The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-01

all her gentle nature stirred to its
depths. She was frightened at the
white hot ange' that filled her heart.
She felt that she hated Noah Rand for
placing her in such position. All
Little River was looking on and com
menting on their needlessly long en-.
gageplent. Besides. gurrulous Aunt
Susan only added fuel to the flaming
tongues of gossip by her open dissatis.
factlon ut the delayed marriage.
1t was not until after Aunt Susan
had rocked away in the ramshacke
stage n her big trunk. balancing
her stout form on the other side Of the
vehicle. that Eunice sat down in the
disordered sitting room and asked her.
self what was to be done about Noah
Rand.
A brief summary Of her wooing and
, engagement brought her to the conclu-
sion that neither she nor her lover
really cared for each other or there
would have been an eagerness on one
side or the other to make a home Just
Tor themselves. AS for herself, Noah
Rand had been her first admirer. and
she deluded herself with the belief
that she loved him. Theirs was one
OF those long periods of keeping COM
pany,' as 1t Is known In Little River,
followed at last by an engagement.
which was proclaimed by small
moonstone ring on Eunice's slim brown
finger. Every Wednesday evening
Noah called to see Eunice, and every
Sunday afternoon he took her for Il
drive In his buggy. and afterward he
remained to tea and spent the evening.
If NOah's actions were any indica-
tion Of his feeling for Eunice the girl
now concluded that he had come to
care as little for her as she did for
him. She arose after awhile and went
about her duties with bitter resent
ment In her heart. All day long she
broodcd over the trouble. and as the
hour grow near for NOahs appearance
her thoughts bore fruit in that she
put on a white dress and ran across
the road to see Millie Wasson.
LET him knock and knock again."
smiled Eunice triumphantly AS she
stole through the orchard toward the
Wasson house. The apple trees were
bending under their rosy burden Of
blossoms. and she paused to let fra
grant branch brush her cheek Then
her heart stood still ut the dark shadow
which almost touched her Ia it's swift
pace.
"Oh!" she cried sharply. and the
shadow paused and put out a warm
hand that closed around her arm.
She stood motionless.
''Who is it," asked the voice Of Bob
WassOn. Miles brother. You needn't
answer. | know. couldn't help but
know. Eunice." he said In queer
voice. and his hand did not relax its
hold. TO Eunice's terror he drew her
closer until his arms infolded her
gently.
"Oh. BOb-Bob WasSon. let me go.
You have no right" half sobbed Eu-
nice. with sudden realization that to
be In BOb's arms was tine most bliss
full sensation in the world.
III you were free. Eunice. would you
could you-Oh Of course. ! know Pm
acting like a mean cur. but I've loved
you and wanted you ever since | came
home and first saw you grown up. But
Noah has always had first mortgage.
only he's been so tarnation long about
foreclosing that I've been falling deep
er and deeper all the time"
"Oh. Bob" sObbed Eunice in accents
which she intended to be reproachful.
but only succeeded in making tender.
"Eunice." he cried sharply. this is
no time for quibbling. Before you run
the risk Of making both yourself and
Noah unhappy for life tell me. do you
love anybody else-me? He pressed
her cheek to his and was thrilled be-
cause she did not resist.
IL thought had heart disease" qua
vered Eunice. II used to feel so funny
around my heart. You remember that
night when YOU sang at the concert?
You sang Because | Love You and
and
IL was singing to YOU. dear" whis.
pered Bob tcndery.
The scented apple bOughs brushed
their young heads and sea tered q drift
of petals down upon them. a whip
poorwill was throbbing his strange
song from the old fencepost
Footsteps swished through the long
grass and stopped close beside them.
and they lifted startled. guilty faces
to see. standing near by and quite un-
aware OF their presence. Millie WassOn
and Noah Rand
Strange to relate. Miles slim waist
was encircled by Noah's arm. and his
fair head was bent above her dark one
in an unmistakable attitude Of tender
ness. He had never spoken thus bold
ly to Eunice Rockwell
Its no use. Millie. dear" he was
saying. II asked Eunice to marry me.
and I'm not rOinp tO throw har ovar