The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-02-15

| PACK OF ca[0S anu d coAo,
and tooth-brush-everything disrepu-
table. IfIam judged by that bag, I'm
lost man"
"And this I took for clean shirt j
and Dick held up frilled and Auted
sack, such as do duty for more extern
sive night dresses with ladies when ira
yelling. "I'd like to see Angelica when
she opens my satcael."
And Dick fell to musiug, with the
slipper perched on two fingers and the
friiled white sack spread out tel derly
upon his knees.
In an upper apartment Of a handsome
mansion in St. Louis, on the evening oil
the day our heroine first made the read
er's acquaintance, beautiful Belle Alden,
the petted and only daughter of the
house, sat contemplating the various
articles her confidential maid was dis
posing upon the table-arsicles taken
from no less a receptacle than Dick
Marcy's travelling-bag.
The cards and cigar case lay side BY
side, and bishly-scented party they
we're.
"What's in the little silver flask,
Rosa ?" said the fair mistress.
"Brandy, ma'am," replied the maid.
cHe can't be very d:ssipated, to ira
vel with such little bottle. That's in
case of sickness, I supp 'se," returned
Belle.
"It's my belief" said Rosa, who was
a shrewd girl, "that the gentleman was
a mighty nice one, else you'd not SO
readily excuse the cards and the bot
tle."
"For shame, Rosa. All gentleman
play euchre travelling, and even clergy
men take little brandy in case Of sick
ness" answered Belle. "And this man
was gentleman, and liberal one, too,
for he gave the poor emigrant woman
$40. What's that, Rosa !"
For at that moment Rosa held be-
tween her fingers letter.
Whether it was wrong to read Il
strangers letter vexed Belle for a mo
ment, as her eyes glanced at the super
scription and hand writing.
"Why, of all things exclaimed the
delighted girl, seizing the letter.
"Why, Rosa, this is Jenny Marcy's
writing, and addressed to Richard
Marcy-her only darling brother-who
was in Europe when we too graduated
at Madame Ritter's, in Brooklyn"
Belle read rapidly till she had reached
the middle of the letter, when she burst
into merry laugh.
"Hear this Rosa" she said, and she
read from the letter:
;'Above all things, Dick, dear, don't
fail while in St. Louis to see my best
friend and schoomaie, Belle Alden. l
know you will fall in love with her, for
besides being the best girl liz the world,
she's beauty and an heriess, and
fathers choice above all others for his
sons wife. He used to talk it over at
home, and hoped Belle would not mar
~ before you came home from Europe.
She is full as anxious to know you, aud
wears your hair and mine in locket
father gave her last year. Give her
lots of love, and beg Of her to overlook
your many imperfec.iOns, for the sake
of her old school fellow, Jenny"
"Then this gentleman is, of course,
Miss Jenny's brother" said Rosa, "and
what will she say when she hears of Of
your having met in this romantic way -
81 don't intend 10 tell her Of it till l
90 to New York this fall" said Belle
Perhaps her brother will call"
But in this supposition Belle was
wrong. The mouth passed, and she saw
GO more Of the golden headed Richard
And she carefully separated the yel-
low lock in the little keepsake from the
dark tress of Jenney's and put it back
into its place alone. while another lock
ct held The bit Of Jenney's. And, some
how, Belle looked very, very often at
the wee golden curl, aud she never did
so but the rest of the handsome head
spraug up beside the lock and she
would sit aud contemplate the picture
her fancy wrought for her, little dream
ing the interest she was allowing to
grow in her bosom for JeuneJ's broth
er.
In the fall Belle and her father went
to New York, and the first day after her
arrival found her sitting with her old
friend, who after the first elusive meet
ing was past, sat down to empty her
soul.
IL am 50 glad you are here this
MONTH" Jenny said, because I'm to be
married in October, and have always
been crazy 10 have you for bridesmaid
and Dick is to be IIarry's best mau."
Belle blushed.
"But Dick has fallen hopclcssly, mad
" in love :" Belle turned pale.
YES, I was SO dreadfuIly provoked
when he passed through ST. ]. uis and
never went uear you. But he went
wild over some lady he met on that fatal
trip lie will talk to me- By hours Of
h $ Angelica. And when have spoken
of you he has been positively rude, and
asked me to have done botheriig him
about my freckied :ehcOl friend-yOu
know your picture shows rockies; but
bless me, you haven't any now Aud
your picture don't look any mole like
YOU than it does like me, not Bit"
But tell me-" said Belle. sis your