The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1880-12-09
I'm the Palace OF Truth.

Richard Turner, Esq, lawyer, let Us
hope of future fame, returning home one
light in an unenviably bad humor, found
certain dainty little note awaiting him
PIN his mantlepiece. 1t had just come,
ais landlady said, and slowly tearing
open the envelope. Dick read as follows:
MY DEAR Mr.. TURNEn:-Many thanks for
four lovely flowers, which have been greatly
admired. 1t was like your thoughtfulness to
emember my birthday when l had almost for
gotten it myself. was SO sorry to have missed
four call this afternoon.
Sincerely yours. FLORENCE RED1rER
A very gracious little note, but for
some reason it appeared to afford its
! reader but small satisfaction. Dick read
It twice with a curling lip, then tossing it
into the scrap basket, he lit O cigar.
stretched himself in an easy chair and
shoug htfully observed through the smoke
wreaths that began to float around his
head: "What q precious little liar she
Is! AS if / didn't see her ten minutes
after she was mot at home to me this
afternoon, start out driving with Tom
Baker in that confoundedly jerky dog
'art of his. Shouldn't wonder if he had
;erked her off before they got home:
md served her right too! Why, Snip,
what Is the matter with you sir?"
Snip was the skye terrier, who, failing
20 understand why he had been sighted,
was seeking to secure his masters notice
by sitting upright and waving his front
paws to and fro in gentle and depre-
eating fashion.
"Did I hurt your feelings, poor little
boy?" said Dick, tenderly. "Wel, I
wouldn't, assure you, for dozen little
f1irts like Florence Redifer, but I do
think, Snip, and I expect you to agree
with me, that we would all be much bet
ter off if women and men, too, would saw
out truthfully what was in their minds
instead OF this eternal beating around the
bush. Why can't people be o little more
candid with their fellow creatures instead
Of foollng them to the top of their bent
and then laughing behind their backs?
DO you know, Snip?"
Snip didn't know, but he was the last
dog i'll the world to confess his ignor-
ance, SO assuming q look of wisdom
which Solomon might have envied, he
gave a mysterious little bark that could
mean anything and composed himself to
listen.
"Just o'clock" said Dick, consulting
his watch. 'In two hours I've got to
dress and go to Mrs. Grey's ball, the
biggest bore of the season haven't O.
doubt; but there's no escaping it. Aren't
you glad, Snip, you don't have to 90 to
balls?'
Snip barked again, this time in an
a1hrmatlVe manner He always accom-
modated himself to his masters moods.
and was we'll accustomed to being ques-
toned. Alert and vigilant, he watched
the cigar dwlndle down by slow degrees,
While he waited in well-bred silence for O.
renewal OF the conversation. But Dick
was drowsy and cross, and when the
cigar was smoked out he turned his head
aside and fell fast asleep, while his little
dog curled contentedly around his feet,
looking up into his masters face with
world of patient love in his honest brown
eyes.
Seven, eight, nine, ten Was it possi-
BILE that he had slept nearly two hours
and the clock was really striking ten?
Dick jumped up, glanced at his watch
to make sure, and with q stifed groan
prepared to induct himself into his dress
suit. This was never very rapid pro-
cess with him, and by the time he en-
tered Mrs. Grey's brilliantly lit-up house
the great clock in the hall was pointing
to n quarter past II.
The rooms were crowded and stihinoly
hot. The very flowers appeared to droop
under the glare and the heat, all except
Tomo deep red roses which had been ar.
ranged in q sentence over the doorway,
and whose glowing hearts presented the
most sumptuous and intense bit of color
ing, even in that many-hued apartment.
1t was strnngs, but Dick found himself
unable to read that sentence, al hough
composed of only three short words. The
language, even the letters, were unknown
to him, and for half minute he stood
puZzling over the mystery. Then the
incoming crowd gently showed him aside,
and abandoning the effort, he made the
best OF his way toward his hostess. A
pretty little woman, magnifcently
dressed, but seemingly already much
1atlgued with the work in hand, she half
smiled as Dick edged up to her.
Have you just come, Mr. Turner ?''
she said. "I thought you were to be
one Of my early birds"
80 L would have been" he explained,
only, unfortunately, I fell asleep and
did not woke up in time"
",Oh that was the case, was it ?
Well such a lengthy nap ought tc
brighton you up beautifully for the rest
OF the evening. Sometimes, you know.
| you are rather stupid"
Dick looked at her to see if she n,eabf
/" Joke but her pretty face was gravely