The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-22

''Nly DEAR" said Mrs. ST.. "wlat makes
you so melancholy 2"
"Eh 2" said Mr.. Smpkins, starting from
his reverie. go, nothing Doocid tired.
Hard day at the Office" -
tP"or old hubby" !" said Mrs. S. sooth-
ingly. 'I-I-got that bonnet to-day,
dear"
"Mr. Simpkins gruntcd.
"Would you like to sec it :" qucricd his
wife, doubtfully.
at any other time Mr.. Simpkins might
have said eyes" but now, with the recol-
lection of those cherry ribbons uppcrmost
in his mind the inspection of any other bon
net would have been torture.
''No," he replied, shortly, 81 don't know
anything about such gcwgaws. If it suits
you it will suit me-.
Mrs. Simpkins was silent.
'Ill go to Grace Church next Sunday, :"
the thought, "and have my revenge"
Mr.. Simpkins that night dreamed that he
was in heaven, and was being driven about
the streets of the New Jerusalem in a 23d
street stage by a swift-wingcd angel, robcd
in chcry-colorcd silk.
He went to his place of business next day,
still in a thoughtful and reflective mood.
Why the recollection of that beatific vision
should remain with him so pcrsistcntly he
did not know. 1t gazcd up at him from
the pages of his ledger, and tloatcd before
him in the smoke of his cigar. When at
last he left the Office and started home again
it accompanied him up Broadway. He had
turned into Union Square and nearly reach
ed University Place when he came sudden
ly to a halt. BY all the gods Of Greece it
was she.
She stood with her back toward him,
waiting for n Broadway cur. Those Nebc-
like shouldcrs-thc cherry ribbons. He
could not be mistaken. Mr.. Simpkns stood
still dozen yards behind. The car came
and stopped. The lady picked her way
daintily toward it over the muddy crossing
Again the snowy rutlics and that enhancing.
voluptuous, infatuating ankle! Mr.. Simp-
kins followed and took his stand on the
trout platform, crowded as it was, lie
could not see into the car, but, by nearly
disocating his neck and several times losing
his footing, he managed to observe every
passenger as he or she got on or off. On
went the car, past 18th street, past 23d,
past 30th street. 1t seemed to MIR. Simp-
lSins that the lady would never get out
again, and as he went Mr.. Smpkins busted
himself with thousand vain conjecturcs
Who was shc2 Was she married or singlc2
Of what nationality7 Was she beautiful
He had not seen her face, but the possessor
OF such figure, he argued, could not be
otherwise than beautiful in feature. Young2
Yes, she was surely young-and patrician,
too. No plcbcian ever owned an instcp like
that. In fact, so sure of all these things
did Mr.. Simplins feel, that he almost
dreaded the moment when the young lady
should descend, ana perhaps, i'll meeting
him face to face, destroy at single blow
his proudcst illusions. He had not long to
wait, for at 34th street the conductors bell
rang, and the lady got out. She crossed
the street, and with Mr.. Simpkins following
in transport Of admiration, entered an Of
flee on the corner. :.
Now, as Mr. Simpllins' luck would have
it, this Office was the real estate office of
Mr.. John ,Bigler, and Mr.. John .Biglcr was
brothcr-in-law of Mr.. Simpkins. Mr..
Simpkins halted suddenly, in some confu-
sion, and "wall<cd round himself" so to
speak. The lady passed in without notic-
ing him, and disappeared from view Mr..
SimplIins stood for moment irresoutclyin in
the doorway, and then fired with sudden
determination, dashed up stairs.
The offices of Mr.. Biglcr were situated on
the second floor. They consisted of two
rooms, all outer one about ten feet square,
called by Mr.. Bigler his PERCEPTION room,"
and a larger and more luxurious one within,
reserved for the purpose Of confidential in
tervicws. AS Mr.. Simpkins expected, the
lady was in the private room, but the door
stood slightly ajar, and as she sat with her
back toward it, he could see her earnestly
convcrsing with the villainous Biglcr At
that moment Mr.. Simpkins caught Bigler's
eye, and beckoned franticaly to him to
come out. Biglcr, thinking from Simpkin's
excited manner, that the house might be on
fire, came quickly into the outerroom. AS
he did so he swung tho door wide open, re-
vcaling to Mr.. Simpkins' entranccd gaze the
lovely object of his pursuit, her head rest
ing upon her small and dclicately- -glovcd
hand, her lace shawl dropping gracefully
from her beautiful shoulders, and that pref
ty foot pccping saucily from beneath tho
folds of her dress. Her head was turned
away, and her eyes bent evidently upon the
floor d.
The sight was entirely too much for Mr..
Simpl<ins, and he seized Mr.. Biglcrs arm
with such energy that the latter fairly
howlcd
"What the DEVILS the mattcrH" exclaimed
Bigler. ~. :,
F'Who is she 2" cried simpkins, pointing
toward Lne prlVoLc TOOnl 'IntT8uuCc nle.
In heavens name, who is it 2"
"Who's whe2" asked the bewilderca
Bigler, struggling to free himself from, MIR.
Simpkins' grasp. "What in the name of
common sense is the matter with you3"
'"Fhat divine creature in there" said
Simpkins, wildly, 81 must know her. l
saw her for the first time yesterday. She's
the most lovely woman ever met. L fol-
lowed her here today. Such q figure
Such stcpl Such an-an ankle Biger,
I must know her. There are chords, Big
ler in the human breast which, once struck,
, render no man responsible for his actions.
Who is she 2"
"Who2 That 2" exclaimed Mr.. Biglcr,
following Mr.. Simpkins' gaze toward the
open door.
Mr.. Simpkins nodded eagerly. Mr.. Big
ler looked at Mr.. Simpkins blandly. Then
lie looked at tho lady, and then again at
Mr.. Simpkins. Then he became seized by
a violent internal paroxysm, and commenced
cramming his handkerchief into his mouth.
'"That?" he exclaimed, rs soon as he had
: in some measure relieved himself by this
| nroooodinp Ayyhy Won blastnd fool that a