The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-06

J as If he liked me. lie told me how nv
dress became me- Any man may do that,
but it made me happy. had not been 20
happy for months
After we came some from church there
was the brcakfast-and he beside me all
the whilc-and then we all went into the
garden. We sat under great tree apart
from the rest, and all of sudden he looked
me straight IN the eyes. "AIiss Maggie, "
he said, ''do you think =" But before
knew what he wanted to know if
thought, some one came all in hurry up
the path and stopped beside me. 1t was
James Rccdcr
'Ilcrc you are" said he, "Paul Cardcll,
MIS- Walslngham wants you to drive
Grandma Thompson over home. She isn't
over well, and wants to 90. III take care
of Miss Maggie meanwhile"
Paul got up. lie gave me a look I
couldn't understand, and after he had gone
a dozen steps he came back and offered me
his hand "Good-byc, Miss Maggie" he
said, and heard his breath come short and
fast; ''Good-byc," and away he went.
And and James Recdcr were left alone.
| 1t happened exactly as knew ii would.
Tic asked nc to bc his wife before We had
eyes"
Oh now don't, lassic. It's all against
| tho women in this world. 1t always will
be. Let tho strong minded bodies do what
| they may. You can't alter the hearts we
arc born with, We arc bought and sol,i n
good deal rs Turkish girls arc, after all.
There is kind of cold, pretty doll that is
happy enough, but women who have hearts
| suffcr-suifer at eighteen and eighty. Don't
l know. I've been both.
And now | said to myself 81 will be
content. I've made my own choice" l
knew hadn't all the while. 81 am to
marry the richest man l know, and one
they all call handsome. Madly in love
with me too. What more do l want 2"
1t wouldn't do. l hid the fox in my
bosom, but it gnawed me all the while.
'Fhc sooner it is over the better" said
and as If that was the way to have it over,
let James coax me to set the day very
soon-siX weeks from that of our engage
ment.
There was busy time at our house, you
may guess. All my things to make in
hurry. l couldn't sit down to sew. Twas
like one wild. In a sort Of fever all the
time. They tcascd NO. 'Tn love-" they
said. SO was, lassie, but not with James
Reoder So one day mother said to mo:
over to Mrs Walsingham's and borrow the
pattern of Kitty's travelling basque. 1t will
just tit you, and want yours to be like it."
went, of course, and got the pattern of
Mrs, Walsingham. She was merry SOUL
and she would tease me. No one knew
why l blushod so. 1t wasn't for the reason
they thought. We stood talking, and she
teasing, until all of sudden she said
"And James isn't jealous any more, I
hope7"
"Jcalousi" said I.
''Oh, he was wild tho day our Kitty was
married." SAID she, ''wild with jealousy of
Paul Cardell. He told me all about it, !,
They arc paired off together, said he, and
with girl 1t is the first who asks her. Paul
is as much in love as l, and you have lost
hcr to mo- So Granny and l sot our wits
to work to help him. And we sont for
Paul, as you know, and gavo Jem his
chance: Now say thank you,' Maggie, as
he did"
But couldn't. took the pattern, and
ran away. l ran until came to tho bridge,
and then stopped, looking down into the
water. "No, no." L kept saying to my
self, enc, no; he never cared anything
about me. gave him chance enough to
speak, and he did not" And while said
it heard step upon the bridge Hooked
around-it was Paul Cardcll I couldn't
move. stood still and he came up to me.
| had not seen him before since Kitty's
wedding party, when he came to say
'good-byc."
FIe held out his hand GLOW do you do,
Miss Maggie 2" saiG he.
didn't spcalc-I only bowed.
"4ou are to be married very soon,
hear" he said.
"TheY say So" answered
81 hope you may be worry happy he
said. Games Rccder Is a splendid fellow,
and as rich as he is handsome" And he
caught his breath in little sigh. "God
bless you, Maggie"
He had never called nc Maggie before
He had never looked as he did then.
tried to thank him, but didn't know
what said. Suddenly ho took both my
hands.
'Td like you to- know it. was very
fond of you, Maggie. IL loved you, my
dear. If James hadn't called me when he
did that day, I should have told you go,
and had my 'No, from you. always fet
afraid you liked James best. No wonder.
4ta better for altogether botter Only,
quite as a past thing, Pm glad you know
NV" ASNN>A JoH' 1'CItSA Glltfl llIC,
Maggie. I'm not going to pino to death,
or make an idiot of myself. shall marry.
Lucy Swallow has promised to be my wife:
She would not care for such love as have
not now to give and she's very good. and
pretty, and she shall he happy. God bless
you, and goodbye"
lilo took my hand and put 1t to his lips
and won't
Only for what ho had said to Lucy Swal-
low, I'd have called him back. But if
they were to be married, better lot matters
| stand as they were. I held myself up by
the bridge rail until he was out of sight;
then dropped, like one dead.
did not marry on the day set for me,
for was i'll of fever then and not ex-
pectcd to live; and aftcrward knew my
heart too well. could not forgive James
for cutting short the words that would have
made Paul and me happy for life, and /
t9ld him plainly that I never could love
him; r.
Rut Raul and Luoy Swallow married.