Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-12-18

Portable assurance. The next morn
inc made a beautiful toilet, but
neither Mr.. nor Mrs. Lacelles called.
Just at lamp-lighting / heard little
stir and hustle on the stairs, rip
ping laugh. The rustlingof silk robes,
and, leaning %n her fathers arm.
MISS Laeeiles -ntrre,i. She w&s bean.
tifnl, tall, pile and l:plv like, remind
ing yos OF It lair White lilly Ne
soon struck up II friendship girls
friendship. | mean
Some one has said that there is no
friendship between the sexes, aud
some one is mistaken; for l think the
world holds no safer friend for a wo-
man than an honorable man. a wo-
mans friendship is very likely to be
the result Of convenience, contiguity,
o. of being, as my father sneeringly
remarked. " the only Christians with
in hail OF each other. Mary showed
me all her secrets. and | returned the
compliment, mindful of Burns ud
vice to still keep something to my
self l wad not tell 10 ony."
Life settled down into an uncxcit,
ing but endurable routine. Mary and
l visited each other, for l had invited
her to pass The cold weather with lne
in New York. One day in the mid
die of one of these pleasant chats, Il
servant came in and handed me n
card. The name on it aroused all the
-antagonism in my nature. 1t was
Geoffrey Gardner"
Now it so happened that the exist
ence OF this gentleman Was the thing
l kept back in my confidence with
Mary. So I had now to explain who
and wnat he was. l wanted her to
come into the parlor Nth me-but
no, she would go uome first and dress;
but she promised to be back to tea.
disliked Geoffrey, yet | was glad
to see him My mental faculties were
rustirg for want Of attention. Father
w.,rld not quarrel with me, and Ma
ry Was ICY only face card. l could
not throw her away. Besides,
r.,her liked t" see his great hand
some figure in the room; he was so
full of life that he seemed to vitalize
the chairs and stools; they tumbled
about and got out Of the way in the
strangest manner. told him about
NJ ,ry Lacelles, and warned him that
lie would lose his heart. He grayely
told me that he had none to lose.
We waited tea tor Mary, but she
d,d not come till quite DIRK, and we
had begun tea She said she had
been detained by company, but |
knew better than that. She was
dressed with reference to candle-light
effect, and would not lose its inhu-
ence on her first appearance. [ never
,aw her look SO lovely-her rose-col-
ored dress, with its broad simmer
ing bands of white silk, enhanced
her charms. Geotfrey looked delight
e |, and she gave him the benefit
OF both her upward and downward
glances.
When tea WAS over lett the room
for II few moments. and when came
back l found Geoffrey and Mary sit
ting opposite each other, with the
chess boasd between them, as an ex-
cuse for t.rtations The move had
been so rapid that l had been aston
ished, and a little angry too; and
father did not improve the matter by
whispering. as l passed his chair:
"Checkmated. Olive.
1t was a pleasant evening to me,
and it was the beginning Of my un-
pleasantness.
"How it came let the doctors tell;;"
but l began to like Geotfrey just as
soon as he began to like Mary. 1
called up pride to the rescue, but it
lid not help me much, and I suffered
much in watching Geofrey's atten-
tion to Mary, and listening to her
brattles about him. I thought her
SO supremely silly, an l told her so.
She was astonished at my petulance,
but l don't think she suspected the
truth. Only father did that. and lie
looked so "served you right, Miss,
that 1 longed for him to be woman
for an hour or so that I might talk
back to him.
One day, after Geofry had been
month with us, a riding party was
to the top of the mountain.
Geoffry and Mary, father and THAT
would be the order of cour; e, and
was prepared for that; but there is
last straw to every burden, and my
last straw was this incident: They
were mounted and waiting for med
when Mary dropped her gauntlet.
From my window | saw Geoffry pick
It up, put it upon the hand laid so
confidently in his, then kiss it. After
that l was not going to ride for "king
nor kaiser l senta positive refusal
% all entreaties, and as soon as they
we're out Of sight indulged in a good
cry. l cried myself to
deep, and awoke about dusk with a
new. born purpose in my mind, which
;omforted me wonderfully, the key
note to which was, "she stoops to
Yet l did not dress again;
[ knew they were at tea at Mr.. La
;elles. so ! threw my dressing gown
around NE. and taking Red as a
Rose is She" in my hand, l ordered
;up Of strong tea, and wen. into the
sitting room. AS l walked IN at one
loor, Geoifry walked in at the other.
II came to take you to Mr. La
,elles, Olive" he said.
How do you propose doing it, sir?
For unless you bind me hand and
DOT, and geta couple Of darkies TO
tote Inc there, l really don't think
you will succeed"