The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-12-10


aid stayed there as though to imprison
her tluttcring heart "Whitc Man"
she said please don't do that to me |
again-cvcr. You see, I've always been |
silly about things that get hurt"
Forgive me-" he said. II was
thoughtlcss."
Careless, perhaps; thoughtlcss,
never" said Andrea, smiling once more. |
We'll" she went on, clasping her |
hands and throwing her head back,
I'm for your sister. The woman that |
could make up that trunk is genius"
"She would be-" remarked the man |
enigmatically.
Andrea paused in her thoughts; then
came wide awake and looked ut him
narrowly.
"White Man, didn't woman make
up that trunl?"
mo, there are few women living
that could. Think it out. That trunk
was all bone muscle and sincw-with |
an aftrr-dinncr cigarette at the bot |
tom. Why. the last time l saw Maisie |
she had two small moving vans and Il |
wicker house she thought she was
going to bring with her. I'd fixed it
with QuartermaStcr to drop the lot
overheard in the night and ut the last
moment. She never even heard of this |
trunk"
During his long speech the color had
been rising in Andrca'S cheeks. 81
don't think like you as much as T
did, She said slowly. "Somchow you
were getting too good to be true. You
bought and packed all those things
yourself"
He met her gaze steadily. "Don't,"
he whispered, "don't let's be old"
'An right" said Andrea with quick
shrug Of one shoulder. "But you've
known lots of women, havcn't you?''
"You cxaggcrntc." he answered smil-
ing. "I'vc met lots OF women"
"PshnW" said Andrea. THAT'S an
other old crock Of q shibboleth. Some
lnan :Sl.%w lots about womcn-a Jolly
6lgnt too much"
"That's different from knowing WON.
en-" said Nrsungo quietly. 'Its no
shibboIcth, that old belief. Woman,
TO man, is an eternal voyage Of dis
coVcry-a land Of valleys and peaks,
OF lights and shadows, Of storm and
aching peace. Continents and oceans
are lost in her untravcled heart, and
when she throws wide her arms, the
way is open to Heaven and He'll"
I'm going to bed" murlnurcd An
drea, and stole away.
d 4
1t was just as well for Andrea that
she had gone early to bed for at five
O'Clock Of the next morning a rock
was hurled at her door that almost
burst it in.
Didn't that get her?" yelled M'sun-
COS voice from half across the kraal.
mo, Master" answered Bathtub.
"Missis sleep plenty hard, same like
pickanin."
She slipped on her bathrobc, opened
the door and put out her head. "Were
you calling me?" she asked with early
morning dignity.
mot exactly" answered the white
man In the same tone. breakfast in'I
twenty minutes; bath when you come
home" He turned to give orders to
group of his captains.
Andrea was instantly thrilled to tho
new adventure. She called to Bnthtub
to bring her washstand and water ana
rubbed one bare foot against the other
In impatience until he was out OF the
way; then she dressed feverishly and
ran out.
In ten minutes they had brcakfasted
in five more they were OFF. a long line
OF blacks preceded them, behind came
Nsungo's gunbearer water boys, Bath
tub, carrier or two, and an ancient
donkey half hidden under an enormous
cowboy saddle.
What funny looking old donkey |"
remarked Andrea. "Whnt's he for?"
For you. when you get tired" an
swered M'sungo.
"Really! For me?" snld Andrea.
"What's his nameY
Msungo threw back his head and
laughed softly. "Why," he said, II
never thought I'd have to tell any one
when named him. We cail him Mar
gnerite. named him after friend
of mine."
"Was she as ugly as. all thatT