Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-05-28

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Annie's expression ofopen mouthed.
astonishment was so ludicrous that Helen
involuntarily burt into merry laugh.
what do you mean by saying such an
absurd thing?' cried Annie, looking q
little relieved.
Exactly what say returned her
friend, assuming her former expression
of mysterious gravity. Il elope this night
at halfpast nine precisely. I've arranged
it all. Didn'tyou sce2'
See what? Why, verify believe
you're demented.'
Fot more than the majority ofwoman-
kind, I assure you. Then you didn't
notice that Herbert Seeley handed note
to Minnie yesterday eveningY
No, indeed! Did he2 And watched
them all the evening! You have eyes
like lynx, HelenP
I owe this discovery quite as much to
my ears as to my eyes. When little See
ley took my sisters hand a; parting, I
noticed that he gave her very signif-
cant look, and as her hand fell among
the folds of her dress, I heard something
rustic family, like paper. So after we
had all been in bed some time, 1 arose
softly, and having listened at her door to
make sure that she was soundly sleeping
l stole in and looked about for the note,
which by a piece of good luck I hardly
expected, l found ON her bureau, and,
read without any trouble, the gas not
being out, but only turned down. It
seemed a dishonorable thing to do; but
better that than lose my Minnie. Dear
little thing sleeping SO soundly, her
rosy lips parted. and her long golden
ringlets falling about her shoulders
But the note; the note'
1T contained only these words, asnear-,
ly as I can remember: Meet me, my
beauteous one, tomorrow night, at half
past nine, in the little summer-housc. A
carriage will await us at short distance.
Fail me not, thou precious angel, nor
fear to trust thyself to one who would
die for thee. Forever thine, Herbert
'Oh, the little imbecile So it is ms [
predicted; and now what are you going,
to do?'
Exactly what 1 told you-clope with
the youth, myself
How can YOU je?t so? A few days ago
you told me it was no laughing matter.
Is it any less now? Yet there you sit,
looking as if it were capital joke
Il am not jesting, Annie, and you
nccden't proceed to turn up the whites of
your eyes, and look sanctimonious, for
the cause of my high spirits is simply the
thought that I've found away out of this
difficulty-at least for the present-and
perhaps forever, who knows? l thought
it all out last night when you were fast
asleep, you lazy thing. shall clope in
Minrie's place
Helen Chapman!'
annie Grahamp
You'll never astonish me again, rs
long as you live, by anything you may
say or do. Well, let us hear how this
pretty little maneuvre is to be accom-
plished.'
bat Grstt-may count upon your as
sstance?'
Did ever in my life refuse it when
you asked it, adventurous girl?'
Very good; here, then, is the pro-
grammc.'
A long and mysterious conversation
followed, and the climbing roses that
cnwreathed the little summer-house pecd
cd in ut the young conspirators, and STIR
red by the June breezes, seemed to whis-
per to each other and nod their faces in
approval. AS the clock struck nine that
evening warm, soft rain was falling, and
the night mir was heavy and odorous. The
two friends sat in the parlor gayly chat
ting together, while Minnie, silent and i'll
at ease, restlcssly watched the hands of
the clock i'll their slow march, and started
at every sound. After short time Helen
turned, affecting yawn, and asked her
sister to step into the dining-room. and