The Marshall republican., 1913-09-19
HER SHORT ROMANCE
ey CELIA mYRovsR ROBINSON.

EAht W ~ hNt
hand, letting the little breezes stir
the soft hair about her face, and drink.
ing In tho pungent breath Of the
pines.
DO Melissy's dream was very sweet and
very blter. She had been only a girl
-Melisty wal thirty.four noH-vhen
she had had her short romance.
There had never been a man-at Rix.
ton Corners could compare with Hi.
ram. Melissy thought him the hand
somest and clcverest OF men. And
he thought Melissy MS beautiful as she
was good. and Hiram had felt there
was no higher praise than that.
IL was on an evening OF just such
1n April day that Hiram had first
kissed her and she had promised to be
his wife.
But the long. sweet summer had not
uasscd before Hiram bad grown cold
and cnptious. changing 80 much that
Mollssy hardly knew him for the
same ardent lover OF n few months
back. The girl was hlgh.splrited-
Tho broken woman smiled. sadly. rs
she remembered this-and on one day
" anger and rebellion she had sent
Hiram away and he lad never come
back TO her again.
lie had left The Corners, and dur
ing all the long years since. Melissj
had eve heard from him. Vague
umor had reached her. however.
that he had gone to Florida and hat
made money In turpentine.
The camp meeting grounds were
q good three milCs from The Cor
rors, and n~iellssy was very tired b,
The time she had covered half th
way. She sat down by the road
sido in tho shade OF n big oak. fat
ming with the plpk %nunbonnot, res,
ing the tired limba awhile before 20
Ing on again. Tho sun Was very he
by this time. and the pungent breatl
Il wild honeysucklcs and the heavy
fragrance OF yellow %jcssamlno mad
Molissy's head ache. She lcano,
black against the messy trunk will
closed oycs. listening to the hooking
bird up In the oak and thinking o.
Hiram and wondering why lif,
was so hard. and why he hao
changed so towards her. Melissy hac
been too proud TO ask for an oxplann
i.cn-IeliEGy felt now that ghe would
not bc too proud. II Hiram were only
aero.
A half hour later n nan driving
down the dusty road Mt n rapid pace
drew up his horses sharply. with NJ
ejaculation OF surprise. Tho figure
In the blue cotton dress leaning bach
against the great oak was 80 Btill,
aud tho sweet face framed In tho
heavy masses OF wavy brown hall
was 10 white that no thought nj frat
she was dead. But at the chatter oI
tho team and his own strong voic,
Mellssy's slumber was broken ant
sho sat up. looking dazed and n III
Ito %dlsheyeled, and rubbing her eye'
Ike n sleepy child. Then she
laughed and her face turned plnl
nc she encountered the look on the
bearded face. She put on her sun
bonnet, hastily. and somehow begaI
10 feel very girllsh and timid. j
had been n long time since Mellssy
had encountered that look In any
ones eyes. but she had been a bell
for too many years not to know
when sho had struck u spark OF ad
miratlon.
III believe l must have falleI
asleep" she said. n little nervously
II believe you did" said the man
laughing.
1T was 50 hot" said Melissy. "an'
I am 30 tired. an on my way Il
camp meeting and l got plum beat on
with the heat"
ITS getting pretty hot" said tn
man.
II reckon II wasn't tho heat g
much" said Melissy. but I've bee
right poorly this winter. This is tn
first time I've been out for a Ion
walk since January"
You ought not TO have tried I
walk IT," said the man. You aren'
strong enough, It's a good three mile'
at least. from your place"
Mellssy looked surprise.
"Landi" she said, how do 20
know? ! thought you were u strange
In these parts" and she looked wit
interest at the fine team and shin
trap, and the tall. well-dressed igur,
"Melissy." said the man. his vote
hoarse and shaken. don't yog kno'
met"
! MeHssy face lthrnedl as White !
the lille wilted r6sesl In 9her bel
For a moment she stood quite, str
like q frightened child. Then st
gave a glad cry: "oh. Hirar
Hiram It's been so long," an
burst into bitter sobbing,
! Hiram took her in his arms M
wiped away the tears.
1T has been LONG, Melissy," !
I said. "but well Ill our lives SO ~
of happiness we'll fcget the sorro'
, DO you remember the dreams W
> used to have OF seeing the world. M
= lissy? Well. wen see IL togethe
I dear. I've maze plenty OF none
y and I've come back to beg you
forgive mo for my pride and je'
ousy." hlA
II never could understand ;