The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1921-03-24
In the Twilight
~ FREDERICK HART
t@. 1890 by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate,

=
business, longs he pays his board reg
ularly an behaves himself as gentle
man should. I'm sure we need the
money; an I'm sure there amt no OBJ.
lection to him on any ground can
think of. So don't you go botherin'
your head about him, Sally Ann; you
so long an tend to your chickens an
let that young man alone"
Excellent advice, no doubt; but the
curiosity that turks eternal in the fem
mime soul led pretty Sally Ann to let
her mind drift often in the direction Of
the handsome young man who had, six
weeks ago, come to the Weatherby
farm seeking place where he might
live and be alone during the hot
months of summer.
II just want to be undisturbed," he
had said. "I'll pay whatever you want
for board and lodging, and promise
to come to meals at regular hours, but
that's all. I want to be left to my
SELF"
And INA" Weatherby had consented
to these terms with alacrity. Her prin-
cipal objection to taking summer
boarders had been that they invariably
caused trouble by being in the way, or
demanding entertainment, while this
young man, who gave his name as Rob-
ert Danford, was quite the reverse Of
the interfering type in every way.
He had kept his promise to be on
time for meals with admirable punctu-
atty, but aside from these thrice-daily
episodes Mrs. Weatherby had seldom
seen him. He was given to wandering
Off in the morning, returning about
noon and retiring to his pleasant little
room after the midday meal.
In the evening he sometimes Joined
the little group that sat On the front
stoop for an hour or so to enjoy the
cool breath that came after sunset !;
more often, however, he would stride
off down the road into the dusk alone.
Sometimes Sally Ann, lying wakeful in
her bed, would hear his firm footsteps
as they came up the path onto the
porch, then the click of the key in the
lock-he had begged for one as great
favor and it had been granted-arf
his slow tread up the stairs, then the
closing of his room door.
Who was he, she wondered? What
was he doing on those long country
walks? And-and-here Sally AIMS
healthy drowsiness generally got the
better of her and she would know moth
ing about her mental inquiries till the
following morning.
But the heart Of little Sally Ann was
turning wistfully toward this unknown
youth. He represented type that was
new to her, without having anything Of
the airs of one Of great wealth-in
fact, he had said at one time, when
more than usually communicative, that
he was poor.
"Not that that would make any diff
fernce," thought Sally Ann. For
think he's just as nice as can be, and
T." Here Sally Ann would slap her
self firmly on the mouth and go about
her business. reproaching herself for
allowing her mind to turn in that d.
rection.
But minds-and hearts-are queer
things and will not always do what we
tell them to, may we chide ever so
sternly. So it was that one night, after
the stranger had left the front porch
group, Sally Ann slipped away with
some excuse, caught up her hat and
followed him as closely as she dared.
Down the white, dusty road he
walked, his head high, his arms swing
ing freely, his stride SO long that at
first Sally Ann had difficulty in follow
ing him. But as he got well out Of
sight of the house his pace slackened
and he seemed to be strolling rather
than walking with purpose.
He cast lingering glances to either
side, as though enjoying the view, and
In truth that pleasant countryside. was
good to look upon In the expiring rays
Of the daylight, before the thin cres-
cent moon had come to its power. He
paused at the crest Of little rise,
placed his foot upon the rail of the
snake" fence that bounded the road,
and became lost In thought.
Sally Ann crept closer. How hand
some he was, she thought, entirely
overlooking the fact that she herself
was as pretty picture as one would
care to look upon had certain one
chosen to turn his head.
But he remained immovable, gazing
out at the dim blue line Of the horizon
with the darkening fields below and
the pale green Of the late evening sky
above. Sally Ann moved a little
nearer.
Suddenly she stood bolt upright,
stricken with horror. For the young
man had brought his foot down from
the rail and struck the palm Of his left
hand with his .clenched right, and he
had sworn! Yes, Sally Ann heard q
word of one syllable beginning with
the fourth letter Of the alphabet go rip
ping out on the air, shattering the twi-
light calm as though some one had ex-
ploded q charge Of dynamite nearby.
1nvoluntarily she gave little squeak
Of horror and the young man turned
and saw her.
She would have fed, but her knees
seemed watery and her heart was play
ing queer tricks. It never seemed to
stay In one place, but kept bouncing
around IN q way that any well regulat-
ed heart would have thought shame
ful. So she just stood there. wide