Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-11-30
The explanation of it was that these

The explanation of it was that these
young persons had met in the merry
summer time in an out of the way
country nook, where Sarepta was 80.
journing with a city cousin, friend Of
the Messrs. Edgerton and Merton.
Mrs. Green accepted the situation
gracefully, and was pleasantly courteous
as became so polite lady. But when
the call had ended, and mother and
daughter were left again to each others
companionship, Sarepta listenedto some
animated remarks.
GA nice trick you played me !" said
Mrs. Green. "Let me 60 out asking
questions about those two men, and
you knew all about them all the while !!
Why didn't you tell mes"
"Why, mamma, I didn't know that
you wanted to learn anything about
them. The first knew you had found
out all had to tell, and more too; so
what WAS the usea"
"WelI, you might have told me be-
fore. And how was it you didn't recog.
nizes.them when We met on the streetF
II did !; bowed and they lifted their
hats the first time we met them. You
did not see them at all that time, for
you were busy looking at Mrs. Bunce
and her new cloak"
"The first time Did We meet them
three times instead of twice, then9"
81 did not count the times, but L
think it must have been three"
Humph 2 Well, I've nothing to do
now but to see that no trouble comes
of all your smartness. To begin with,
I noticed that Mr.. Merton was rather
more attentive to you this evening than
there was any necessity for. l want
you to remember that he is not the one
who will do"
There was no reply to this injunction.
Perhaps it was not heard, and subse-
quent facts rendered this all the more
probable.
The two young men prolonged their
stay in the village, and made frequent
calls together at Mrs. Green's house.
Mir. Eds erton was all that could be de-
sired in the way of friendly courtesy,
but George Merton was that, and more
too. 1t became more and more apparent
that he aimed to become the one who
would do.
He came often with his friend, but
more often by himself, and one day he
called not on Sarepta, but upon Mrs.
Green herself. The nature Of his er-
rand may be gathered from remark
of that lady's during the conversation.
"I am very sorry matters have gone
SO far" she said, "and / tried in every
way to prevent it. ALI can do now Is
to say that 1 will never give my consent
to your marriage with my daughter. l
esteem you very greatly, but long
since made up my mind that my son,ln-
law must have fortune and position"
"But, my dear madam -
81 have had my say, Mr.. Merton, AMI
nothing will ever make me say different
ly. don't mind saying to you that the
same question from your friend would
receive very different answer"
George Merton went away then, and
Ssrepta received little lecture from
her mother. The girl was little pale,
but very quiet, and her mother thought
she was going to be very sensible. She
fe't little discouraged, however, when
SSrepta said, quite in her natural voice
81 know he is poor, and without po-
siiion, as you call it, but will never
marry any other man as long as 1 live u
and that ended the conversation.
Alter this matters went on much the
same as usual, except that George Mer-
ton came no more to Mrs. Green's house
Sarepta was little quieter than of old,
but altogether acted in a practical man.
ner, that gave her mother very great
encouragement.
One afternoon the young lady dressed
to 90 out for a walk, and stood for a
time with one foot on the fender bar,
listening to her mothers talk, which ran
pretty much in this strain toward the
close
ST haven't seen Mr.. Edgerton for
tw5 or three days, have youa And
his friend seems to have disappeared
altogether. I must say it was very pro-
per of him not to come here after gave
him 80 decided an answer. Why, bless
nv soul! Here he is nowl"
And there, sure enough, he was, step
ping leisurely in through the open door
OF the room. He had evidently screwed
his cou1age up, and was keeping it up
by little bit of bravado not quite ma
tural to him. His hat was pulled tight
upon his head, his step had the least
suggestion of a swagger in it, and he car
ried his hands in the pockets OF the
short, odd looking jacket which he wore
for the apparent purpose of making him
look unnecessarily independent.
His manner put Mrs. Green on the
offensive, as if it were challenge. Her
face took on its hard, set look, her
hands folded themselves together under
her apron, and she stood looking at him
very frigidly, and failed to notice that
her daughter was not 80 much surprised
as she ought to have been.
"Good afternoon, MIR. Merton" said
Mrs. Green, very much as if he had
been sewing machine agent. "We
were just speaking of-your friend"
"kh, Charlie Yes, poor fellow, he
has gone back to the city. He really
needed longer rest, but he couldn' t
take it without losing his situation, and
he cannot afford to do that"
ellis situations Why
"Yes, you know he is bookkeeper.
But, no; I remember now, my friend
Mrs. Garwood got our names mixed IN
telling you about us"
81 see," said Mrs. Green, in tone
fbof inoplia5 MANY thinos