Smyrna times., 1875-07-28

cause it is so dim, and in it you stand up
surrounded by people-ah! let me see,
they are children around you, and you are
greatly changed, taller, paler, and thinner,
but there is no wedding, no wedding. The |
water is not clear to-day; you must come |
again. Mercy what is this? Here is a |
great crowd, they are making noise, and |
looking at two men-yOung lady, the two |
men are fighting, and Heavens! the water
turns red it is blood, blood But l see no
wedding. see blood, but no wedding"
"She looked so weird and dreadful,
Aunt Laet, that l was afraid to have her
tell my fortune after that. She told us to
come again when the water was clearer
and then we came away, and Alice has
been cross as bear ever since. But I'm
sure wouldn't go back again for anything"
WhereupOn and finally, Aunt Laet had
her laugh. "What did tell you, Alice? {?
Didn't say you were to be an old maid.
1t was foreordained by the fates. Only,
Alice, let me request one thing of you, yea,
two things, come to think. Don't you ever
90 to pettng cats, or dyeing your hair with
vle-smelling, sulphurous stuff, when white
threads begin to sneak in around your
temples. I'll never will you my teapot or
Eyeglasses if you do that"
| Aunt Laetitia, who liked to tease people,
laughed again.
1t was the season of peaches and melons,
the roasting season when idle people hunt
cool places, and devout people hold camp
meetings Alice went to camp-meeting
with her father, mother and Aunt Laetitia.
Is there anybody here l wonder, who
doesn't know what camp-meeting is like?
II there is, let her go to the next one, and
find out for herself
Father and mother sat up among the
wOrshipers, close to the preachers plat
form; Aunt Laet sat halfway back in the
congregation, like one who was doubtful in
her mind as yet whether to separate her
self from the world or not, while giddy-
pated Alice didn't pretend to sit among the
congregation at all, but lowered away
back oil the extreme borders, where the
preachers voice could scarcely be heard
at all. Their position in the camp-meeting
audience was an exact barometer of the
devotional states of these excellent people
namely, father and mother, Aunt Laetitie
Alice. In point of fact, the young people
on the outermost borders of the devou
assembly were flirting with all their might
If you've never been to a camp-meeting
don't mind telling you-that is what thu
young people mostly go to campmeeting
: for. Alice Esmcrelda Kildare was flirting
L with Tom Creighton. Her betrothcd, tn
slim, long g-haired student, was coming hOm
, tomorrow.
e "When the cats away the mice will play
e and the mouse will play till the very las
r, minute before the cat comes" Alice ha
IS remarked to herself, as she admired he
y bright, brunette face in the glass thq
/ morning.
y So she sat upon one of the rude woode
y benches under tree, and let Tom Creighto
- talk soft nonsense in half whispers to he
- Was all this wicked, of a Sunday, at CAM
, meeting? Yes; certainly it was, but tw'
thirds Of the young people about thel
, were behaving in the same wicked manne
e Suddenly Tom Creighton's soft, lazy voiC
- ceased, and Alice looked up, presently,
see why. She could hardly keep down
> cry, as she saw, approaching them, her ow
=" betrothed, the slim, handsome studen
" :, who had been gone whole year. Som
:" how she felt dreadfully guilty as she caug
> his bright, gray eyes. 1t was such fun
:; firt, but-dear me
7H The slim student passed her with a co
bow. His mother was on his arm, and
'' led her to a seat up among the devo
~" people around the preachers platforl
ou Alice's heart beat little queerly, and To
'iN Creighton watched her keenly. 1t wasl
- pleasant. and Alice hated unpleasant thin
W Suddenly her betrothed came back towar
them. lie had seated-his mother and j
her. lie touched his hat to Alice.
"I beg pardon, Miss Kildare, but wi
to ask you something in presence of t
''N person, | may not have the opportun
again. Imay not see you again soon, indee'
md ii' 'oo'> " 70
80 folded it.
"Read that, if you please" said the s
=, student to Miss Alice, who by this ii
! was beginning to be conscious OF a pow
.: full inclination to run away. The pa
contained an exact copy of the slander
o"' statements which Alice had allowed ]
NY NY. Creighton to repeat to her concerning
- betrothed.
- 81 only wish to know" said the
- student, with simple dignity, whether
,on3 allowed this person to tell you the
-,,.o. that is on that paper"
~ Alice did not answer. She wanted W
.;rat tFran ever to run away, but to save her
rou she could not have gone past that WI
.aa, ful, gray eye, which was fixed or her Il
By siege gun
and "a very short answer is sufficient.
ewes or no, Miss Kildare?'
look. "I won't tell YOU" said Alice, pou
,atar aDo you think you can make me do