The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1912-03-30
AT THE
SWING
lcopyrisht. rorl. b A.soci.s.d Literary Pre-

aCopyriGht rorr. By Associated LissrAsy Prssa|
Cloud mountains in the west. mar
gfned with f1er.- gold, flung long aer-
tai shadows athwart the sky. There
was the smell Of new rain, though
the turf under foot was dust-dry A
shower had come within sight across
the meadows, then veered away south
erly Amy was glad to had yeered Her
white frock. crisp and sheer, would
have wilted in the damp OF 1t. The
rain had been too slight to do more
than freshen the ART still came
warm to the cheek, but without the
4 sting that had marked midday
breezes.
At o'clock Of midsummer after
noon, roses droop on the stalk. but
rose-cheeks are at their fairest Amy
proved the fact--she knew she had
never looked better-therefore she
was gay and proud. The Carlyns,
mother and son. were coming to an
early tea. 1t was their first approach
to sociabiltty. Ever since they moved
into the old Earle place they had held
themselves distantly toward the coun-
tryside.
That had not suited Amy, yet she
had given no sign of her dissatisfac-
ton. She was born ambitious--Lenox
Carlyn was just the sort of man she
wanted to marry, well-bred, well-to-do.
above all rather distinguished She
had no mere vulgar greed for money,
In spite OF having had 1t in plenty all
her life. But she did yearn to reach
social pinnacles-the rare heights
where the exalted had their being
Her people, the Watsons, we're wholly
undistinguished, notwithstanding they
were each and several. patterns Of
thrift, sobriety and the moral virtues.
Secretly Amy had always envied
Leslie May, her college mate, notwith-
standing Leslie had had few and plain
clothes. little money to spend, and
orphan, bound to work for her living
the college course was provided
through the will OF an elderly relative
who had left a million to missions.
But she was also governors grand
>1nobter, and entitled to use crest
when she could afford 1t. Amy would
have given her string Of pearls for a
crest She was bent on having one.
4 ever she got away from the neigh
borhood, where folk, knowing her ped
igree. would only laugh at It,
She was glad and sorry to have
Leslie as guest; glad because her
presence gave = reasonable excuse for
the mild festivity; sorry in that she
felt herself. to degree, hampered by
hospitality--it would not do to eclipse
Leslie, either in clothes or charms.
Hence the white frock. nne and lacy
10 be sure; hence. also, the conspfcu-
GUS absence of the pearls. Leslie had
begged her to put them on. saying:
You set them off 30 it's shame
to leave them In their case
Instead OF them Amy had only
little gold chain. twin to that about
no likeness between them. Leslie's
limp orgaLdie was palpably faded, her
slippers a bit se.fed, her ribbons
crumpled Further, she had done her
hair In her usual severe fashion.
There the rain had helped bit, bring
Ing the loose ends of it into curl, and
so framing her mobile face In tendrilly
wtsps She really looked her best.
Amy's hair. yellow as wheat. was
smooth, and beautifully dressed, mo
dishly dressed to be sure. yet not In
such wise as to deform her fine small
head
Make haste and marry a duke
this head deserves strawberry leaves
at least" Leslie had said, touching
the golden softness adriringly
Amy mad smiled-she did not aspire
to dukes, but 1t was pleasant to hear
she deserved them. After all, Leslie
was good sort. When she herself
was safely married, she would set
about helping her friend to like hap
py estate. just now such a thing was
out OF the question. So she had asked
young Danforth by way Of balancing
Leslie. He was her stand by-they
had grown up together upon adjoining
farms, and though gossip had been
matching them since he put on long
+ tAOleCiD, pHc hdo newer llOQEHL OF
him as lover.
Leslie might do worse. from a world
" point. Danforth If not rich was
comfortably OF, withal energetic. But
Leslie would never In the world look
1t him-he bored her. Amy knew it.
though Leslie had been always too
courteous to say 80. Somewhat will
iul. also high-headed was Leslie. she
might have had half the mission-rnil-
lion, II only she had agreed to give
her life to the cause. Yet now she
stood laughing and talking with Dan.
forth, as If he were the one creature
In the world she cared to entertain.
Amy stared at her. frowning family
then her brow clearing magically.
she said mentally:
1T is coming out beautifully--Lenox
Cariyn will think they are sweet
hearts, II not engaged"
Lenox might have thought 80. but