The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-10-27
THE UNCONSCIOUS CONFESSION.

tMake haste, gentlemen, the railway omnibus
is waiting |" cried the voice of the hall porter
at the "Royal Hotel" at Long Beach.
A tall, handsome young gentleman, at the
summons, came down the staircase, two steps at
time, and almost ran over matronly lady,
some wears his senior, who was crossing the
hall of the hotel.
"What going to leave us ?" said the lady, in
some surprise, and more meaning in her looks
than in her words even.
eyes; it's no use," was the reply. Thanks
for your good wishes, which can see in your
looks, Mrs. Maxwell. But am tired of play
ing the fool"
aPshaw p said The lady, putting her arm
familiarly into his, and leading him into the
cofee-room, which, at that hour, was deserted,
Faint heart never won fair lady, MIR.
Hastings Listen to me. The omnibus will
wait q moment"
'Its not question of faint heart" answered
the gentleman "But Kate won't have me.
See here, Mrs. Maxwell, she refused me point
blank last night"
"And what if she did? I refused Mr.. Max
well the first time myself It's way some of
our sex have. Come, stay, and try again."
"I'm proud man." was the reply, "and don't
like being trihed with. But I'd stay if 1 thought
it would do any good. But it won't. She isn't
anywhere about, you see, though l told her l
would so away to-day. And when I told her,
she actually laughed. And yet, confound her,
1 can't help loving her."
Mrs. Maxwell would like to have laughed
also. But she knew better than to do it just
yet.
"She was little hysterical or she wouldn't
have laughed" she said. "The truth is, Her
bert, you are pair of fools You are proud,
as you say, and don't brook refusals. Kate is,
perhaps, bit of firt, but 1 sincerely believe
she loves YOU All she needs is little more
urging. You must storm the fortress till it
surrenders. Give her no quarter that is my
advice; )" and now Mrs. Maxwell, seeing his
face brighten, ventured laugh.
1t was clear, musical laugh, and it cheered
Herbert still more He hesitated. If another
five minutes could have been granted to Mrs.
Maxwell, she would have prevailed. But at
this moment 8 voice cried, "Here he is. Make
haste, Hastings. We've looked for you every
where. The coachman says he won't wait an
other moment. All, Mrs Maxwell, our holiday
is over you see. Good bye"
That interruption decided Herbert. He
shook his head in reply to Mrs. MaxwelPs en-
treating look, wrung her hand, and dashed out
of the coffee-room. The next minute the ON
nibus dashed away from the hotel.
1t was q mile to the station; and ere it was
reached, Herbert half repented what he had
done.
perhaps have been too hasty," he said to
himself 'What if Mrs. Maxwell is right? I've
great mind to go back" he thought. "Hold
on, driver" he cried aloud, give changed my
mind. Stop till jump out"
Before his companions could ask what he
meant, he had left the omnibus, had lit cigar,
and was plodding along the beach on his return
to the hotel, carpet-bag in hand.
Meantime, where was the offending Kate
To do her justice, she was not aware how much
she loved Herbert Hastings until she had re-
fused him. 1t was not altogether coquetry that
led her to say "No" The answer had been
piyen in the first surprise and embarrass-
ment of the proposal. She was frightened to
find, almost Immediately, how much she mis-
understood herself She grew more and more
embarrassed in consequence; and her manner
afterwards, at which Herbert took such offense,
was, as Mrs. Maxwell had suggested, really the
result of nervousness. Even before he left
her, she bitterly repented what she had said:
Had he persevered little longer she would
have confessed the truth. She did not, howev-
er, believe he would leave Long Beach, even
after he had said So Hence, early in the
morning she had started for long walk on the
sands, hoping to meet him there as usual; for
hardly day had passed within the last month
that these two had not so met.
There was an old wreck at that time, about
mile or more above the hotel, which had
been a favorite haunt of theirs; and thither