The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-07-20
Ry W, A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON.

ouf younger SlStcT. ione ut'S peoH
away at Uncle Johns for several
months, but is coming home now
"Well, she came. You've seen her,
Tom-that little brown-cycd fairy
that all the fellows rave about SO
and-Well, you see, confound it all
between three, I am completely mud,
died." -
"You don't know which to take?'
I said.
"No! that's just the trouble !! If ]
made up my mind to propose to Clara
as I have dozen times, either Ellen
dances before me, shaking her yellow
curls, and smiling with her brown
eyes, till I am ha!fscas over, or else
Julia sings and talks me into luna
tic. And if l. fix my heart firmly
upon either of those, then, then, tn"
first time I am out on the street, thai
oucenly Clara giides somewhere IN
sight, and I'm gone again"
'tPoor fellow" l said, gravely.
"I'm sorry for you. But why don't
you make up your mind once for all.
and propose to one Of them, and have
it over with?"
"Ah! if they were not sisters, |
would" Ned responded. "But, yau
see, I'm afraid, If l Ishould once en-
gage myself to either one, l should al
ways repent it when I saw the others.
Being sisters, you know, they wpnld
for ever be around, reminding fel-
low what might have been. But I've
about made up my MUD to take Ellen.
She is q perfect little fairy, and !
know should be happy with her.
Don't be surprised, if you arc called
upon to congratulate me next time
we meet"
A day or two after, saw Ned.
"Well," began, shall l congratu-
late you?" 3. ,
"Oh, confound it, mol" grow!ed
Ned. ~ have been there twice; but
that conceited Will Spencer was hang
ing round there, both times. Ellen
looked daggers at him, and did every
thing but ask him to go, for sic d.
vined the cause Of my visit, l guess.
But he stuck tighter than Spaulding's
glue. He is such q conceited jacan-
apes! No doubt he thought she was
delighted with his presence"
l did not see Ned for "A week or two:
but when I did, ] held out my card
of invitation to Miss Ellen Norris's s
wedding.
"How's this ?" said 7, bent on teas
ing "Guess Will Spencer wasn't so
very much mistaken, after alt-was
he? Seems he's improved his time
pretty we'll, anyhow"
ooh, get out!" cried Ned, pushing
me off 'sLct fellow alone-can't
you? I am glad enough she's going
to marry him. Nice girl. But that
quecnly Clara is worth two of her.
and Julia is worth two Of her, and
Juha can't be beat, old fellow |!
You'll sect"
I did see, or rather, heard. 1t was
at Ellen's wedding. julia was the
life of the evening, with her convcr.
sation, her music, and her graceful
ways. 1 didn't wonder at Ncd's
choice. I whispered as much to BIN,
late in the evening.
He gave me a bcaming glance, ....
"Gay-isn't she, Tom? But there
is somebody hanging about her all
the time, and 1 haven't had a chance
to get word with her. Now,
there's that black-whiskered profes-
sor boring her with bis ologies. How
weary she looks! a say, Tom, can't
you get him off somewhere, so l can
talk to herr"
But the professor was called away
by somo other person just then, and
Ned supplied the vacancy Immediate
ly: -,
I sauntered off to the library, after
a moment, and sat down behind the
high desk, to look over an old volume.
Presently heard Ned's voice at the
door.
"Come in here moment" be said,
swhere we can be alone. | want TO
speak with YOU"
I thought she hcsita:cd. but she
came with him, and, before | could
make my presence known, Ned had
begun. #4Ie had perfect command OF
language, and talked like two-vol'
ume novel.
"You must have long known, Miss
Norris" he began, "thc meaning OF
my frevuent calls at your home
Though first friend of your sister, |
soon learned to look upon one of the
family in another light than friend
| have long desired this opportunity
to express my feelings, and receive
tho answer from your lips. But tho
fates have all seemed averse, and !
had almost despaired eff speaking te
you this evening. The opportunity
has at last arriued, and here at your
feet, await the answer which shal
render MY future life desert or {
Paradise. Speak, | implore your.
There was moments silence, bro
ken, at length, by Miss Julia's mclo
dious accents.
do l understand this. Mr. Clark
as proposal of marriagc?"
"Ligbt of my life, yes! What else
could my words imply? l love you
Be my wifc!"
Ned was getting eloquent. and
felt very much like laughing: but i
would have been indiscrcet, in my
position, so I sat still till the play
ended.
AZ nm axneedintrlu snrnrised ,