The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-09-11
den Of blooming English girls and select

with contentious wisdom, world acquired,
when the man Is baronet, young, and
with large rent-rool, and the blooming
English girls are portionless, that is very
much just what it is. 1t is different with
YOU"
"Who have poor three hundred of nv
own, laughed Violet. "Wcll, true, aunt.
TO al Independent spirit, it will afford
girl to be independent of taking u husband
she doesn't love, and make her brave enough
to face the world as an old maid"
And the speaker wandered away, sing
Ing, leaving the trio to further discuss Sir
Archie and his whim.
Violet was the niece of Mrs. Bendclpool.
Left an orphan, with an income Of 93O0,
her aunt had offered her homc-a very
happy one, where she did pretty much rs
she liked. She was dark. small featured,
aud not particularly pretty, save in the
pleasant, mirthful expression of the countc-
ance. The Misses Bendelpool were hand
some and never regarded vi as rival, for
though she liked male society, she alb
horred and speedily stopped fattery or
| sentiment.
The evening of the Summer ball arrived.
The Bendclpool house was in conmotion :;
the unfortunate lady 's-maid was summoned
from dressing .rocm to dressing room, until
she was tired out of her life. AS the last
touches were being given, Mrs. Bendelpool
entered, smiling, holding two pasteboard
boxes in her hand.
''Nora, Clare" she said, s'papa had
meant these for Christmas presents, but he
has forestalled them for this evening""
The boxes opened, the girls gave cry
OF delight-each contained pearl necklace
with pendant and earrings to match.
Ihey we're speedily placed, and certainly
'the Bendelpool girls" looked, to use q
young Oxonian's words "no end of stun
ming"
"Whcre is VIZ"
"Herc, my dear Nora, quite ready to
| admire you," answered Violet, entering,
| tastcfnlly attired in an amber, ga,,zy, lacy
| fabric
"Clare, Sir Archie will feel like"
=, "Dont say donkey between two bun
dies of hay, vi"
"No; like Macbeth, sHow happy could
be with eithcr;'" and descending to.the
carriage they drove to Sumner abbey.
The ball was, indeed, grand one, and
Sir Archie Buckingham, broadshouldered
fair, brown-haired, frank, handsome.
bronzed oung English gentleman, was the
lion of the evening.
(which is but fair" whispered vi,
considering the lions had 1t 80 much their
own way in Africa.''
Vi quizzcd him, and said he was very
entertaining, and even, possibly, would
improve on acquaintance.
The Bendelpoo) girls, and all the other
handsome girls, danced with him and de-
clared he was divine!
Sir Archie certainly seemed to have the
same opinion of his partners. He was
| graciousness ITSELF
"Arnt the Bendclpool girls jolly hand
some, Archie ?" whispered George Sum-
ner.
"Ycs-very, ;ndeedi"
"Wcll, now you have seen the beauty OF
Shallowton, how about your selection of a
wlfe?"
''lt is made" was the reply.
"Nladc2"
"Yes, if the lady will be only kind
enough to have me. shall ask permission
to-to improve our acquaintance, with the
ultcrior idea of partnership, to nj ght."
'sNever2 ?"
"1'ruc."
''But-but, the peculiarity2 2''
'Out of all the crowd here" remarked
Sir Archie, ''only one possesses it. or
course am not compelled to marry that
one; but as circumstances turn out, think
l should like to try"
And with that Sir Archie strolled away.
dance forming, to find the Indy on whose
tablets his name was down. That1lady was
Violet.
They had very pleasant and chatty
spin just twice around the ball-room-Vi
remarked that dancing, like other good
things was to be taken in moderation.
Then they stood aside, watching the rest.
Nora, leaning on the shoulder of George
Sumner, whlrlcd by; soon after came
Glare, with COL Hanlcy.
"a pretty, graceful scenc,' smiled
Archie, 'especially to one from the wilds
OF Africa, though even here find resen-
blances. The gems and gold of the orna-
mcnts in the ladies' ears, as they flash by,
remind me of the firc-fies as they darted
through the da,k tropical night"
"Do they recall to you nothing else, Sir
Archibald2" inquired Vi, roguishly.
"I1ow do you mean2"
''That there Is further resemblance:
| indeed, there is not much difference be-
tween an African lady who wears a ring
through the nose or lip and a European
girl who wears one through her car. Is it
not remnant of barbarism 2"
The Baronct gave great start.
"rhat decides me, he exclaimed, half
aloud. ''N1ss Fortescue, may I lead
you to take an icc2"
Before that Ice was consumed Sir Ar
cl'ie had asked permission, very humbly,
for 1t was really case of love at first Sight
to WOO Vi, and after while had obtained
a half consent.
But, " said VI, shyly, as they returned
slowly to the ballroom, 81 understand the
lady you intend to honor"
''Must have certain popularity ?" he
broke IN. '"rrue, Miss Fortcscue, and
you have it,"
ZIP" circulated vi, starting. "Good
gracious !"
eyes" he replied, smiling. when
travelling throSnh Africa saw the bdcous-
ness of the nose and lip-rings worn by its
races. The idc occurred to me whether my
fair countrywomen considering their
superior cultivation, were any better or less
barbarous than they. And there and then
| vowed never 70 wed woman who had