Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1910-01-19

1t was q fair October day. aday Of
blue skies a~nesunny RAYS, a day with
q springlike breath in the soft sir.
The man walking slowly along the.
J road that wound close to the edge of
the valley, stopped now and then and
drew in the pleasant air with a crate
fill smile. He was not a man vino
smiled often. HisSaair was serious,
his movements deliberate. His close
cut beard was gray, but MS dark eyes
beneath the juttins brows were keen
and bright.
He paused presently and lopked
across tie valley and his sEile deep
ened.
pleasant roraing.a said q voice
close at hand.
He looked around With q little start
and his smile faded. A girl, a strange
girl who had softly crossed the road,
confronted hiE. He was not IN a
mood to he ANNOYED by strangers.
You have mentioned a fact that
admits OF no argument he gruly
answered, and slowly moved along,
his keen gaze returning to the valley
and the. hills beyond.
Butsthe interruption continued.
Will you let me state one more
fact that doesn't admit Of argument"
said the undaunted one. Our little
salley in its rim OF hills makes q de-
lightful picture
He looked around f~rowningly, a
sharp rebuke on his lips. The girl
was regarding him WITH a pleasant
smile. She was not a young sirl,
twenty-five, perhaps, a slender girl
with brown hair and dark eyes.
The rebuke was softsne6.
I'll admit the view is highly salts
factory, ne said. Good morning"
She did not move away. !.
Presently he looked around and
saw her AID growing beneath his
breath, slowly continued his walk.
The girl kept pace with him, but
at a little distance.
Does it look now as it looked crty
years ago?r she presently asked.
i He turned quickly. but she was
gazing across the valley with an a5-
sorbed air.
What's your aara::e he abruptly
demanded.
) Eleanor Norris
do you live in tbs ncighbo7-
hood
yes. That's my horne at the bend
in the road. l live there with ny
mother.
suppose you were a caild At oae
tirnee
yes.
And sou could read childish
S~tories2r
YES.
Among these stories didn't you
come across some that contained a
moral dlssome girls??"
Lido nber any. But there
were of them-bears
who 9readfully and were
never egrce as they looked"
He head threateningly IS
He h{g8sant TO be bitterly sar-.
castle, bGhssonehow the words failed.
him.
But he gave her a parting shot.
q Run along. child he said over
his shoulder. I'm sure your mother.
wants you.
she laughed rerrily.
I wish they could have heard that
in the Lis ONCE she said.
He whirled about.
What did you say. he sharply
demanded.
The girl laughed again.
! like this she said. ut is SO
gratifying to be able to approach you
without a. card and a boy in buttons
and long and hopeless wait at a
closed door
The man tried to frown.
You are too clever he said. eff
you know as much as you pretend to
know, you are awar that l don't like
Observation-Disclosures especially clever
girls.
Sim afraid, = said the girl, shat
You have never shown any fairness in
your treatment of u.s.. What do you
know about girls?"
The man suddenly chuckled.
might reply that the present
sample does not impress me with the
magnitude Of my neglect"
The girls face grew grave.
do you know, she said, II had 81
ways doubted, it.
Doubted WHAT"
THAT you had any sense of hui
NOR.
He couldn't help %chuckling again
ard the girl laughed with him.
What's the matter with me?" he
suddenlySsaid. I'm getting foolish
He scowled fercely. Come, come"
ne cried, what's the favor you are
,after? &
The sirl opened her brown eyes
wider.
Fayorse- sac repeated. "I'n net
after any favor. In fact, 1 think it
may be the other way"
The man smiled.
.You certainly are amusing he
said. II begin to like your assurance.
And you arouse my curiosity
you aatter me beyond all de-
serving, said the girl. with q quick