The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-07-12

and sputter that was like the talk
of familiar friends. 1t was better
than hundred welcomes.
upon my word, this is COM
Portable" said the young man,
| advancing to the bright hearth,
and taking the chair pushed for
ward by Mr.. Etherege. II am
Mr.. PercivaI, from Gantt's Inn,
down by the rapids. Unfortu-
nately 1 missed the right road in
the twilight, and here I Il"
"Glad to make your acquaiu-
lance, Mr.. Percival," said the un-
sophisticated farmer. "I'm Job
Ethercge, and this 'ere," with a
nod toward brustling little wo-
man who had just drawn round
pine table into the middle of the
room, "is my wife, Mrs. Ethe-
rege courtesied, and Mr.. Percival
got gravely up to bow-"and
here" turning to corner only
now and then illuminated BY the
flicker of the freight, sis Emily"
"Your daughter, sir?'' asked
Percival, trying vain!y to identify
the brown eyes that seemed to
shine so vaguely out of the dark
ness-the silky hair that cleaned
gold-bright, every now and then,
from dense depths of shadow.
"Not my own gal," said the far
mer, with a certain cmbarrass-
ment; "but she seems just the
same. Emily teaches district
school, sir" said the farmer proud
ly, "and gets eighteen dollars
month for it,
"Oh!" thought Guy Percival, a
slight contemptuous culver curv.
ing the corners of his lips, "the
village school-ma'am, who paints
on velvet and teaches wax flow
ers. I know the genus. What a
pity one couldn't enjoy this glo-
rious farm house and the jovial old
people without having to endure
the school-ma'am tool!
But when the lights came in,
| and Mr.. Percival saw what man
ner of person Emily Etherege
really was, be owned to himself
! that for once instinct had led him
wrong.
"She's a beauty!'' he said to
himself. "She's graceful as wild
| birch.tree-she has a face like q
Venus di Milo! What queer freak
of Fate had dropped this gem down
| iu the wildernesses that skirt this
lonely river?' .....
And Mr.. Percival ate the pre-
served ounces which Mrs. Ethe-
rege had brought out in his hon
or, without knowing whether they
were honcy-sweet spheres of fruit
or sour apples 'done" in molasses.
II wish you'd let me stay here
q few days" he said to the farmer
next day. "I'm sure the squirrel
hunting is much better here than
in the valley below, and I'd be no
trouble at ALL" ..
"I've no objections 10 the world,
if you think you can put up with
our homespun ways" said Mr..
Etherege genially. And so Guy
stayed on.
at must be a great bore for you
to 60 off to school every morning"
he said, one golden October day,
as he strode by Emily Etherege's
side, over the yellow carpet Of
softly rustling leaves for, some
how, his way to the woods and
her way to the school-house al
ways seemed curiously to coin
eide.
"Not half so great 4 bore as it
must be for you to do nothing"
she said mischievously.
"But | never was brought up to
do anything" said Guy, with ex-
cccding frankness.
How do you expect to live ?"
asked Emily, turning her big
brown eyes gravely upon him
care you rich ?"
"No, I'm not dublously re-
sponded the young man, half vex.
ed, half amused at this unexpected
catechism.
"Do you expect to inherit a for
tune?" she persisted.
"Can't say I do," answered Per
cival gravcly.
|, "Then," said Emily, "not being
a lily Of the field, that tolls not,
neither does It spin, how do you
suppose you are to live?"
"Miss Emily, that's a home ques-
tion," said Guy, elevating his hand
some eyebrows. II suppose you
would despise me-" he added hesi-
tatingly, IF were to tell you the
whole truth"
"What is t?"
~ mean, what I did intend once.
I have changed my mind since"
"Well?"
'To marry a fortune"
Emily's color deepened. 1nvol-
unfairly she withdrew her hand
from Percival's arm.
"There !" he said. II knew you
would think me a contemplate
puppy, and you are quite right.
But l am not tho only man, by