The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-01-06
TRI-W EEKLY EDITION.

strain Of melody. Did you ever hear a
skilful violinist play Dc Bcriots's sixth air?
| That was the sound that completed this
little episode picture
Mr. Southern, Alicc's father was rather
| al odd specimen of that odd animal, man.
a rake in his youth, he expected to find all
young men rNkcs; quite contrary to the no
tions of old gentlemen, who expect young
men to be radically different in habits, prin-
ciples and practices from the young fellows
of thirty or forty years ago.
| Mr. Southern liked Phil Copcly immense
| ly, because he was accomplished, intelligent
courteous. good looking, unsclfsh and
proud. Phil played splendid vioonccllo
accompaniment to the old gcntleman's VIC.
lin. Phil could ride the old gentcman's
own black mare. Phil could shoot with the
old gentlcman's ebony stocked pistols as
well us the old gentleman himself Phil could
leave as many empty bottles by his plate as
anybody. Phil could talk metaphysics and
theology so we'll that he sometimes got a
little the best of the parson in doctrnal
discussion after dinner, to the old gentle
mans intense delight.
But-al. what Il pity that word was ever
| invented; but Mr.. Southern knew that Phil
had onlya trifling income, no pre- fcssion, no
| expectations worth mentioning and was of
that peculiar, easy, lazy, good. naturcd
| stamp that would preclude the possibility
OF brilliant distinction or great wealth ac-
crulng to him.
Then again, he thought that Phil, beng
good fellow and an excellent companion,
must be what he himself had been at five
and-twcnty-a rouc. He took great palms.
| therefore,, never to permit either OF his
daughters to meet the young gentleman, save
at evening parties, receptions, ETC., and
would have had ''conniplion fit" if he had
known that Alice and Phil met privately,
on an average, seven times, weekly.
! 'Demmc, sir, he once said, to All an
cient friend, "nly girls are not unprotected
l am too old-my hair is too whitc-to 20
out Oh the field myself, but my ncphcws
are plucky boys, sir, pluclly boys; and they
| would stand up for Alice and Graclc, sir,
as long as they could hold pistol!'
MIR. Southern, after playing, very softly
and sweetly, the Sixth Air of De Bcriot,
was seized with a desire to smoke a cigar.
In the Southern mansion, the conscrva-
! tory was the smoking room also, and ththcr
the Old gentleman repaired. 1t struck him
as very singular that the glass door between
the dinlng-room and conservatory should be
locked and its curtain drawn, on the other
| side; 80 he went around another way,
| through the garden, and entered by the out
| side door-an ingress but little used
have already described the picture that
was presented by the interior of the green
! house. Let it suffice for tho reader TO know
that Phil Copcly for the first, last, and only
time in his life, fled ignominiously from a
quarrel. White hairs and a pretty daughter
ought to insure any old gentleman the re-
spect of all us young fry.
The next morning Phil was awakened Mt
eight or nine o'clock-early, for him-by a
violent rapping at his chamber door. Hc
bade the visitor enter and in strobe stall
wart and comely man, with an immense
black mustachc, and good deal of the
Satanic in his eyes.
'AIr. Philip Copcly2" demanded he.
That is my name, sir; and you are"
MIR. Rufus Dawes, at your service"
" am glad to see you, sir. have heard
| OF you often, through your cousins, the
Misses Southern, think. Excuse my re-
ceiying you in this manner, but rise late,
| and" .
"Nevel mind, sir. My business is very
| brief. 1t concerns one the young ladies
you have just named. Her father has told
me oil, and has sent me to offer you two
alternatives, marry the young lady immcdi-
ately, sir, or else meet me according to the
! Code Of IIonor!'
Marry her. You arc crazy!"
VERY we'll, Sir. You refuse, thcn!''
tN-o-o-o! That is just what most wish
| to do, but was afraid that her father would
not hear of it,"
"WhatS Have you, then, been perfectly
honorable in your intentions9"
Phil colorcd and his eyes flashed
II should like to see the man who insinu-
atcs that Alice would dream of ANYTHING
else. Tell Mr.. Southern that will marry
his daughter this afternoon, if she is will
, ing"
81 suspect that my uncle has judged you
a little hastily. know he was very gay
when he was young, and suppose he
thinks you one of the same sort. am glad
1t has turned out differently, and"
"And If you will wait till am dressed,
we will have drop of something cool over
it, eh2''
"If you please"
Alice did not wish to be married that af-
ternoon-it was rather too sudden-so her
father was persuaded to allow them month
for preparations. He was too shrewd to
show his modification, when he had dis
covered how he had deceived himself, but
apologized fairly and squarely to Phil, in
private.
"Cousin Rufus" and tho brldcgroom-o
became great friends, and the black mus
tache captivatea ever 80 many hearts at the
wedding party.