The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-06-07
MISS PEVERILL'S PRIDE.

"I never heard of such impertinence, "
said Agnes Peverill, throwing down the
letter she held, and half crying in her
anger. "How dare he write such things
to me2 What business has he to love
me? He never would have dared write
like this if-if papa were alive and we
had not lost our money"
"You may thank yourself for this, "
said Grandmother Peverill, looking over
her spectacles with an air of concern.
"You have amused yourself consider
ably with Harold Helper, to my certain
knowledge. When one dances, one
must pay the piper"
81 don't understan you, grandma.
certainly never gave him shadow of
encouragement. I have guessed for
some time that hc-that he didn't dis
like me, you know; but never dreamed
that he wonld dare say as much. Papa's
clerk Why, I've seen him sweeping
out the Office, and his fingers as inky as
Caddy Jellyby's."
o." Men are audacious creatures" OBJ
served grandma; "hut if you knew that
he didn't xactly hate you, you oughtn t
were le lrning to ride. When your papa
brought him home to dine, you needn't
have made yourself so attractive, need
youa You might have had headache
III your own room, or an invitation out.
You neednt t have talked pretty nonsense
with him by the hour, WI lie your father
and took our after-dinner maps, need
youa"
some can't help flirting little,
grandma.
"What, with ones fathers clerk ?
And no doubt one can't help working
eitherf"
"Why, of course, one gives birthday
and Christmas gifts to all ones acquaint-
ances, even to old Biddy, the pauper.
One doesn't expect them to presume on
that, hewever."
"An so you think that Mr.. Helper is
presuming when he offers you his heart's g
love and all hi worldly prospects. Why
so2"
I" think he is presuming, because
the Peverills are not of his order, grand
mamma. They came over in the Nav
flower; they de scended from Lord Pew
Grill; they graduated at colleges, have
enjoyed elegant accomplishments ever
since the flood, and have never soiled
their hands with the CRIME of labor;
while Mr.. Helpers ancestors were IL
hterate mechanics, who murdered the
kings English, Why, his own father
was stonecutter. I've heard papa say
so.'
Sand supposing that yours had been
a mechanic, what objection would you
have urged2"
Why, it's not supposable case,
Peverill stonecutter 70
But supposing you were not a
Peverill9"
"My Imagination is not bold enough
for such fight. You see, have all
the prejudices of my class. I would
choose unhappiness sooner than marry
"Then am to understand that you
consider yourself superior to Harold
Helper. It is some years since lie fig
ured as your fathers inky fingered clerk,
remember. Since then he has written o
book, he has invented a machine, he has
lectured to scientists. Wherein does
your superiority consist2 What have
you been doing in the meantime?'
"l have been rubbing papa's gouty
toe, and accepting the attentions Of
Miles Bond"
"You don't mean -
Oildb L pTOUaDIy marry
Miles Bond some fine day, if nothing
happens"
Marry Miles Bond - repeated
grandmamma, as if she had said that
~she was going to marry the khan of
Tartary.
"You seem to be astonished, grand
mamma"
"Yes-a little. He's born aristo-
crat."
"Exactly-there's q pair of us. I
shall be entitled to consideration in the
beau monde as his wife, don't you see2"
For it must be confessed that since Mr..
Peverills death and insolvency the teau
monde had looked coldly upon his pretty
daughter, in spite of the Peverili coat
OF arms and the luxuriance of the family
tree.
"Then you do not care q fig for Mr..
Helper 2" asked grandma.
'' Is it necessary for me to deny the
soft impeachment, when have almost
made up my mind to accept another 2"
When was girl ~ began the old
lady.