The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-08-01
YOU must have hand to take his place, Pm

sYou, sir p' echoed the man incredulously.
eyes. I. Hand over your pail and brushes;
I painted our bungalow once in India, and it's
strange if I can't handle the brushes now
What are you staring at?"
"But, Major" pleaded Tom, feebly.
"Go home, say" waved the Major. "Hold
on, give us your canvass overalls first. There
now for days work that shall make old
skinhint down there open his eyes,
termed him, smiled rather doubtfully.
eff you take the responsibility of sending
away my best hand, you'll undertake to make
his place good, of course, sir"
"Don't tell you 1 know how to paint?"
And Major Hugh Chclsey defantly ascended
the ladder, brandishing the brushes above his
head, signal of defiance.
"Well, if this amt the queerest go!" was
the master-painter's puzzled comment, as he
watched the scientific manner in which his
new journeyman handled the brushes. "He
does go about it like fellow that understands
what he's doin', and yet-well no matter. [
shan't lose anything by the change of hands"
"Not bad days work, hey, you in the brown
paper cap" said the Major, as he stood cycling
his performance, while the others were putting
away their brushes and over-garments.
'sNo, sir, faint" responded the individual
UuI yOo WooA0n "NAAN '.N,-S ">'J'~
guess, day after day"
every probably not" said the Major. "It
does tire one-but shall sleep like top
Little Beatrice Moore" he added, internally,
"you must wait day or two. A man can't
paint houses all day and be in proper trim for
iove-making in the evening. Heigho how
stiff nv Joints feel. wonder how poor Tom
Meredith is"
Early the next morning, Major Chelsey ap-
peared OH the field, ready to renew his work,
but there was, fortunately, no further necessity
for his services. Tom Meredith was there,
gratefully touching his cap to his substitute
'The days rest has set me all right, Major"
he said "I'm able to work now, but don't
know how to thank you for"
"For just nothing at all p said the Major,
tartly "Hold your tongue, Tom Meredith,
and give this bill to your youngest torment to
buy candy with"
And the Major rushed back to his hotel to
dress with special reference to quite different
days work.
Major Chelsey had scarcely climbed the lad
der the day before, when Miss Victoria West
ern, going into the front guest-chamber for her
furs, caught glimpse of his honest face, just
on a level with the topmost panes of the win
dow, and his hands manipulating huge brush.
"My goodness gracious~ ~ CALCULATED Miss
Victoria, s'its Major Chelsey No it isn't; it's
horrid painter man. It's" She stood
moment in puzzled wonderment. Then some
thing definite seemed to shape itself out of the
chaos of her mind.
0I've heard of adventures BEFORE" she MUIR
INJURED, clasping her hands nervously together,
"but [ never met one before. Why, it's as
plain as the MONDAY Major Chelsey is no
Indian officer; he's wretch of common
house-painter, who thinks to marry our Beat
rice; but he'll not succeed! no-not he!"
She few down stairs to impart the astonish-
ing tidings to her mother and Beatrice.
"Well-I-ne-verW calculated Mrs. Western,
in blank dismay.
''The impudence of the manw screamed
Victoria. ''But of course, Beatrice, you'll
never speak to him again"
Beatrice turned white and red, and red and
white again, before she spoke, and finally the
words crept out, low and hesitating:
"But, Mrs Western, what difference does it
make, whether he is major or house-painter,
when-when-"
Mrs. Western and Victoria waited in awful
silence for the last four words.
"When I love him?"
And then burst the storm of objugation over
Beatrice's shrinking head, until the little thing
crept away in tears, to hide her doubts and ter
rors in the welcome solitude of her own apart
ment.
"a cousin of mine degrade herself by pre-
suming to be in love with mcdaniel" shrek
ed Mrs. Western.
"And man, too, who has never even de-
clared himself" added Victoria.
This was the unkindest cut of all, and Beat
rice believed herself to be, not only low-minded
and unrefned, but unmaidenly also. But for
Ill Oh, in Of cho
the Major, or the painter, or whatever he was,
and she could not help herself.
All that day and all the next, the domestic
storm ragged with unsoftened vehemence and
about noon, just as Beatrice was beginning Sc
riousy to contemplate the possibility of packing
her few dresses into bundle, and running
away to service somewhere, the drawing-room
door opened, and "Major Chelsey, to see Miss
Moore" was announced.
Beatrice rose with varying color, and held
out one trembling little hand Mrs. Western
glared on the new conner, and Victoria kept her
eyes steadily on the carpet.
"How dare you come here, sir?" demanded
the matron, fercely.
The Majors bellgerent blood fired up.
"To see Miss Moore" he said, with cool au-
stand straight out.
Anu WudG DuslutSS Cftu you udNo Will 4uioo
MooreT
The Major glanced at Beatrice's face; some
thing in the violet eyes gave him courage.
"To ask her to marry me- ma'am."
"You-a treacherous adventurer, common
house painter, dressed up to deceive society in
a majors uniform? Your impertinence is be-
yond my comprehension Beatrice, why do
you not order him out of your presence at
once?"
"Beatrice," said the Major-it was the first
time the musical Italian name had ever crossed
his lips in addressing her-"is it yes or no?"
"Now emphatically interposed Mrs. Western.
Major Chelsey half turned away, but light
hand fell on his arm. Beatrice had glided to
his side
eyes, Hugh"
"What! are you willing to marry house
painter?"