The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-04-10
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~
A mond, seated on the fence by
the vestry door. was pufiing
y at a cigar and talking In an
unusually loud voice OF New York and
- experiences there He seemed to
- very happy. and his boisterous
1nue1tSz Reretrafed even To- the little
esmpany Of worshipers on the settees
Cnmsde.
When the meeting was over he threw
nwny the stump Of his cigar and shoul
oerod himself into the front row of
waiting swains by the door. As Gus
q oamo out he stepped forward to meet
~ and In doing 50 bumped against
MA Piper. who. looking the other
gay. had not seen him. and, being
1saS. had not heard his step.
Gracious sakes alivew exclaimed the
~ lady. rubbing her shoulder. "Ex.
euaa me. Mr.. Hammond I didn't see
yvsL"
Sam nodded serenely. Don't men
f1Dn t." he shouted. winking over his
eAeu)der az Georgiana Bailey. "You
0dn't hurt me bit."
0eorgiana giggled. and most Of the
yusng men grinned at the joke. Gus
o>aisced hurriedly at Mrs. Piper and
0Gn at Hammond. She looked sur.
us4sd ;nd troubled.
GAm took her arm without askins
.Dsrmlssion and led her to the sidewalk.
- still looked back.
Am afraid you hurt Mrs. Piper"
- aaid- "what made you 30 roughY'
Her escort laughed. "T guess II won't
- fatal" he observed. ''If I'd man
oosi TO fracture that voice OF hefs SOS
- couldnt sing. maybe the congre-
0nnU would give me a vote Of
Ikn1ks."
0sn didn't reply. There was some
ehln8 In her companions manner that
0pde her recoil instinctively. She dis
0URged her arm from his. but he took
- again and walked on. joking and
lnu6hlng.
what a crowd Of jays there is In
Oh town." be remarked after awhile,
Vim sneer-"enough to stock dime
uuroum."
He had always spoken patronixingly
- The <ownspeople-that she had not
01nded 90 much. coming from q city
1an, but heretofore he had not openly
Dodo run OF them. She resented the
uonark. but most Of all the t06e In
welch Il was uttered. 81
why do you. stay here. thenY' she
o6ked coldly.
~Whyf I guess you know the reason
- right. Don't you. Gus? HeyT
HO chuckied and bent down to look
n her face. She shlvered and drew
away from him.
His hand upon her arm. the look he
lhad Just given her. his air Of assumed
Ipropriet0rship-abo all. that new
Isnd vulgar something In his manner.
- II the real soul of the man was
tAswins for the nrsr time-nlled her
's1tA disgust.
me did not speak again until they
sor6hed the gate. Then she said, with
~ hooking at him. ''Good night"
He put his hand over hers ON the
euech. "Oh. say" he exclaimed. with
q laugh. this Isn't q square deal,
(Soa. Aren't you goIn' to ask me inY'
~ tried to snatch her hand away,
emf he held II fast and. leaning across
- gate. threw his arm about her
waist and drew her toward him.
sThcre!" he cried exultantly. This
y more like It. This 10 more like
fnends. Give us a kiss. You're too
high and mighty to be the prettiest
airi on the Cape"
ohe struggled from his grasp and
stood painting. "Oh," she whispered.
Nth q shudder. M she realized tho
trutb-"oh. you've been drinkingv'
He laughed foolishly and shrugged
his shoulders. "Oh. what's one glass
between frienAsf" he said. "I stopped
Into web'sA minute. and he set 'em
Np. First drink I've had since left
New York. Thought you was too sen.
s1ble to have blue ribbon notions.
Come: DO more sociable. that's q good
.airl."
She was afraid OF him now-not
sIfraid or physical violence. but as she
would have feared the contact with
something loathsome and unclean. A
tsuse OF utter loneliness came over her.
tine longed for protection and helm.
tShe thought of Bradley. He would
have helped her. She could have trust
I'd him. But she had driven him out
sf her life. and this fellow
Co.. she cried. &C.,"
Sam ceased TO smile. Other girls
had told him TO 60. but never In that
way or with such quIvering scorn. lie
bcgan to realize that this was the end
or his game. He had lost the prize.
Hut he made one more effort.
"Oh. say" he cried. don't get mad.
II
such an old maid. Come here"
She turned on her heel and, without
vplying. walked toward the house.
Hammond swore between his teeth.
opened the gate. took one step In her
direction ahd then stopped. lie laugh
ed short, ugly iaugh and nodded