The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-29
the truth, it's getting a little dull and
4., IL -

monotonous, and"
"Dull and monotonous! What has
got into you? Why it's only day or Q,
two since you were going to stay month
yet. You're just the queerest chap"
GIVE been told that often enough to %
know it by heart, Fred. 1 think l shall
90 up by tomorrow nights train, unless
you shall go too if I wait over few
days" :, -, =, s,,+,,;rbt
at any rate" ,,,u
"All right. 1t is settled, then. Walk
up to the station with me, and you can
send my trunk along some day when the
wagon is going up"
The next evening we arrived at the
little rise in sight of the station some
time before the train was due, and we sat
down on rude stone-wall overlooking
the valley. a1
didn't show you this, I believe. She
looked so charming couldn't help it."
And he opened his portfolio, which ne
invariably had with him, and showed me
a sketch he had made of Miss Perry the
day she was masquerading, which had
thus far proved so disastrous to me. IL
was q personifed ily-of-the-valley, with
the delicate features of her whose name
of Margaret somehow grated on my ear,
and, as "Miss Perry" was too formal, 1
had taken to calling her "Puss."
"I say, Fred, / want this" | said.
"Nonsense! You'd better let me keep
this, and you take the original"
q wise man is content with what he
can get" responded briefly, as l put it
in my satchel.
Fred gave me a curious look, which
did not interrupt till later in the season,
and made no objection to my approprla-
The sun was sinking behind the noun
tain. the valley we had just left having
been for some time in deep shadow: -
eWhere are your canvas and .colors T.
T presently asked. "There's an effect of
chiaroscuro that would draw praise from
the most conservative critic"
Fred needed no second hint; and, as
he painted away. T observed the beauti-
full effect, and made occasional jerky re-
marks on variety of subjects, presently
saying: A.. -, ,,,,,,no..d;no ,;o
wasl She is, indeed, lily-of.the-valley,
both lily and valley being in their respec-
tive ways charming in a superlatlve
sense"
The whistle sounded just then, and /
started in haste for the train, leaving
Fred busy on his picture, hardly looking
up when he said goodbye, and prophe-
sled my return in a few days.
Several times, after my return to the
city, I came near doing so, wondering II
it were not cowardly in me to strike my
colors at such moment, and if "Puss"
did not expect me to come over the
mountain to see her.
Nearly two months had elapsed, and l
had heard no word from Fred. was on
the point of putting a change of linen in
a satchel, and taking two-days' run In
search of him, and to see if Miss Perry
had returned, when I received letter,
which, to say the least, indefinitely post
poned the matter.
I give only those parts my readers will
be interested in:
"MY DEAR Boy: Congratulate me
that is, with an if. She won't name the
day. nor positively promise that she ever
will: but it is so well settled in my own
mind, that shall order the suit as soon
as I arrive in town, which will be some
day next week if I can tear myself away
so soon.
GLOW did I do it? Blest if I know !
I never dreamed of such thing till you
dropped that remark you did when I
gave YOU the sketch of the lady in her
masquerade dress, that "a wise man is
content with what he can get which
flashed through my brain the intelligence
that you had been rejected, or satisfied
you would be. Why, I never could con-
ceive, for I always supposed you to be
the favored one, but 1 didn't puzzle over
the conundrum very long. From that
moment I gave myself up to the task Of
winning her, and went at it roug hand
tumble. never went into anything be-
fore so recklessly, because never before
had been so seriously in earnest.
"But you don't care for details. If
none but the brave deserve the fair I
have at least earned the trophy shall
henceforth wear SO proudly on my
breast"
Before Fred returned from the country,
I was on the Atlantic. / had again be-
haved in a cowardly manner, and deser-
ted my colos when a vigorous movement
on my own part, instead of resulting so,
would have had a decidedly contrary
result.
But was both blind and stupid. 7
could neither see nor understand what
had taken place, nor how it all tended to
my advantage did I but follow it up.
That knowledge did not come to me till
many months afterward.
On the water, and pressed to the brim
with work, had supposed should for
get the little country girl, and return
heart-whole from the European trip I
had been commissioned to take by the
house in which was engaged; but every
day only added to the intensity of my
suffering, and finally the longing I felt
must forever be unrealized, became so
much part of my existence that even
sunlight began to take its hues from the
half-rpened orange.
But the eMgencies of the business I
was transacting demanded my continued
stay, and levied such tax on my mental
capacities that I soon began to look on
my trouble as annoying, but not serious,
and as though callus had grown over
it, and no pain would result from it un-
less violent strain were brought to bear
upon it.
Then disaster came and the house
suddenly failed, leaving me adrift; and
I was preparing to return home when I
was offered an advantageous position in
foreign house, member of which, I
was courteously informed, had observed
the mastery manner in which l had
managed the affairs of the branch which
had been entrusted to me-"
So, of course, it transpired that did
not return to my native land that autumn,
nor the next, norm fact, it was three