The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-10-19

"As madly as you do met That
might not be SO much mad, Virgil.
But why should love your
Because you are to be my wife. We
are engaged"
"Are we? did not know that
Why you not tell me soonerf"
II did, and now you must know It,"
But 1 did not. Then must be
stupid, yes?"
"The whole universe is stupid If 1t
denies it. The angels are stupid IL
they fail to see it,
oh, you must not talk like that 1t
is worse than swearing the big oath.
And am to be your wife, Mrs.
Virgil? Then what do we dor Go
about and sing with the fiddler"
mo, we go to the beautiful places
on earth and look upon them-togeth-
er. We"
mo, no, you must not think like
that. You take my father by the wrist
and he hate you. And do 20
wrong to see you. / am the sinner. but
1 believe that the Blessed One, she
ask for my forgiveness. No.
Virgil, we can only play together and
then 1t will live in the mind,
our childhood here. My ia
ther Is not well all the time now, and
I must be good to him. Only
7 must see you. sometimes. That IL
the only wrong do him.
For II love you. did not
want to tell you. but cannot keep It
all the time down In my heart :.
I dream Of you all Of the night, and
kneel down and pray that you always
love me. There, have told
you 80 much. And kiss you. too.
Now-you may stay for little
time. and then you must CO."
Boy and girl they played. not from
the book but from loves ever-varying
text. In his canoe they padded afar
of where the lily-pads paved the sur
face Of the pond. They landed on a
knoll where was spread over persim-
mon saplings an arbor Of muscadine:
here an adventurous catbird had her
nest of young. She cried and fut-
tered about in great alarm, but when
she saw that they were not her en-
emies, that they caught grasshoppers
to feed her brood, she sat high among
the vines calling her mate, the musi-
clan, and here he came, scared at first,
but when she had explained to him he
sang his medley, ending with the cat
call whence comes his unpoetic name.
The sun had been speeding, and went
behind a cloud. Fear seized Nadine.
and taking virgil's hand she urged
him toward the boat.
my dear one, we must 20 now. Tho
sun was Jealous that we so happy and
will go into the dark to pout.
1 will show you the near way for you
to come again, the way 1 came when
there was the fire. You can leave
the canoe In the rushes and you will
need it only to cross over to the cane.
But we must hurry now"
In the rushes opposite the island he
hid his canoe. and then she conducted
him along a narrow and sometimes
treacherous trail. Coming to the foot
log. she halted. ,
II must leave you here, But stand
for two minutes. The sun he win wink
a few more times am 10
glad now to know that will be your
wife. And am strong and can work..
Lord bless you, but you won't have
to work." r.
His arms were about her, her cheek
against his. and with happiness the
world was glowing.
"Till Thursdayw he cried as he
dipped his paddle.
It'll Thursday!" she echoed as she
watched him go.
"Till Thursday" I" muttered the sinis-
ter voice Of old Stepho, who had ap-
preached softly through the under
growth at the sound of voices, and had
overheard their parting. But when he
came to Periwinkle house, he gave no
sign to Nadine that he had overheard
only talked of Monsieur Boyce and
the fine dresses he would buy for her
when she was his wife.
1t was long past noon when Drace
reached the river.
The General had gone over into an
other parish to attend stock sale
Tycie said; and when she had looked
at Drace more closely, at his torn
clothes, his muddy Shoes she sighed
and sat down beside him where on the
rustic bench he had dropped to rest
before going to his room.
Virgil" she said. "there is some
thing troubling you. Now. you needn't
tell me that 1t is business I know
what business Is. know all Of Its
tricks; but 1 also know love and all
of Its tricks. Virgil, you are In love.
Let me hope that 1t is not that Nina
Spence. She isn't worthy Of you and
besides. she doesn't belong to MS. She
IL not of our world. Virgil, l am SO
SORRY"
She put her hand on his arm, and he