The Marshall republican., 1913-07-11
HER SHORT ROMANCE
ny CELIA MvsoveR Roslnson.

Melissy walked slowly down the
road. swinging her sunbonnet in her
hand, letting the little breezes stir
the soft hair about her face, and drink
ing in the pungent breath of the
pines.
Melissy's dream was very sweet and
very bitter. She had been only q girl
-Mellssy was thirty-four now-whep
sho had had her short romance.
There had never been a man at Rix
ton Corners could compare with HI
ran. Mellssy thought him the hand
soonest and cleverest Of men. Ane
he thought Melissy as beautiful as she
was good. and Hiram had felt there
wac no higher praise than that.
II was on an evening OF just suci
an April day that Hiram had frs
kissed her and she had promised to BE-
! his wife.
But the long, sweet summer had no
passed before Hiram had grown colt
and captious, changing 80 much tina
Melissy hardly knew him for tn,
same ardent lover OF a few month
back. The girl was high.spirited-
the broken woman smiled, sadly, az
she remembered this--and on one da.
of anger and rebellion she had SEN
Hiram away and no had never com,
back to her again.
He had left The Corners, and dur
ing all tho long years since. Meliss.
had never heard from him. vagu,
rumors had reached her. however
that he had gone TO Florida and hat
made money in t%urpentine.
Tho camp meeting grounds were
a good three miles from The Cor
ners, and Melissy was very tired b,
the time she had covered half The
way. Sho sat down by the road
side In the shade OF a big oak, fan
ming with tho pink s%unbonnet. rest
Ing tho tired limbs awhile before 10
ing on again. The sun was very hoi
by this time, and the pungent breath
n Wild honeysuckloB and the hoav,
fragrance Of yellow jessamino made
Mollssy's head ache. She leanet
black against tho mossy trunk will
closed eyes. listening 10 the mockins
bird up in the oak and thinking o
Hiram - and wondering why III,
was so hard, and why no hat
changed so towards her. Mellssy hat
been too proud TO ask for an explann
tion-Meligsy felt now that she woult
not BIO too proud. n Hiram were onl,
here.
A half hour later n man drivint
down the dusty road nj a rapid pac,
drew up his horses sharply. with ar
ejaculation OF surprise. The figure
In the blue cotton dress leaning baci
against the great oak was 40 still
and the sweet face framed In III,
heavy masses OF wavy brown hair
was no white that no thought at first
she was dead. But at the clatter o..
tho team and his OWL strong vote,
Mellssy's slumber was broken ant
she sat up. looking dazed and n lit
Ito d~isheyeled, and rubbing her eyes
like u sleepy child. Then she
laughed and her face turned plnl
as she encountered the look ON tho
bearded face. She put on her sun
bonnet. hastily. and somehow began
TO feel very girlish and timid. II
had been a long time since Melissy
had encountered that look In any
ones eyes. but she had been a belle
for too many years not to know
when she had struck a spark OF nd
miration.
VI believe / must have faller
asleep" she said, a little nervously.
Il believe you did," said the man,
laughing.
1T was so hot" said Melissy, "and
| am so tired. / am on my way to
camp meeting and l got plum beat out
with the heat"
ITS getting pretty hot" said tho
man.
Il reckon It wasn't the heat sc
much." said Melissy. but I've beer
right poorly this winter. This Is the
first time I've been out for a Iona
walk since January"
you ought not to have tried TO
walk IT," said the man. you aren't
strong enough. .it's q good three miles.
at least. from your place"
Melissy looked surprise.
land" she said, ''how do you
know? l thought you were a stranger
in those parts" and she looked with
Interest at the fine team and shiny
trap, and tho tall. weil-dressed figure.
"Meiissy." said the man. his voice
hoarse aud shaken. don't you know
me?"
Melissy face turned as white az
the little wilted roses In her belt.
For a moment she stood quite still.
Ike o frightened child. Then she
gave a glad cry; "oh. Hiram,
Hiram Ht's been so long" and
hurst into bitter sobbing.
Hiram took her In his arms and
wiped away the tears.
1T has been long. Melissy." he
said. but wen MI our lives SO full
OF happiness well foget the sorrow,
Do you remember the dreams you
used to have OF seeing the world, Me.
iissy? Well. wen zee 1t together.
dear. I've maae plenty OF money,
apd I've come back to beg you to
for0iva ma for INV prtda aud taaI