The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-07-25
Wind'- Palladium Short Story
BY AGNES GROziER MCPHERSON

Rachel stood at the cottage door
and watched her son move down the
path. He walked stiffly and uncouth-
ly. for her felt her glance upon him.
and he was wearing his Sunday
clothes. He had forgotten to oil his
dark hair. and it punched out richly.
setting his cap awry. A sprig of
lsouthernwood nodded In his button.
hole. "A rose or a daffodilly would
have caught girls eye better"
thought Rachel. She wondered why
he had chosen the green sprig.
A sudden gust OF wind caught her
skirts. whirled them and shook them
till they stood out like the petals of a
flower. Rachel spread out her hands
to push them down. She saw Au-
brey's cap fly off, and watching him
race, forgetting his Sunday clothes, in
pursuit. He was lost in the green of
the lane and Rachel sighed and turn
ed. I'm flad he's going to ask Fecil-
ity at last" she said. voicing her
thoughts aloud. They'll settle down
together real well. That wild young
thing at the Marsh House set her cap
at him. Once feared--but Aubrey's
too sensible. Still-I'm glad"
She entered the cottage, and the
door slammed behind her. It was a
windy day.
Aubrey was racing, his dark locks
blowing out, across the stony path of
tho Home Meadow
The wickct-gate at the other side OF
the meadow was scarcely a yard from
him. when suddenly the young man
turned. He stood for a moment irreso.
lutte, facing the wind. then clapt his
cap under his arm and started to rush
l nladly back the way he had come.
At the meadow opening, he chose
without hesitation the road opposite
that which led to his mothers cottage
and ran on. The Marsh house, lonely
and neglected, stood beyond the spin.
ney., He raced up the path and knock
ed with his knuckles on the door His
breath broke from him in quick gasps
! 1t had time to quiet, for his sum.
mons met with no response. The youth
waited, then knocked again. Again
there was silence
Aubrey pushed the rickety door op,
en- and went into tho house. The first
room into which he looked was emp.
ty; the second held a girl, who sat
brooding by an empty CRATE, her chin
on her palm.
| The young mans boldness left him
and he stood abashed. A redness came
into his face which was not that OF
the wind. The girl turned and stared
at him with wide grey eyes. WAS IL
you that were knocking?" she asked
His color grew deeper. YES" he
said
Il did not answer. You should no,
have come in," said she.
He braced himself why did you
not answer"
Tho girl laughed contemptuously
Because I knew nobody could be
waiting there whom l would wish to
see" .a +e 81
He had had many a speech of the
same cruel unkindness from her, and
as it had done many times before
his heart grew hot.
The youth advanced step, clums
lily. He took the southernwood from
his buttonhole. "Take it," he said
holding out the sprig.
She took it, smelt it with a kind Of
passion, and laid it upon her knee.
1T is like you,' he said, noddin1
at it. ...
The girl looked at him curiously
why were you wearing it--and your
~ q
kerchief, tool" Her voice dropped in
to contempt
She did not repeat her question
having apparently lost all interest In
him; but he answered it, Il am 90
ins-my mother has sent me-to ash
Felicity to marry me-"
She laughed carelessly. turning the
southernwood between her fingers
We'll, why don't you go?"
Aubrey paused, and q guest Of vino
shook the house. The girl turned hel
head to listen. The man listened, too
He said indistinctly. Il would rather
marry YOU
She looked at him, and broke into &
hearty laugh.
He thought she would never stor
laughing. but she did at last, quite
suddenly. Leaning towards him, she
asked him in a grave tone, "Wha,
have you to offer me?"
The question was to him a welcome
one. affording-or SO he imagined
a level on which they could meet
He said, his eyes on the floor, as il
adding up the sum of his possessions
There is the farm, and the cottage
Though my mother would want that
and the four fields nigh"
She broke In with impotence
That isn't what l mean"
What have you, what is there In