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

she repaired. She tried to read till Herbert
should appear but her eyes wandered from her
book continually. Meantime, an hour passed
without Herbert appearing. Her heart began
! to fail her. She spent the time examining her
real feelings; and the more she scrutinized the
more she felt that her love had gone from her
forever. By-and-by the hot tears began to flow.
She knew how proud Herbert Hastings was,
and she said to herself he would never come
back.
The sea rolled heavily in; the wind blew
fresh from the eastward; the sun shone daz-
zlingly bright. She gave up all hope at last,
and began to walk back towards the hotel; But
after while she sat down again on the beach
the chance of seeing him. Gradually she fell
into a sort of reverie, and began, half uncon-
sciously, to trace Herbert's name in the sand
with the point of her parasol.
It WIS at this juncture that Herbert, walking
along the top of the beach, discerned her. His
heart began to beat fast. Here was the chance
he had wished, yet dared not hope for. 1t sure
ly was favorable sign that she had gone to
their usual rendezvous He hastily bent his
steps towards her.
He thought she would hear him as he ap-
preached. But she did not. She was evident
ly too much absorbed; in what, however, he
could not yet discover. He came nearer and
nearer. What with the roar of the surf, and
her own absorption, Kate still remained uncon-
scious of his presence. He approached so close
at last that he could look over her shoulder
Blessed vision Could he believe his own eyes !?
She was writing with her parasol in the sand
the word-"Herbert."
His first impulse was to snatch her to his
arms. He was loved, then! Mrs. Maxwell
had been right.
But he restrained himself, waiting with bated
breath to see what she would do next.
She did nothing for a moment. Then she
sighed, and went on tracing slowly other words.
They were-"Herbert, love you'll"
Hastings could control himself no longer.
STOPPING over her, he caught Kate's face in his
hands, and kissed her full on the lips. She
sprang up, with a half scream, and turned to
face him, angrily, for she did not suspect for a
moment who it was. But when she recognized
her lover, she blushed over throat cheek, and
brow even, and covering her face with both her
hands, would have run away if Herbert had
not been too quick for her.
Darling" he whispered, clasping her in his
arms and drawing her to him, "heaven bless
you for those words! 1 had come to try my
fate once more. Say that dear confession over
again"
Kate was silent for awhile. But his caresses
soon dried her tears, and made her forget her
momentary shame. By-and-by she looked up
saucily, and exclaimed, "Well, listeners never
hear any good of themselves, and if Pm such
a tlirt as Mrs. Maxwell tells me I am, you
haven't much Of bargain. There, will that
do?"
"Then you do love me?" insisted Herbert,
eager to hear the acknowledgement in her own
sweet accents.
Kate's eyes were full Of mischief
"What is written on sand, you know, is the
simile for wonan's fckleness."
But even as she spoke, her sparkling eyes
lost their saucy look, and gazed at him with
such love, that Herbert took her in his arms
again, and kissed her rapturously.
What happy hour it was that followed
The lovers paced up and down the strand, far
out of sight of any intruders, exchanging con-
fessions rs to when they first began to be in
terested in each other. All that first hour of
mutually acknowledged affection. Is there
anything in life ever after half or quarter so
blissful?
Mrs. Maxwell happened to be standing on
the hotel balcony when Hastings and Kate re-
turned, towards lunch-time, arm in arm. She
understood all ut a glance, but she could not
forbear little raillery.
AN, you Tc DdCk again, NIL. I1dStASS, oilc
said. "I thought you'd such imperative busi-
ness in town, that, if you didn't get there to-
day, the world would come to an end. And
you, Kate, my dear, you said you had dread
full headache. Will walking in the sun cure it,
child9 Bless me, how red your cheeks are
Really, you must use some violet powderP
Kate stayed to hear no more of this badinage.
Taking her arm hastily from Herberts, though
not without last look of love, she fled up the
staircase like frightened deer. Mrs. Maxwell
laughed softly, watching Kate till she was out
of sight Then she turned to Hastings.
81 congratulate you," she said, pressing his
hand warmly you've won real treasure.
So much, too, for taking an old woman's ad-
vice."
'I wish all old women, as you call them, were
as kind and beautiful as the one | know" an
swered Herbert, gallantly kissing her hand.
"But how did It come about?"
"Ahl that's my secret" answered Herbert,
with knowing twinkle of the eye.
And to this day he has never betrayed Kate.
Only he and she know in what way she made
her unconscious confession.
A Mothers DEATH.-Few who have lost
their 'frst and dearest friend" can read the fol-
ing with unmoistened eyes:
Death comes an unsought guest to every
board, and at its spectral bidding some beloved
one goes forth to his mysterious home.