The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1909-07-30

to fling away my heaft.-and now.
now that 1t was gone from me. there
came this terrible fear What was
this young girl to him? Were my in
buttons right? Did he love her?
Would she take him away from me-?
take away even that poor friendship
which was all asked?
That night cannot tell of it,
the rapid, wearying walk from side
to side of my little garnet, the de-
spairing flinging myself on the bed
the restlessness that would bring me
To my feet again. the pressing my hot
face against the cool window-pane,
the convulsiye sobs with which the
struggle ended, the heavy, unre-
freshing sleep that came at last, and
the dull Weakening in the morning,
when nothing seemed left about my
heart but dead weight of insensi-
hiIity; But with the Frightening hours
came again the restiessness. would
at least know the worst; let me face
all my wretchedness; 1t could not be
hut strength would come to me when
the worst was over,
And so | went doggedly through my
morning tasks, and the early after
noon saw me at the store. | would
not go to Miss Hammond's house.
hut | was sure to hear something Of
the newcomers among the gossiping
miners and workmen,-or, if not
there, had only to drop into some
OF the cottages to learn from their
wives all that they knew or mag
med How little ] learned,-how lit
tie compared to what nay fierce, GRAY
in heart asked!
Miss Worthington was here with
Ter father; they had come to see the
mines. so they said but who knows
the truth? More like it was to be
wedding between the young folks,
and the father wanted TO see the
Sandy country before he let hisi
daughter come into it. She was a
sweet-spoken young thing,-not like
Miss Hammond, with her proud, quail
ity airs"
But all this was only conjecture,
and | must have certainty The GER
tainty came that evening. Mr.. Ham
mond passed the store as ] was
standing by the counter, and insisted
that | should 20 home TO tea with
him. had often done so before,
and had no excuse, even when he
said,--
Il want so much to make Miss
WOrthington like our Sandy people
Janet / want her father to see that
there are people worth knowing even
here. You will tell her of all the
pleasures we have,--our walks, Our
rides You cannot be afraid Of her
dear Janet,-she is so gentle, SO
lovely"
A strange feeling seized me, one
rningled OF gentIeness and bitterness
! es, for his sake, would help him
would do all | could to welcome &c
his home her who was to belts bless
ing, and (here my good angel left me
and some evil one whispered) | would
show her, too, that | was not so al.
! together to be condemned; she should
see that | was not merely the poor
country-glrl she thought me. And
all had of thought or feeling, al
that George Hammond had called my
Unborn poetry, came out that even
ing. | talked talked well, for
WAS talking of what ! understood
of my own forests and streams, OF
the flowers whose haunts ! knew sc
we'll, of the changing seasons in
their varying beauty nay, as l gain
ed courage, as saw that | com
handed attention, the books that
had read so well, the thoughts OF
those great writers that had made
my own, came to my aid, and quo
tation and allusion pressed readily t
my lips.
saw Esther Hammond's cold loOf
fixed upon my face, but l dared il
back again, and my color rose anC
my eye sparkled from the excite
ment. | felt my triumph when l saw
the surprise on Mr.. Hammond's face
when | heard the patronizing tone Of
Mr.. Worthington's voice changed tc
one of equality, as he sald,-
You are ca worthy champion Of
Sandy life, Miss Janet l believe
Amy will be tempted to try it."
There was quick blush on Amy's
face as | turned to look at it, and q
glance of proud affection towards
Ter from George Hammond, which
took away my false strength as
1.