The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-07-15
"John, Come Here I"

Pretty, plump Mrs. Archibald Steele
wrote the following paragraph in one of her
letters to her husband the other day:
"John must come down here at once,
whether. you can spare him Or not Our
dear little Laura is greatly taken with tall,
thin young man with q hooked nose and
thin lips, called Stuyvesant. 1t is whispered
about the hotel that he Is very good
match, and has the verltable blood of the
old Dutch governor in his veins l must
say that 1t has queer way of showing it.
self, for the young man is as pale as a
spectre; and dressed in that white duck,
with his sunken eyes and bilious skin, is
enough to trighten one. l have grown to
hate him, while Laura is growing to be
quite the contrary I am afraid. Ali the
evening he leans up against the wall, never
dancing or opening his mouth, save to give
vent to some hateful, sarcastic criticism
upon the scenes around him, and yet dear
little Laura's eyes-as, indeed, all the other
pretty eyes about-are perpetually beseech-
ing him for attention. In daytime he is al
ways with long, black horse, that covers
more ground with its legs while it is going
than any other animal ever saw. When
Laura goes ont to drive behind it. and va
nishcs out Of sight with the bony creature,
tremble to think how dreadful it would be
If our dear little girl would ever be part
and parcel of this wretchcd man and his
beast. So think John had better come
down at one. l quite long to see his hand
some face and hear his honest voice, and I
think it is about time that John should tell
his little story to Lanra, and have things
settled comfortably" a,'t.G
Mr.. Archibald Steele smiled when he put
the letter of his wife in his waist coat
pocket, and, picking up the morning paper,
scaned through his gold-rimmed spectacles
the news OF the day. Finding nothing
therein to refine the exceedingly satisfactory
condition of his affairs, he put it down,
smiling as only prosperous, contented,
downtown merchant can smile. He was
one Of those happy exceptions to the ordi-
nary rule of morals with whom everything
Went well. His whole experience was an
exclamation-poin to that effect. If he. ven
turcd little hazardously in trade fortune
trimmed her sails to favor him. If he set
his heart upon anything relating to dones-
tic felicity, all the elements Of art and ma
ture conspired to bring it about So when
he stepped to the door of his Office and bec-
koned to yonng man with strip Of com
mercal paper in his hand and pencil be.
hind his ear, with the general air of brisk
ness and shrewdness about him that be-
tokcned successful downtown merchant
embryo, Mr. Steele smiled the third time
with the air Of one who was not at all
afraid of any bilious, blue-blooded obstacle
that might be thrown in the path of a. do
mestic happiness which he firmly agreed
had been arranged by an Omnipotent hand.
John, said Mr.. Steele, closing the door
OF his private office, and looking upon his
young clerk benevolently, ssI've got an Or
der from Mrs. Steele which wish you to
attend to-" '.'" t'
Certainly, sir" said John; 'shall / 40
out and get the articles myself2"
"Why the fact is, John," said the lner-
chant, enjoying his joke more and more,
sits only one article-a rather bulky one.
1t was bargained for long time ago, I
think you will have to 60 down with it,
john"
"Down to the sea-shorel" said John,
getting little hot and tiustcred. .'Is 1t a
very valuable parcel, 7sir7" A.S,' I. ts.,s
well, perhaps your natural modcsty
may 8depreciate Its worth, John. Mrs.
Steele,a and Ithink a good deal of it, and
Laura, too, am sure, does. The commo-
dity Is yourself, John. Mrs. Steele wants
you to 60 down8and take little holiday
is WM0H Jig 6snAUle OF Laura was mentioned
the young mans face grew moro fustered
and hotythan before. &a
.sYon are very kind, sir, he said, and
Mrsg Steele is more like an angel than O
woman" ,saa4s ,g
slsathef solid. and plump SorS; That" I" in
tcprosed'M Mr.. Steele, but liking the phrase
nevertheless.
''But it Is simple madness, prusued
John,s'to dream Of further happiness than
enjoy. .now--your affection and that of
your wife--tlny position here; i don't dare,
can't hope for anything more. Oh, Mr..
Steele, ] can't tell her my story. She would
turn from me with horror and aversion.
She 10 SO young, so beautiful. Let me at
least enjoy the present. ~ ssJitM Is iesa8
sssss.4And IN the mean timo some, cadaverous,
bilious, III Sbluesblooded scoundrel will carry
her off from us all 1906 " s9li''
;. Then Johns face grow pale and stern.
I'll. there issthe slightest feeling upon her
part for--for any one. else, then, indeed,
Mr. Steele, my case is hopeless. .
y The commercial paper fiutered fro,f, li,is
hand, the pencil fell & from lliSE eSIa, aud he
leaaed l he head against the deal and trsm-
bled, ;:mg 3s' s. & ss5,
3s.Why, who would suppose you could
bs such 4 coward2' said Nj. Steele, in,pe-