The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1923-03-29

all the time down In my heart.
| dream of you all of the night. and l
kneel down and pray that you always
love me. There, have told
you so 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
off 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 flut-
tered about in great alarm, but when
she saw that they We're not her en-
emies, that they caught grasshoppers
to feed her brood she sat high among
the vines, calling her mate, the musl-
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 n cloud. Fear seized Nadine
and taking virgPs hand, she urged
him toward the boat.
my dear one, we must go now. The
sun was jealous that we so happy and
will go into the dark to poat. :
l will show you the nesr way for you
to come again, the way l 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 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 will wink
a few more times. am SO
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."
His arms We're about her, her cheek
against his, and with happiness the
world was glowing.
IT'LL Thursday" he cried as he
dipped his paddle.
It'll Thursdayi" she echoed as she
watched him go.
'Tili Thursday" muttered the SIMS
ter voice of old Stepho, who had ap-
preached softly through the under
growth at the sound of voices, and had
overheard their parting. Bst 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 a 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 toahis room.
Virgil" she said, 'there is some
thing troubling you. Now, you needn't
tell me that it is business. 1 know
what business is. / know all of it's
.ricks; but I also know love and all |
II its tricks. Virgil, you are in love.
Let me hope that it is not that Nina
spence. She isn't worthy of you; and |
besides. she doesn't belong to us. She
s not of our world. Virgil, / am so |
sorry"
She put her hand on his arm, and he
ook it and affectionately kissed it.
Aunt Tycie, l never saw the girl
Tou speak of. I am in the-the throes.
'ou might say, and have been-was
'efore / got here, but not with her."
But is it with anyone know"
"You have seen her, / have heard"
"Oh, you must tell me. 1t shall be
acred with me. If you only knew how
eople tell me their affairs of the heart.
lven old Colonel Josh has told me.
low, why won't your
Il shall tell you, but must put you
n your honor. said that you have
cen her. You have; you spoke of
er. Nadine
"Oh, Virgili But her father!"
Eyes, I know. But let me tell you
" story.
He told OF his love, not of his fa-
ler's dcath-told her nothing Of his
18th; she listened enraptured; and
hen he had finished, she mothered
ID with her arms about his neck.
About ten o'clock next day, while
e family sat In the shade, up TO the
tie drew a resplendent carriage
avn by two black horses and driv.
by negro in livery. Out stepped q
IN as tall as Lincoln and wearing q
I as high as his. His raiment flashed
e the varnish of his equipage Drace
cognized him as he came through the !
tie, taking off his gloves, and the
neral cried out:
'Tycle,. wish may die dead If II
II Liberty Shottlev'
Colonel Shottle, at your service,
'lied Liberty, bowling ana gesturlne
Ii his gloves in his hand.
We'll, Liberty !" cried his scnt, Civ
! him hug Of welcome.
che General and Drace grasped him
oked his velyety raiment, urging