The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-08-24

the best girl in the world, she's a
'beauty and an heiress, and father s
choice above all others for his son S
wife. lie used to think it over
home, and hope, and, hope, Belle
would not marry before you came
home from Europe. She is full as
anxious to know you, and wears
your hair and mine ina lockct ia
ther gave her last year. Give her
lots of love and beg Of her to over.
look your many imperfections, 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 your having met in
this. romantic way?'
i don't intend to tell her OF 1T
till I 60 to New York this fall, said
Belle. Perhaps her brother will
call
Butin this supposltlon Bclle was
wrong. The month passed, and
she saw no more of the golden
headed Richard.
And she carefully separated the
yellow lock in the little keepsake
from the dark tress of Jenny's and
put it back into its place alone,
while another locket held the bit of
Jenny's. And, somehow, Belle
looked very often at the wee gold
en- curl, and she nerer did so but
the rest of the handsome head
sprang up beside the lock; and she
would sit and contemplate the pic
ture her fancy wrought for her,
little dreaming the interest she was
allowing to grow in her bosom for
Jenny's brother. -.
In the fall Belle and her father
went to New York, and the first
day after arrival found her sitting
with her old friend, who, after the
first elusive meeting was past, sat
down to empty her soul.
4 am so glad you are here, this
month"; Jenny said, because I'm
to be married in October, and I
have always been crazy to have you
for bridesmaid, and Dick is to be
Harry's best man. Belle blushed'
sDut Dick has fallen hopelessly,
madIy in love!" Belle turned
pale.
Yes, I was drcadfully provoked
when he passed through st. Louis
and never went near you. But be-
went wild over some lady he met
on that trip. lie will talk to me
by the hours of his Angelica.
And when I have spoken Of you he
has been positively rude, and asked
me to have done bothering him
him about my freckled school
friend - you know your picture
shows freckles; but, bless me, you
havn't any now! And your pic
turc don't look any more like you
than it does like me, not a Bit
'But tell me- said Belle, is your
brother engaged to this lady
Engaged! Why, dear heart, he
don't know her name. lie just
found some of her old clothes
somewhere. lies got her old slip
per under glass case; he's got her
night gown done up in lavender;
he's got her gold thimblc hung. on
his watch chain; and do believe
he's got a hair-brush and some
hair-pins next to his heart. Oh, it's
folly to interfere! lies beyond
all hope! l did think the excite
mcnt of my wedding would wean
him from it; but not bit. He
looks at my new things as calmly
as an oyster, and only said-its not !
kind of me to repeat it, though,
broke off Jenny.
sWhat was it he said p inquired
Belle, laughing now heartily.
Don't fear for my fcclings.'
'Why, he said, I'll stand up with
your friend, Belle, and see you
safely married; and then I'm of: to
winter IL Paris. I'm done with
love on n1s own account It's
positively awful /
And 40 Belle thought, as she
looked at her old slipper and glove
lying beneath a globe on either
side of the faithful Richards man-
tie.
sAnd,' said Belle, Since he de-
sires only to meet me on the morn
ing of the wedding, so it shall be.
I will be introduced only as we are
leaving the house, and he can do
as he plcases about continuing the
acquaintance aftcrward.'
Belle was radiant with happiness
when she returned to her father,
and delighted his fond heart by tho
change, tor Belle had been very
quiet Of late.
Jenny and Belle shopped, and talk
ed and visited together, for the next
few days, and ard when the morning
arrived, and amid bevy of beautiful
girls, Belle sbone like a queen, the
bride was eclipsed, and delightfully."-
acknowledged it.
"Oh, Belief" sho said, Il long to