The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-08-10

pllcd equally to the seven other maidens
and two blooming widows who accom-
panied her, Miss Percival, not being of 9
strictly logical nature, never paused to con
| slider.
| "l1ow do you like this room2" asked
MR.. D'Eresby, as they paused in one which
looked as much like the heart Of a blue
| 0ell as furnished apartment well could
do 3"
"A velvet carpet in shaded azllres--a blue
paper strcwn with tiny fern leaves in gold
blue satin ch hrs, and ceiling just tinted
with the pale cerulean Of the midday sky
1t preserved strange and pleasing indi.
viduality in every feature and corner.
ooh. it's bee-yu-ti-ful!" m,lrnurcd Jo
sephine, clasping her kid-glovcd hands in {,
species Of lady-like ecstacy.
81 am glad you like It," said D'Eresby,
moving back Il tiny marble staLuette ol
Eurydice, apd critically adjusting an aqua,
rum IN the window. "Ihs is TO be Mrs.
D'Ercsby's sitting-ro !"
"Your mother2" asked Josephine, smil-
ingy interested.
''No-my wife,"
ooh, you puzzling man |" cried jose
phinc, making little dive at him with her
lace fan. "You know very well you're not
married."
II shall be very soon."
Miss Pcrcival blushed. The seven other
young ladies looked enviously at her, and
the TWO widows tossed their heads, and
muttercd something about 'artful minxes, -
while Mr.. D'Ercsby threw open door lead
ing TO suite of rooms painted and panelletl
IN green and silver.
The first apartment evidently sitting
room, was not empty. A girl in PLAIN,
gray walking dress stood in front OF one
OF the malachite mantcls, making some
little drawing or memorandum on the back
OF letter. She turned as the party flowed
into the room, and Josephine Percival
$1,000 face to face with her cousin, Mary
Lisle.
You needn't stare 80, joel" said Tom
l'crcival, who was looking over the shoul-
der OF The young artistic; ''il's Polly Les
leland she designed all these wall paper
patterns; yes, every one of lhcm."
"Who Z" inquired Mrs. Tnaddeus Tor
rington, the prcltier Of the two widows.
Miss Pcrcival turned away, with Il face
tho color of new mahogany. ..
ITS only designing girl that---that
mamma hns employed ut different times"
faltcred Josephine, secretly resolving thut
the offending artizaness should have such a
talking to" this evening, Us she should
not soon forget.
81 beg your pardon, Miss Pcrcival, said
MIR. D'Ercsby. catching her words, and
coloring high with naughty anger $40
avoid any more such awk ward mistakes,
let me Introduce to you all, Miss Leslie, my
future wise!''
"Look ut Joe! look ut Joe |" croakcd
Tom, with malicious glcc. "Shc looks rs
If she'd been taking quininc pill!"
But nobody had eyes Tor any one but the
pretty young girl in the gray walking suit,
whose bushes and dimplcs, rs she crcpt
shyly to Mr.. D'Eresby's ou,slrclchcd arms.
looking infinitely charming.
1t was tho romantic truth. Mr.. D'Ercs-
by had lost his heart hopcessly among the
arabcsqucs and IabyrlnLhs designed by
Mary l.eslie's pencil aud she had scarcely
finished the patterns for the new house be-
fore MIR. D'Ercsby asked her to come and
live in it. Tom had long been her only con-
fdant-a strange one, yet not unappreci-
ativc.
VI don't deserve to be so happy, Tom,"
sald she, smiling yet fearful, us she told
him.
"Ycs, you do.' said Tom, h,lgging her
like a young bear ''My eyes! what will
Joe say when she hears t2'
And Miss Josephine, lustead of being
bride Of the grand D'IGrcsby wedding, was
forced TO descend into the very secondary
position of bridesmaid.
"Ain't it all jolly Z" was master Toms
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