The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-04-26

to see sick child I like that like
! it. What blessing that it occurred to
me to offer myself to such good hearted,
cheerful, tender, fond little woman as
she is and what miraculous fool I
have been not to have done it long ago.
Why, honestly, I feel rs if I had been
in love with her all along and believe
I have been, and never knew ii"
His handsome head leaned comforta-
bly, against the cushions, and his well
shaped, we'll booted feet were crossed on
low ottoman near the fire that burned
costly and brightly.
He waited ten-twepty-thiIty min
utes, and when she did not come at the
expiration of three-quarters of an hour
Mr.. Ammidon was conscious of keen
disappointment that astonished himself.
"At all events, my object shall be ac-
complished, so far as [ can accomplish
it," he thought.
And he took his gold and ivory pen,
and wrote an ardent, courteous, rnde-
niably eager statement of his case, asking
her to be his loved wife, and begged an
answer on the morrow, when she should
be visiting Mrs. Benedict.
81 accidentally learned you would take
tea with us tomorrow night, he wrote,
'tand I must know at once when meet
yolif am the blessed man I hope to
be. If you can look favorably on my
suit let me know by answering Yes to
the first question I put to you. If it is
otherwise, Il will not trouble you further. :"
Then he signed himself suitably, put
the folded and addressed note conspicu-
ously on the top of pile of newspaper
and sheet music on the piano, and took
his leave, in strange whirl of excite
ment and expectation.
Half an hour later Mrs. Baldwin came
in, stopping as she passed the dining
room door to speak to the girl.
"You carried all those papers and the
music up stairs, Annie, as I told you?"
"The very minute the gentleman went
away, Mrs. Baldwin-it was Mr.. Ammi-
don, and he came just as you went out. "
''Oh, that's too bad that was not In !!
Mrs. Mays little Edith is very, very sick,
Annie.
And so Mrs Baldwin never knew of the
precious letter, as she sat there alone by
the fire, thinking of the caller she had
missed with genuine sorrow and paling
cheeks and eyes full of disappointment.
For pretty Mrs. Bessie, with her soft
blue eyes and rebelliously curly hair, and
small perfect figure, was more interested
in the handsome bachelor than she cared
to admit even to herself.
The next day she dressed with unusual
care for her afternoon visit to Mrs. Bene-
dict, wondering, as she basted the soft
little ruching in the neck of her sleeve
less velvet jacket, and adjusted the pouts
of her black silk overskirt, whether or
not Mr.. Ammidon would think she looked
well, and whether, possibly, he might
not escort her home.
So her eyes were dancing with radiant
blue sunshine, and her cheeks were
flushing a most delicious rose pink hue,
and her lovely mouth dimpling in be-
witching smiles, when Mr.. Ammi-
don came into the sitting-room, several
minutes before the time for the dinner
bell to ring-Mr. Ammidon, handsomer
than she had ever seen him, in dark
blue cloth suit, with white tie, and his
face so grandly intelligent and animated
as he went up to her and offered her his
hand, looking straight in her face as he
spoke, very quietly, but with all his fate
in his words-and she so smiling, so un-
conscious.
CT am very glad to see you, Mrs.
Baldwin. Didn't you find it very cool
this afternoon?"
Then she met his gaze, and hating
herself because her heart was throbbing
SO gladly at sight of him and despising
herself because he had thrilled her from
head to foot.
Then, never knowing her fate was in
it; she turned her beautiful face careless
ly away and withdrew her hand, and an
swered him:
"No; I thought it was charmingly
pleasant.
And MIR. Ammidon recoiled as if he
had been struck a dreadful blow, and
could not, for the life of him, console
himself with the conviction that women
were fools and men we're well rid of
them.
The next day he told Mrs. Benedict he
would not want his apartments any
longer, and had his trunks packed and
sent to hotel.
Mr.. Anamidon determined to kill two
birds with one stone-to get out OF the
possibility of having to meet often Mrs
Benedict's friend, the pretty, merciless
little woman, than whom he had never
loved another, and to make his home
| where house cleaning was unknown, and
Bessie cried till her eyes were red and
swollen to think how entirely Indifferent
Mr.. Ammidon was to her.
, And the winter crept softly along in
soft, white, snowy robes, and several
times Mrs. Baldwin saw Mr.. Ammidon
driving past, although he didn't do more
as he passed than glance carelessly at the
window and bow.
| And the sweet, warm spring days
came, and with perfumy hints of roses
and woodbine, and fresh emerald leaves,
and climbing vines, and bursting bios
SONS, came Bessie Baldwin's S fate, in the
shape of the unromantic, the inevitable
spring cleaning that must be undertaken
and accomplished, no matter how
temptingly balmly sunshine and fragrant
breezes and cloudless skies clamor for
promenades and drives in order to vel
come them.
Thus it happened that Mrs. Baldwin
was ensconced in one of her chambers,
with blue veil tied tightly over her
golden hair and her muslin dress pinned
up in front, disclosing ravishingly lovely