The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-12-07


I'VE are very gud to welcome you to
the Mckee family" was what was
written on the pad.
every happy. indeed, to be with YOU"
wrote back Lie Moynr-und realized
with sort of shock that he meant it.
The kindly greeting had touched him.
The greeting and the breakfast cheered
him also, he hud evidently made some
hcadwny with Tillie.
Don't you want toothpick?" she
| asked. as he went out.
In KS previous walk of life there
had been no toothpicks; or, if there
were any, they were kept, along with
the family scandals. IN closet. But
nearly II year of buffeting about had
| taught him many things. He took one,
and placed ii nonchnlantly In his waist
cont pocket, as he had seen the others
do.
Change was In the very air of the
| Street that June morning. 1t was In
| Harriet. asserting her right to live;
in Sidney, planning with eager eyes
life of service which did not include
Joe; In X. lie Moyne who had built
up wall between himself and the
world, and was seeing 1t demolished by
Il dcuf-and-dumb book agent whose
weapon was lead pencil pad
And yet, for week nothing hap
pened. Joe came in the evenings and
sut Oh the steps with Sidney, his hon
est heart in his eyes. Anna, no longer
sulky, accepted with childike faith
Sidney'S statement that "they'd get
along; she had splendid scheme"
and took to helping Harriet in her
preparations for leaving. And X. lie
Moyne. finding his little room hot in
the evenings and not wishing to in
trude on the two on the doorstep, took
to reading his paper in the park. and
after twilight to long, rapid walks out
into the country. The walks satisfied
the craving of his active body for ex-
erciSe, and tired him SO he could sleep.
! When X. was sure that the boy had
gone. he would turn back toward the
Street. Some Of the henvnesS Of his
spirit always left him at sight Of the
little house. Its kindly atmosphere
seemed to reach out and envelop.
Within was order and quiet, the fresh
ness of his turneddown bed, the tidi-
ness of his ordered garments.
Life, that hud seemed SO simple, had
grown very complicated for Sidney.
There was her mother to break the
news to, and Joe. Harriet would ap-
prove, she felt; but these others! TO
assure Anna that she must manage
alone for three years, in order to be
happy and comfortable nfterwnrtl-
that was hard enough. But to tell
Joe thnt she was planning a future
without him, to destroy the light in his
blue eycs-that hurt
After all. she told IL. first. One Fri
= day evening, coming home late a
usual. he found her on the do0rSteI
: and Joe gone. She moved over hospi
! tnDly. The moon had wnXed and waned
and the Street was dark. The coloret
man who drove Doctor Ed in the ole
buggy ON his daily rounds had brough,
out the hose and sprnkled the street
Within this zone of freshness, of wet
asphalt and dripping cutters, Sidney
sat, cold and silent
please sit down. 1t is cool now
My idea of luxury is to have the Street
Sprinkled OH hot night"
*. disposed Of his long legs on the
steps. He was trying to fit his own
ideas of luxury to Il garden hose and
Il city street.
I'm afraid you're working too hard"
II? | do Il minimum Of labor for a
minimum OF wage"
But YOU work 1T night, don't YOU ?''
*. was natively honest. He hesitat.
ed. Then:
mo, Miss Page"
"But you go out every evening -
Suddenly the truth burst on her.
"Oh, dear" she said 81 do be-
lieve-why, how silly of you!"
Is. was most uncomfortable.
Really, l like it," he protested. II
hang over q desk all day, and in the
evening l want to walk. l rumble
around the park and see lovers on
benciles-its rather thrilling"
Quite suddenly Sidney laughed.
How very nice you are! !" she said
and how absurd Don't you know
that, If YOU insist on walking the
streets and parks at night because Joe
Drummond is here shall have to tell
him not to Gomez"
This did not follow, to ks mind,
They had rather II heated argument
over 1t. and became much better nc
quaintcd.
IF l were engaged to him." Sidney
ended, her cheeks very pink, Ell
might understand. But, as / am NOT
"Ah!" said X, trihe unsteudily.
so you are nOt?"