The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-11-16
Beguiled.

Beguiled. w
He had never had any sisters, and knew
very little about women; but he thought
foolish fellow, that he knew everything
and was invnlnerable. :. His aff1anced
Lucy Lotion, quiet little thing that she was
knew better. They had been engaged ius
month, when Nab Devereux came te
Rosehome. ~ .i'.,."
Don't you think Nab pretty, Allena'
asked Lucy. -. .t.,', .''..I....
Mot particularly" replied Mr.. Allen
Stoptord. ''She hasn't a good figure and
she never bushes. like to see woman
blush" 80,
Lucy laughed a little. She had long
wished that she could cure herself of her
foolish habit of blushing. 1t was amusing
othink that Allen liked it, and uore anus
ing to think that he did not know Mab
DeVereux, with, her cool, cream-white
face, her wonderful eyes and curled black
!ashes, was little beauty, and invariably
the belle of a company. But, like most
men, his eye caught first the beauty Of fair,
rosy girls, and he was not yet tired of
Lucy's pink-and snow complexion and rip.
pies OF golden hair.
i
know am different from many girls, " she
said. Then she asked Nab: "You have
seen Mr. Stopford bcfore2 How do you
like him, Mab2"
Nab stood before the mirror, touching
up the lovelocks about her forehead. Her
reply was characteristic:
''He would be pretty good -lookiug II he
would color his mustache."
T,Npv 1auphp,1 Ontriuht Tho ;doo ,e
Allen, dear, simple soul, with dyed mus
tache, or anything false and not genuine
about himl She had loved him for Just
that, out of all the men she knew.
''Why don't you make him, Lu3'
"What2" asked Lucy, coming back from
moments abstraction. .-
''Color his mustacho. why it's JUS. the
tint of ground mustardl''
II don't think could persuade Allen to
do that" answered Lucy, adjusting her
little gold thimble and sitting down to her
sowing. with smile.
Nab turned, and looked at her curl
ously.
''lsn't he very much in love with you,
Lu3p 80
Eyes, answered Lucy, quietly--''more
than he knows."F
"Well," returned Nab, after moment g
puzzled thought, II shouldn't think man
was very much In love with me If couldn't
persuade him to dye his mustachc.
Lucy knew 1t was of not much use to
continue the conversation in that direction,
and finished sewing on her trimming with.
out making any response.
sit very pretty at Rosehome, Lu but
do you know what am thlnking2"
ono"
'That shall perish for society,""
''Oh, YOU'RE spoiled, Mabl Can't you
live fortnight without young gentlemen
to fiatter and attend you1'
'1There are not any here, are there2"
eyes"
"Who are they?"
II really can't mention but two."
'And they?"
Gone IS the young man who comes out
from the village to saw our wood and do
chores. His name Is Johnny Bottles"
"Pshaw!"
"The other is my own and only brother,
aged SIX"
"Mab went to the dressing case, drenched
her handkerchief in cologne, and came
back to her seat.
"rerrlble dearth, isn't thcre9" she re-
marked. pathetically. ''But, then, you
have Mr.. Stopford and his mustache. =" - Z
''You might try your hand on him, NAB
just to keep you in practice, you know,
and alleviate the melancholy of your stay
at Rosehome.' >.r : NM
Nab looked at her cousin little curl.
ously again. y" ~ "'' .@ q. N
81 believe you think I could not make
him love me-"
f"I am sure you could mot, said Lucy.
II wonder If 1t would be worth while to
try7" mused Nab, aloud, tapping her fan
upon her rosy lips, and looking thoughtfully
from the window. al saE& Il
Allen was coming up the avenue, and
sho bowed to him. ,t.>.Irg.yT'Y G.y
"You may If you choose, "replied Lucy,
with little, vexed smile.
She knew that NAB would be likely to
flirt with Allen in any case before the fort.
night vas out. 1t was better to take II
coolly. And then, as she had said, she did
not think 1t possible for girl of Mab's cali.
Der to make Allen Stopford love her.
Nab began dressing for dinner, and put
some spice plnks in her hair. When at the
table she turndd her dark braids toward
Allen, he saw them, and involuntariiy
1nurlnured, with an expression of pleasure:
''Splce pinks.", ,t.%..,,
eyes" said NAB, III knew you liked
them"
And then shc looked UP in his face, and
he saw that her eyes were pretty.
After dinner they went boating, and hi,
natural eye for artistic effects was gratlfied
by Mab's sitting in the bow In a pale blue
dress, with a crimson scarf draptd abou,
her shoulders. .a .,. y5nilHt r! 'r.
,g'Your cousin Is not exactly handsome,
but there is something very, very attrac-
tive about her." said he to Lucy.
The latter dipped her hand In the
shining water and held her peace. which
uLder the circumstances, was as much az
could be expected Of her, think.