The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1873-12-26

he met her a little while ago. She
talked along the whole time to him, and
and swore, [ think he said, and
wanted to smoke. Then Tiverton told
me she was the best hand ut quoting
Artemus Ward he ever heard. Bah
I hate a girl that quotes Artemus
Ward p and Tom switched viciously at
the dandelions with his cane.
His companion watched him with
mischevous smile.
'I wish you'd be less keerless with
that weppin," she said, "you1l upset
my water, directly, and then you'll
have to go and get some more"
"Now, don't yo~ begin it," Tom
pleaded.
"Why not? I like Artemus."
Tom shrugged his shoulders.
"Well," his tormentor continued.
"have you any other fault to find with
your bride"
"She's not my BRIDE"
"But she will be-
"No, I'm bothered if she will %, Tom
broke out, vehemently.
"What will you buy your freedom
with Hillingdon and seven thousand
year ?"
cave, and think it cheap at that
price"
Complimentary to Miss Leigh. Shall
I tell her ?"
eff you ike-but never mind Miss
Leigh"
"You've not told me your name yet,
said Tom, after while.
"My name ?" she repeated; "oh,
never mind my name"
"But do mind your name. Won't
you tell me?"
"My names Nellie, too," she said,
fausingly.
"S6ail I call you Nellie, then ?" he
asked.
Certainly not" she said coldly, and
recommended painting vigorously. He
was getting on too fast.
Tom watched her silently. "Won't
you forgive me ?" he pleaded after a
while.
"Shall I?" she said, holding her
sketch at arms length, to observe the
effect.
eyes, do" said Tom, it's SO Chris
tian."
"Then WILL" and she gave him her
hand with q most adorable smile. Tom
felt sadly inclined to kiss it but re-
Trained.
'Now," saidshe, consulting her watch,
4" must be off. B."
"And will you allow me to carry
your things ?" asked Tom.
But at this moment she was capri
cious, as ladies will be sometimes, and
positively refused to allow him TO do
any such thing. Then arose a struggle
for the "things," which were, however,
captured by Tom after short resist
anca.
She turned and walked majestically
away as Tom gathered up the imple-
ments with a grin, and followed her.
When he came up to her she was sitting
on a stile, looking dreamily on the |
ground. She raised her eyes as he ap-
preached.
"Mr. Luttrell," !" she said, "I want to
speak to you seriously"
Tom deposited his burden on the |
ground, sat himself on log facing
her, and waited solemnly.
sFI want to know if you're quite de-
termined not to marry Miss Leigh ?"
"I am" he replied, looking steadily
at her, and tapping his teeth with her
H. B. pencil.
"Since when?" He hesitated.
"Since when?" she repeated, i'm
periously.
Tom began to dig little holes with
his stick.
"WelI, within the last few days." he
said at last.
If he had been looking at her, he
night have seen the smile md blush of
pleasure which lit up her face as he
poke.
You see," he continued, "it's my
ather's marriage, not mine and man
ikes to choose his own wife. 1 dare
ay there's no real harm in the young
person. If she's your friend, it speaks
veil for her, but still"
"But still what You've never seen
Ter how can you tell you won't like
ler?''
Tom became m re than ever absorbed
n his excavations.
"The truth is" he blurted out be- {
ween the digs "the truth is that /
ately, quite lately, I think I've seen
he only girl shall ever care to ask to '
70 my wife," and he looked suddenly
p at her.
She rose confused, began to consult t
er watch earnestly.
81 must go, really. Please give me s
~ things. This is the park boundary, 6
o I won't trouble you any more" {
She sprang over the stile as she
poke, interposing it between them as t
hey said adieu, s
when shall I ssee you again ?" he
sked, as he held her hand at parting. q
he allowed it to linger in his as she
''Oh, soon, I dare say perhaps when
ou least expect it. And gently re- !
lrning the pressure of his hand, she :
1rned away. After a few steps she :
,oked back. =
''Any message to Miss LeighP" she |
5ked, moekingly. l
ooh, confound Miss Leigh p growled e
ON. "I wish she was in Otaheiie." "
hen, seating himself on the stile, he =
{ a cigar and watched her graceful =
CURE till he could see it no longer. q
uddenly he smote his thigh-"By :
owe I never got her name after all, !" =
9 said. y
Imuediately on arriving at his inn he =,
a cross-examination of his y
ostess, by which he learned two facts. u
irstly, that Newlands was the property y
Sir John Turnbull and, secondly, s. s.
lat there were two young ladies stay p
g there, Miss Leigh and Miss Harding. = !:
Next day saw him speeding in a y y
ansom from Paddington to his fathers ! 4
ouse in Brook street, intent on de- q
roying that worthy old gentleman's " "
ace Of mind by the announcement of u u
s determination to give up Miss Leigh 4
ID Hillingdon.
d" Is my father in, Simms ?" he asked m
the butler, when that functionary IL
,peared to attend his young master. IL
" No, sir Mr.. Luttrell went out with bI
r. Leigh just after lunch" fe
" Mr.. Leigh? Is he here ?" g
Eyes, sir Mr.. and Miss Leigh ar Ii