The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-29
My Charlie.

My Charlie was the most unromantic and
tcr-of-fact fellow that ever existed.
He would read an old almanac any time in
preference to volume Of poems, and when
told him one day about the trials and suf-
ferings of that dear "Claude Conett," in
Stringcmont's new novel, lie coolly asked
me, when l had finished, if sc. G. took
sugar or drank his whisky straight" Oh,
my what trouble he was to ME, and /
really do not know how ever came to toll
crate him. He wouldn't act one bit like a
hero, and when he said "good bye" at the
gate, after spending the evening with me-
he would walk straight away through the
field whistling " "Yankce Doodle" and
never turn and kiss his hand to me once.
Then when I nirtcd just little with a
nice fellow to make my Charlie jealous, he
never said one word. and had expected he
would vow vengeance on the nice fellow,
and threaten to take prussic acid himself.
No, there was no romance In Charlie
Marsh. lie drank two cups of coffee for
breakfast, ate lots Of pork and beans for
dinner, and poured down three cups of tea
for supper. His hair was always parted on
the right side of his head, a mousache never
graced his lip, and his voice, Instead of
being soft and low and sweet, was loud
and coarse like the sound of bass viol
1t will be proper TO state, before l 20
any further, that Charlie was my promised
husband; and think he loved me, al
though he was unromantic. AS ! said
before, how | came to love him has always
been profound mystery to me, for he was
as different from my ideal as night is from
day; and when he proposed to me- in
place Of dropping on his knees and telling
me that l was tho whole world to him and
he could never, never, never exist one mo-
ment without me for his guiding star, he
just turned to me one evening, as we were
sitting together in tho parlor, and said, as
coolly as you please: "Sis '-that's what
he always called me- you know l have
been head over heels in love with you for
moro than two months; won't you be Mrs.
Marsh, and make fellow happy2"
"Hcad over heels in love" with me
what an expression was really shocked
and never ought to have said "ycs," but
took pity on the poor fellow, because
thought he sincerely loved nc, and would
become more sensible in time. do not
hlnk would have loved him 80 well if
Pa had not detcsted him. Pa did not like
him, because it was rumored that his great
grandfather sold peanuts on an old
ferryboat; but never believed it. Pa at
last forbade him the house but that made
me all the more anxious to see my Charlie,
and we met under the great maple trees.
lie, of course, should have proposed an
elopement; but lie was too matter of fact
to over think Of IL; and when l asked him
what we had better do under the circum-
stances, ho thought for q few moments and
said:
II think I'll give your father a good
fhrlal,tnn 1u1,or 7 to1, Al
he will think better of me- "
"No, Mr.. Marsh, Lreplied, "you'll do
no such thing. just lay your finger on pa,
and IN never speak to you again while
live"
said this In such q tragic manner that
poor Charlie could do nothing but stand
and look ut me and whistle.
What shall we do then2" he asked.
=. Why II you are too dumb to think, l
Will tell you," l answered, feeling dread
fully provoked at him. "To.nipht. when
pale Luna has.
Whats that3 ?" he asked. ,,
The moon," L returned, impaticntly ;
"and you will oblige me by not interrupt.
ng mo again. When pale Luna has aunls
to rest behind the horizon, and our cottage
is hushed In silence, come steathily to the
back yard, and
That confounded dog will get after
me
MIR. Marsh, ,n"psI L. replied, getting en-
tirely out of patience, If you interrupt
me once more, will leave you, and return
TO my home. = {" Go on, thenY Sis" he re-
piled, "and I'll be ne silent as a. tombstone.
Proceed, as Parson sagby says
Well, y I continued when YOU reach
Z the back yard be sure that no one is, up
\ ne that tue h0ups 10 sbrouded in darkness