Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-07-31


elbow pretty she isr' thought he, "ald
as good aS pretty, am sure"
"What an honest, pleasant face, I wonder
if l shall over SEQ him again7" This was
nor thought.
josie did SEQ him again and quito often.
Tho Mannings aud Croftons were not only
neighbors but wore intimate. Mary Crof-
ton had been strangely attached to Mrs.
Manning's only daughter, who died the
preceding winter. Sho spent q good doal
Of time at her house, aud Josie frequently
went with hor. Mary was mover tired of
prnisiug John; ho was suoh gooL 500;
80 intelligent, steady and Industrious.
John soon got over his shyness with tho
city girl, who took 80 kindly to country
ways that it seemed as If she had alwoys
lived in the country. He used to walk
home with her, Mary CONSIDERABLY linger.
ing by the gate to talk with his mother,
we'll pleased with tho turn affairs wero tax.
ing.
Then thcro wcro rides and walks, picnios
and social gatherings, at all of which John
and Josio had q fashion of getting off by
themselves fashion that every ono seemed
to honor and understand.
Aud 30 tho happy days went on, caoh
day binding these two young loving hearts
moro closely together.
When Josie returned to tue oity, which
was two weeks later than sh /, intended, sho
hada pleasant little story to whisper in her
fathers ear.
eff you love him and ho is worthy of
YOU" he said, in reply to tho query with
which it ended.
Josie's quick eur detected tho sadness
that under ran these words.
"You know you promised to 1.-Two with
mo when was married, popa," she whis
pcrcd, laying h,r check close to his.
"And on farm, too. Won't it be delight
ful?"
Belle and Lucy returned home with that
conscious air of subducd triumph and
Importance peculiar to "engagcd young
ladies'"
Having attained the end and aim of
their existence, thcrc was nothing further
Tor them to hope or expect; ind from
henceforth they were to rcposc upon their
laurels, floating down the stream of lifo
with no thought or care for anything but
the present enjoyment.
Bellies captive was Wall street broker,
owning fabulous amount on pager. Lu-
cy's was the son of millionaire, whose
ambition seemed to be to spond as quickly
as possible the money his father had laborcd
hard to acquire.
They made no attempt to disguise their
surprise and disdain when they heard of
Josio's modest conquest.
"Only farmer!" shifted Mrs. Wilson.
"Ncvcr did | dream that one of m3 daugh-
tors would stoop to that! But 1 suppose
hat if you have your father's approval you
do not care for mine"
"Of course you can't expect us to visit
you," said Belle loftily. "Tho connections
of Charles Augustus arc all of tho highest
and most ariStocratio families and can't be
thought Of"
"Ce:"taiDly not" echoed Lucy. "a wfo
hos to take the position of hor husband,
which is something you had better think
Of"
Josie had thought of it, and very liz rny
thoughts they were too.
The disasters of the thrco years that fol-
lowed, made quito change in the sur
rounding of all the above with tho cxccp-
ton of Josie md her husband.
Out of the wreck Of MIR. Wilson's bust.
ness nothing was left but the honor and
integrity, which shono all the moro brightly
from tho temporary gloom that shrouded
him. His wife took their altered fortune
very hard-fairly worrying herself into the
grave, where she was laid few months
later. Penpilcss and untitled for anything
higher, the husbands Of Belle and Lucy
were glad to accept positions, Que as u
conductor on city car, tho other third
ratio clcrkship.
Josie did not sec much of her sisters but
many barrel of apples and crock of butter
found their way to them from the Manning
farm.
Almost every pleasant afternoon a gray
haired, placid looking old man can be seen
on the Western piazza with n grandchi)d on
each knee. 1t is Mr. Wilson, who often
thanks God that ono Of his daughters mar
rIcd "only farmer"