedy, Sorre1; 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 rs 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 l was
too hopelessly healthy to degenerate
at once into 'loveIorn maiden" and
with spirits happy and heart strong
| set my wits against hers, astonish-
AAS ONOA AJSCAA Will Lily UIlIIlduC0,
For with the heart of healthy girl [
believed loved Inez truly, and il
| Toms friend-but there | always end
ed. l never allowed more minute
reasoning
The month was nearly over when
suddenly the web of mystery tangled
for me and then as suddenly broke.
We were out on canter through the
hills, the boys, Toms friend, my
friend and I, and my fiery chestnut.
Katahdin's blood being up, we dashed
on and away from the others reckless
ly, thoughtlessly, delightfully."-, my hair
becoming undone, tumbling down over
my shoulders in all its heavy weight
of color. Then, with a merry thought
of my innospitality of winning the
race so far ahead, wheeled Katah6in
and rode back more sedately.
The turf was soft and thick and my
horse made no noise save the dead
| crush of the grass as we passed so
slowly back, when presently beside a
wood f1anking deep embankmant,
the sound of voices came to my ears,