The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-04-15
followed, and the climbing roses tina,

followed, and the climbing roses that
enwreathed the little summer house
peeped In at the young conspirators,
and stirred by June breezes, seemed to
whisper to each other and nod their
bright faces in approval. AS the clock
struck nine that evening, 3 warm soft
rain was falling, aad the night air was
heavy and odOrous. The two friends
sat in the parlor gayly chatting togeth-
er, while Minnie, silent and ill-at-ease,
restlessly watched the hands of the
clock in their slow march, and started
at every sound. After short time
Helen turned, affecting q yawn, and
asked her sister to step into the dining
room and bring some ice water. The
instant she disappeared, Helen ran to
the clock and SET il back ten minutes.
so far SO good, said Annie but
don't you begin to be afraid as the time
approaches@
fAfraid of that little bit of pink and
but if we fail = said Annie, uncon-
sciously quoting Macbetli.
'We fail = exclaimed Helen, striking
an attitude. Still, lam free to confess
that I feel sort of fluttery sensation in
the region of the heart. Hush, l hear
she comes. Thank you Minnie, dear,
this is quite refreshing. Heigh ho!-|
What makes me so sleepy tonight!
It's only little after nine. Well,
nevertheless, if you'll only excuse me,
Annie, / believe Tll say goodnight.
Minnie shall entertain you playing
that pretty overture to LIE Premier
Jour de Bonheur.' Aid Helen tripped
up stairs, humming gayly while her
sister, glancing once more at the clock,
shru gged her shoulders impatiently
and seated herself at the piano.
+ Helen's song died away as she reach
ed her room, and hastily letting her
long hair fall down her shoulders, in
imitation of her sister, she threw veil
over her face, wrapped herself in a wa
ter-proof cloak, and softly stole down
the back stairs and out into the rain
and darkness.
1t may safely be affirmed that Min
ME Chapman had never before played
the overture to lie Premier Jour de
Bonheur so wretchedly as upon this
particular occasion. As she arose from
the piano the clock pointed twenty-five
minutes past nine. Hurriedly MUIR
muring something about having left
her crochet in the library, she was
about to leave the room, when a sud-
den cry ofpain from Annie arrested her.
What isthe matter?' she cried, look
ing back.
1Oh, my eyev moaned Annie, with
an an expression of extreme anguish.
'Oh, dear, what shall dO?'
Have you got anything in your eye?'
asked Minnie, irresolute whether to go
ON or linger a moment to help her
friend.
Yes; oh what can it be! Do try and
get it out for me, Ohu and Annie
screwed up one of her azure eyes very
tightly, and glared wildly about with
the other, rocking herself to and fro
with frequent groans. This was too
much for Minnie's tender little heart,
and in an instant she was searching
eagerly for the cause of so much suffer-
ing.
why, can not see anything at all?
cried she, after moments careful ex-
animation. lsaa gsi3.t
How very strange!
1t was exceedingly strange. vi
. -Ndl NOu klOonCo <1hAtCs
'Oh !-I'll turn the gas little higher.
There! I've turned it Outr
'Pshaw! where are the matches"
asked Minnie, cropping impatlently
about in the darkness.
They are on the table replied her
companion; deity removing the safe
to the mantel piece.
!. But they are not here now. Oh,
dear, and 1 havn't time to-I mean
where can they be? There! l have
tipped over that vase of flowers, and
the water will be all over everything.
How provoking! l will wipe it up
with my handkerchief Mop, mop,
mop. DO look for those matches,
Annie.
II am. What's the great hurry, I'd
like to know" s.t.f =. n
Never mind; I'll run into the libra
ry and get some; the gas is lit there
f'No, here they are now! rve found
them at last-on the corner of the man.
tel. Take one.'
So saving, Annie handed the unsus-
pecting little maiden a match, of which
She had previously mOistened the light
ing end in her mouth. -
Scratch, scratch, scratch! why it
it won't lightD Scratch, scratch,
scratch. why it must be bad one.'
! Here's another said Annie, repeat-'
ing her performance. oh, my poor
eyep and she shook convulsively with
pain perhaps.
Renewed scratching, as Intellectual as
before. Minnie's patience was entire
ly exhausted.
'pll tell YOU what, Annie, you just
run up stairs and get Helen to exam
inc your eve, for / remember having
left book in the summer-house TINS
morning, and this pouring rain Will
completely ruin it,
/ / With these words poor Minnie fairly
bolted from the room, overturning
chair or two in her progress, and In an
instant after she was heard rushing
down the garden steps.
Annie lighted the gas, and demureiy
set the clock forward again. "Twen-
ty minutes of ten. That. will do very
well,n said she.} s&El*. 20 TAI
| though Helen had anticipated the ap-
pointed time by a few minutes, she
was received into a warm embrace on
entering the summer-house, and thin
piping voice exclaimed ,.apturOusly =
hSweet angel i knew thou wouldst
| not fail me! Yet thou knowest not
with what impatience my heart was
beating. Ah, l cannot believe my hap
piness! Speak to me, dearest-tell me
| once more ~
F"Haste, oh, haste away, dear Her
bert, lest we be discovered I" interrupt,
ed the supposed Minnie in an agitated
whisper. E =,
1--WE must not lose moment, or all
may be lost. .
1Thou art right, beloved! This
way, the carriage waits"
| And they nurrled down the garden
path, and out the gate, on a very un-
| dignified and unromantic trot. Ano-
| ther moment, and they were seated IN
close carriage, rapidly driving through
the rain and darkness.
| "Delightful situation!" said Helen
| to herself, resignedly.
l"Mv queen! my fairy, art thou
mine own at last 81 inquired Mr.. See
4 lev. with what the French call eTu.
| sion.
"Oh. Herbert Pm so frightened J"
whispered the fairy, burying her facf
/ i'm disagreeably wet Overcoat, IN or
der to escape more disagreeable show
er of kisses.
"Fear not, i will protect thee! fee
that I have the strength of the lion ).
responded the small voice OF the lnfat
uated youth. e
Splash, splash, Went the poor horses
feet through the mud, and the ran
pattered on the carriage top.
"I wonder where on earth we Ut.
| as,;,,na ~, sold Helen to herself aud af