The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-11-05


never to apply to you, because you had helped hin
once, and had refused to do so again and you were
displeased because we tried to keep Q shop, which
no chance of the shops keeping us. disobey him
now, because DO not know what else to do.
have not seen or heard Of pspa for i've days, apd
almost fear that some sSmeinns may have happened e
because Of creditors; for he has not been much
more successful in getting to cell coal or wine
commission, OF az an agent fof insurance com
has not brought me any money now for a long time
He limited to me that he might 20 abroad but
hardly think he would have done that without let
as letters being stopped md helping peope e to U
trace him, that he may hare done b. II the rent Il
not paid by Monday. rhaIl be turned cut of the
house and then what On I to do: You see, dear
Uncle William, am obliged to write to you because
have no one else to ask; and you win not pat me
in the way Of earning my living somehow [ must
positively beg, and that would be even more dis
woIAdn't its It really is not my FAULT have tried
my best and dined ON stale buns for DAYS and DAYS
"Your'afectionate niece,
.G ''ASsIE JoMsroNE."
She directed this letter to William
Johnstone, Esq, Joss House Villa, South
end" and laid it ON the counter before her
just as customer came ina very young
man, with very shiny boots and hat, bril-
liant gloves, and natty umbrella, who
saluted on entering in a manner not GUS
tomary amongst Englishmen, who general
ly remain covered in shop, however at
fractive the mistress of it may be-
"GoOd morning, Miss Johnstene," said
he, in an embarrassed way; 81 have come
for my luncheon"
If the youth looked embarrassed, the girl
looked vexed She colored over her fore
head, and knit her brows strangely, con-
sidering how few customers she had, and
how great was her need of them Her re.
ply, too, was as impolitic as the express
sion of her cOuntenance, being an intima.
ton that she was afraid she had nothing
TO offer him.
"O," he replied, az never eat heavy
of sherry"
"I have no soup, and the sherry is out.
"Well, now think of it, / am tired OF
soup; had sooner have sandwich and
q pint bottle of Bass"
81 cannot give you those either" said
90, WELL" he persisted, I" it's of no con-
sequence. Here is some pastry, and am
very fond of pastry; and that, with bot
tie OF ginger-beer-"
herself with difficulty, now broke out,
/" You can get good luncheon at dozen
places close byp she exclaimed with un-
called for vehemence; "why do you not
60 to one of them?"
IL like this best" he stammered.
!" Your pastry, though not, perhaps, quite
what you might call new, seems to agree
with me better; or i mean, you know"
You come here out of charity !" cried
the girl, bursting into tears. "You think
am poor and want custom, and 50 you
come here and try TO eat-stuff; and am
sure you go where you can get proper
food afterward somewhere else. 1t is not
my fault if can't have things nicer
40, for goodness sake 10, don't cry
0, my pretty-I mean to say, don't
know what l am saying" cried the youth,
il great distress. "Well, if you must
have the truth, / do not come here for
your stale tarts, but because fell in love
with you through the window one day
and every time 1 have come here l have
fallen more and more in love with you
and If you will not love me back, and
promise to marry me, I'LL don't know
what won't do; theret"
Seeing that his fair charmer did not
give any signs Of being further offended,
but only left off crying, and looked down
in confusion, the youth took courage,
dropped his gloves into his hat, and his hat
on little round table, and leaned his el-
bows on the counter over against Annie,
who did not draw back; and thus the
young peoples heads were not separated
by a1y very cruel distance.
What nonsense" she murmured
at may be nonsense to expect you will
ever love me-" replied the youth; "but it
Is serious earnest that have not been able
TO get you out of my head all this month
try what would and an my friends are
wondering what is the matter with me-
If have not the chance of getting you
for my wife, do not care whether pass
my examination or not. That is sense, /
hope" fo-Is ts- =
"But you are so young"
"I'n bet am older than your
: 4" o, but that is nothing. And then
you are gentleman"
"And so are you lady, said the youth.
90, / learned all about you from your
father l saw him leaving this house one
day, and little while afterward met him
in a smoking room and we happened to
get into conversation. He told me how
be had lost his property in unfortunate
speculations-on the turf and otherwise
and how, instead of sitting down help
lessly, as 50 many young ladies who have
been brought up in luxury would do, you
tried to earn living so pluckily. And
that made me love you still more"
"a Did you tell my father you knew the
shop, and had seen me!"
"Why, no; did not like to do that"
why y?-Ahl l know the reason; he
borrowed money of your cried Annie,
coloring with vexation.
"Onfy trifie-the veriest tride."
,.<"And l cannot even repay that You
see how hopeless and foolish an engage
ment between Us would be.
"No, 1 don't"
have nothing in the world, and no
expectations"
mo more have Ir cried the lad, with
exultation. "Ihave nothing in the world
and I have no expectations Why, we
were ordained for each other"
In the course of further parley, 1t trans
pired that the young mans name was Ed
ward Winston; that he was articled to Q
solicitor, and had just served his time
also, that he had gained applause in
priyste thestricals, and had an idea that
his real vocation was the stage-an evi-
dent resource in case Mr.. Johnstone, the
father. did not turn up, and Mr.. Johnstone,
the uncle, refused to receive his niece,
a state of affairs which would render an
immediate marriage prudent. ANNE did
not quite see the logic of this, but owned
that her distress at seing Mr.. Edward
Winston (well N--ned) come in for bad
lunch every other day was caused by
peculiar objection to receive charity from
him, which would not have occurred tc
her in the case of any other human Deing
Smith, Brown, Jones, or Robinson might
have killed themselves with bad ple-crust
and while wondering at their taste, sns
would have pocketed their shillings viii
rejoicing.
Finally, IT occurred to Ned Winston Z
look at his watch, and the position of tn
hands drew whistle Of dismay from hi
lips. "Nearly threer' he cried; "an'
jenkins is waiting for my return te g
and get his dinner" And with hurrie'
hand-squeeze he took his departure.
| Next day at lilo he reappeared, follow,'