The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1909-07-30
"A HALF-IIFE AND HALF A LIFE.
Story That Based on Big Sandy Experience and Was First Pub
lBhed Half Century Ago

happy hours with my teacher and
friend and the chill of disappoint-
ment was on me already. / saw the
boat land, saw George Hammond as
sist carefully every step Of the strange
glrl, saw an elderly gentleman step
also upon the bank and give his hand
to Miss Hammond, and in two min
utes the trees of the landing hid
them from my sight. ..........
And how slowly went the hours of
that afternoon! how nervously / lis
tened to every tread, to every click Of
the gate. nay, my sharpened hearing
took note of every sway OF the
branches. But the day passed, The
night, and no one came, The next
morning brought with it an impa-
t,enCe which mastered me, | must
90, must see him, and in five min
utcs was pushing my boat from its
cove under the water-maple.
But needed not to have left my
room; my visit would be useless; for,
lifting my eyes, as my boat came out
from under the leaves, there, on the
path by the riverside opposite, saw
the strange lady mounted on swift
foot her light figure set off by a
cloth riding-habit such as | had
never seen before, the graceful folds
Of which struck ME even then with a
sense Of beauty and fitness. could
eeyen distinguish the golden Curls
again, which fell close on George
Hammond's face, as he stood by her
side arranging her stirrup, his own
horses bride over his AM. A back
ward motion of the oar sent my boat
under the branches again, and ! sat
motionless, watching them as they
rode away.
Two hours afterward they stopped
at our gate and heard George
Hammond voice calling me, The
blood rushed to my forehead Had !
been alone. ! would not have heard /;
tut my mother was in the room, and
had no excuse for not going for
ward He leaned from his horse and
shook hands cordially, while, at the
same time. he said
Il have brought Miss Worthinston
- see you, Janet She has heard SO
much Of your kindness to me, and of
your courage last spring, that she wa:
anxious to know you.
This Is Janet Rainsford, Amy" he
continued, turning TO her.
The lovely, bright young face was
bent towards me, the tiny hand
stretched out to mine and heard
gentle voice say.
Mr. Hammond has told me 50
much of you, Janet, Il may call you
Janet, may | not?) that ] was de-
termined TO come and see you.
hope we shall know each other"
A great fear seized me then,-a fear
which seemed to clutch my heart and
stop It's beatings, leaving me without
any power of reply. | only stammer-
ed few words. and Mr.. Hammond
Iitying what he thought my bashful-
ness, rode on with nod of farewell
and some words, | could not take in
their sense, which seemed to be re-
quests that would teach Miss
Worthington all that knew of the
woods and the country,
| sat down with n stunned feeling
dizzied with the knowledge that
seemed to blaze upon me with that
horrid fear Yes, knew now what
1t all meant,-the happiness, the lone
illness of the past weeks, the shrink
ing bashfulness of yesterday morn
ing, and the chill that fell upon me
when | first saw the stranger in the
boat ...... -..
! loved George HAMMOND, the
country-girl, without one beauty, one
accomplishment, so ignorant, so be,
meath him. | had been fool enough