Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-03-06

y
hood irradiated with this new sweet
hope. Work? Wouldn't he work !?
Anything to win Pansy. He was in the
law, creeping up slowly into a lucrative
practice but, oh, he would be patient,
so patient, if Pansy would wait for him.
And Pansy smiled and looked distract
ingly lovely, and we all agreed that
Tom would have been incredibly stupid
not to have fallen in love with her.
But we asked this question at first
only with doubtful, sorrowful eyes, and
afterward with hesitating lips - did
Pansy love Tom? Did she love him as
the woman should love the man whom
she chooses out of all the world, as our
good Tom Gordon deserved to be
loved?
Tom, dear fellow, had, 1 think, some
struggling doubts. 1 have seen him
look at Pansy with such longing, hungry
eyes, that my heart ached for him.
But, whatever his doubts, he said moth
ing, and we all kept the same painful
silence.
The golden Autumn passed, and the
white, silent Winter came on.
Rexford began its usual career of
mild dissipation. A Afewlittle initiatory
parties, and then MIS-. Moneybags fairly
inaugurated the campaign with a grand
ball.
The Moneybags lived in magnifl-
cent honse in the most aristocratic
quarter of the town. They had no
family, but large account at the bank
er's, and an immense admiration for
blue blood. Now, poor papa had ever
so much blue blood in his veins, but
no account at all at the bankers SO
Mrs. Moneybags, besides sending cards,
came over herself to invite us, and be-
cause of the blue blood she was asobsequi-
GUS, and because of the bankers she
was patronizing.
"Iwant all your girls to come, dear
Mrs. Tremaine-aU"-and she looked
around upon the alarmingly large fami-
ly-group with pitying smile, adding
"Poor things, it will be such chance
for them"
Mamma returned the smile very faint
", and we bowed our visitor out, with
hearts very full of indignation.
81 shan't go, for one !" cried Sue,
angrily, and then by chance glanced at
Pansy. The girls face was abs olutely
radiant.
cit will be so splendid, " she murmur-
ed, under her breath.
The end was, that all went, Sue includ-
ed ; and it was splendid. Mrs. Money
bags had had sense enough to put the
arrangements into the hands of decora.
tive artists from town,and the effect
was superb. The good woman's face
shone with complacency. But her great
attraction, which quite overrun herslm'
pie heart with pride, were half dozen
New York guests-a faded belle, a gay
widow, and two or three gentlemen.
Respect for Mr.. Moneybags had, per-
haps, brought them all the way up to
Raxford. They were the observed OF
all observers. Miss Administer must
have felt her early triumphs renewed
until Pansy appeared.
She had come late, with papa, and
the picture she was when she entered
the room, in her shimmering white gar
ments, [ shall never forget.
A low exclamation of delight and sur
prise broke from some one near me.
"Good heavens what a vision OF
loveliness ~
I half turned it was one of the stran.
gers who spoke, q distingue, stylish
looking young man, who had set all the
young ladies hearts in a futter when,
twenty minutes before he had made his
entree. Handsome he certainly was.
Why did I shrink and shiver little
when presently saw him lead Pansy
out upon the floor, and watched his fine
dark eyes fairly scintillate with admira
| ton?
Why need I linger over the tale? Il
was the old, old story.
Mr.. Kennan called, was gentlemanly
and delightful won mamma by hl'
graceful Difference, and papa by tho
display of keen business-like qualities
Pansy sat almost silent, the sweet color
hickering in and out Of her checks
But when he was gone, and they al
broke out into praises of him, stead!
crimson settled there, and burned like
a rose.
Mr.. Kennan came again. He linger
ed two weeks in Rexford. BY the enc
of that time the dcnOUcnClH came.
He proposed for Pansy, declared his
passionate love for her, and when pap;
demurred demanded that she be sent
for. The child came, weeping like ;
culprit, accusing herself of treachery
toward Tom. But not all her tears, al
her remorse, could hide the fact tha
this man had won her heart.
81 thought loved Tom-poor Tom.
she faltercd. "But l did not know
what love was"
An utter dismay fell upon us MI wheI
this tragid dcnouCmCnf of Tom Gordon!
pretty romance became known to MS
Many n long, fearful consultation We
had, but the hard, painful facts could
not be changed
Pansy herself was firm as n martyr.
"Tll marry Tom if you say so, she
said with great sob, "But L love
Max"
OF course, then, it was all over
Papa had theory-a curiously senti
mental theory for grave lawyerof fifty
that girls should marry for love, anc
mamma had never thought Toms i'm
pecuniosity was quite what her darling
observed. Mr.. kennan saw his advan
tage, and pursued his suit. 1t was de
cided that Tom should be written to-
But who would break this bitter news
Pansy came winding her soft arms
around my neck.
"He loves YOU better than any o.