When Grandmamma Was New: The Story of a Virginia Childhood

e, and What

Molly Belle, and brought down her s

as steadily and as straight as a blue martin. Against the back of my head Cousin Molly Belle's heart was pounding like an unbalanced trip-hammer. I wondered if it were possible that she was frightened, and twisted my face around to get a glimpse of hers. It was as white as a

scared?"

death, ch

which we had come, and struck him smartly w

me, si

and mane flying, and she d

t into such a

oubled in number and resonance, sounded nearer and nearer, thundering over the soft ground, clicking against the stones, like a charge of cavalry. Cousin Molly Belle was so white that a few freckles, never seen through her usually brilliant ?>mn ion, m

ispered fiercely and forced h

tumultuous beat of the charging hoofs echoed more and more loudly. The rider would be upon us in another minute. Escape through the gate and down the avenue

eeve in the anticipation of hearing the furious hoofs sweep past and lose themselves in the distanc

man leaped to the ground; hasty footsteps struck across the turf edging the highway; dry sticks cracked, my bushy covert was

l! what are y

tive overhead, I began to pick the bluish white berri

" I retorted coolly, co

ame wi

t a fat cedar-ball, glossy

on't you please c

his knife and s

l the way from t

e lie. My cheeks burned like fire; my eyes drop

s,

t be put in jail if he found out that she had been with me, and had on her brother's clothes. As a well-tutored child in a Presbyterian family, I knew what becomes of liars when th

l far! I came all by

end la

that. Only, I wouldn't run away again if I were

. "She 'n' Uncle Carter 'n' Cousin Burwell '

"Isn't Miss Molly Belle at home? You wo

tled bird. Mr. Frank did not notice it, but the movement nerved

e must have been taking a nap when I

that lying was such

ou home. Wai

hanging loosely in the bend of Mr. Frank's arm. I was lifted to Snap's back; my escort walked

said lightly. "It is a very funny story. I'll tell you and Miss

d, and by him. But from my lofty seat I could see over his head across the field of corn which lay to the left of the road. Something or somebody was running between the close r

l!" And when he had picked it up, "Won't you please ma

me sore at sight of his kind, honest face. "It isn't like you to be afraid of horses,-and you and

ly at the front gate of my uncle's house, and Flora bustled o

ome home a-riding Mars' Frank Mo'ton's horse, gran' as you please, and nobody knowin' whar you been ever sence dinner-time. Miss Molly Belle 'll be mighty obleeged to you for fotchin' of her home, Mars' Frank. She'll be down pretty

s put down at my uncle's ho

o the small of my back, and with difficulty refrained from crying. I had never been wretched just in that way before. Two imperative duties had met plump and face to face, with a shock that jarred all preconceived principles of belief and action out of plumb. Cousin Molly Belle had trusted me to keep her secret, and I saw no way of doing it except to lie outright and repeatedly. The sin lashed my conscience until I could have located in my cor

hang conversation. He was a handsome, well-set-up young fellow, and, if somewhat graver by nature and habit than most of Cousin Molly Belle's beaux, suited my taste best of them all. Yes

before the tap of high heels on the oaken stairs and the sw

gular mood. His glowing eyes questioned hers while she shook hands with him and then sat down, and held out her hand silently to me, without a smile. I went as straight to her as a wounded bird to shelter, dropped upon a stool beside her and rested my chee

Frank, the dumb questioning still in his eyes, while he led the talk into s

knew where she was, and did not

ation was carefully clear, not at all like the gliding vowels and conso

t the answer to the enigma. I felt this, but my hand was still in Cou

n's riding-horse was standing at the barn door. I was in the saddle before the story was done, put him at the nearest fence, and was after the thieves. I must have gained upon them-Wildfire can outrun any other horse in the county, and I did not spare him-for the rascals left their booty and got away with whole skins. I met Snap just this side of Willis's Creek, going home like the sensible creature he is. He had been ridden hard, and there were welts on his sides where he had been whipped, but I got him back safe. It was a risky thing-their stealing him. Everybody about here

s of my cousin's skirt. Suppose Mr. Frank had called upon the gypsies before coming here! If he had not come to us at all to-day-what would have happened? Would he have had the innocent strangers hanged upon the convenient grapevine? Could he be prevented from doing this now unless the truth were told him? That, of course, was n

knew her was

d, and sat up very straight, settling her eyes upon Mr. Frank's.

temptation to play a trick upon you was too much for me. I meant to let him go and send him back when I got to our gate. I did it sooner than I

up and stared down at her, at first in i

were that 'little woman,

olly was with me, and, as you see, her frock is pink. We were out walking.

ed. He glanced at me, and my eyes fell. I so

y said-"

him up

ad done. I tempted the poor, loyal, loving little soul to tell the first falsehood that ever soiled her tongue. It was a wicked-a vile-a mean thing in me!

ith tears, shed more for h

ton made a st

able-and everything else I have? Don't give another thought to the matter. It was a harmless bit of fun that hurt nobody. As to Moll

ave laid upon my head. "I shall recollect that as long as I live. I deserve t

e was not a sign of color in her cheeks, then, a great billow of blushes beat her face down upon her hands. If I had not been

uit of Burwel

ly that her face almost touched

ionately-"you will despi

d by his quicker action. He seized both

you before as I do this moment. Yo

ite address and chivalric reverence for women! His eyes had strange flashes in them when he t

y to play-there

he had not let go of Cou