The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1916-04-14

onk yoe-epe evssYtAmg.~ shs -
= ~ DoA<Anee nassy ely anewsesl
6An ontoEEnsooo yo1oe: r roeboD \
might - . litt1o jlne1y. . bed . fol
~ esoe ~ non Lsxingtoa and tune
= -"
~ went over ard eeruek . ehcra
a. 80 came back and laid . band
q hlo eat sleovo.
In not going % try 20 thank yos
- all-now." che said. But you @
home and come hack this evening and
vou have . littIe party. Just you and
with music"
-Cood-by." he said. II reckon -
haven't noticed it-but my rides
staudtn' there In your rack"
IL was . night OF starlight. with just
. sickle moon overhead and the music
Of the whippoorwills in the air. when
Anse presented himself again at the
school He knew that he must break
on these visits because while she had
been away he had taken due account
ing OF himself and recognized that the
poignant pain Of locked lips would
drive him beyond control. He could
no longer endure the unlit lamp and
the ungirt loin." Now the sight OF her
set him into = palpitating fever and O
burning madness. He would invent
some excuse tonight and go away.
Then he came to the open door and
stood on the threshold transfxed by
the sight which greeted his eyes. His
hat dropped to the floor and lay there.
He thought he knew Juanfta. Now
he suddenly realized that the real
Juanita he had never seen before. and
az he looked at her he felt infinitely
far away from her. He was . very
dim. faint star In apogee.
She sat with her back turned and
the piano-and she was In evening
dress! The shaded lamp shone softly
on ivory shoulders and a string Of
pearls glistened at her throat. Around
her slim figure the soft folds OF her
gown fell like gossamer draperies and.
to his eyes. she was utterly and flaw
lessly beautiful.
She had followed q within that night
and dressed up" to surprise him. She
to receive him with as much prepara-
ton as she would have made for roy
atty. But to him 1t was only a dec
laration of the difference between
them. emphasizing how unattainable
she was: how unthinkably remote
from him own rough world.
Then. as she heard his steps and
rose, she was disappointed because In
his face. instead of pleasure. she read
only a tumult whose dominant note
was distress.
Don't you like me?" she asked. as
she gave him her hand and smiled up
at him.
Like you!" he burst out. then he
caught himself with something like
gasp. YES" he said DULY. Il like
you"
For a while she played and sang.
and then they went out to the porch.
where she sank down in the barrel
stave hammock which hung there
and he sat In split bottom chair by
her side.
He at very moody and silent. his
hands resting on hio knees. trying TO
Eeprees VT - coeid not long hope
she ssolls6 obllvl0us 70 his deep ab-
s&fnctica. fDr 80 vas homnaing some
air Tow. almost under her breath.
But 1t last she sat up and laughed
. silvery. and -subdued yet happy little
laugh. She stretched her arms above
her head.
ITS good to be back. Anse." she
said softly. i've missed you-lots."
He dared not tell her how he had
missed her. and he did not recognize
the new note In her voice-the heart
note. There was . strange silence be-
tween them. and az they sat. 90 close
that each could almost feel the others
breath. their eyes met and held In q
locked gaze.
Slowly. as though drawn BY some
occult power over which he held no
control, the man bent . little nearer.
a little nearer. Slowly the girls eyes
dilated. and then. with no word. she
suddenly gave q low exclamation. half
gasp. half appeal. ali inarticulate. and
both hands went cropping out toward
him.
Will 0OIuCS0lo8 0AADOOS nAO - SAJs
the man was on his knees by the ham,
mock and both his arms were around
her and her head was on his shoulder.
Then he was kissing her cheeks and
lips, and into his soul was coming a
sudden discovery with the softness
and GOODNESS Of the flesh his Ups
touched.
It lasted only . moment. then she
pushed him back gently and rose.
while one bare arm went gropingly
across her face and the other hand
went out to the porch post for sup
port
In q voice low and broken she said:
You must go!"
moi" he exclaimed. and took .
step toward her. but she retreated q
little and shook her head.
Yes. dear-please." she almost
whispered. and the man bowed In &C
quiesecnce.
Good night" he said gravely. and
picking mp his hat. he started across
the ridge.
But now there were no ghosts In
his life. for Ill the way over that
rough trail he was looking up 1t the