The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-06-23

shadowy portals, which she hac
nearly passed in the obscurity, sht
found the door fast. Where was every
bodyp Was Oxbow dead and in its
winding-shcet, and unmatched by even
solitary taper? Brushing the snow
from the step, Angie began to lay down
her bundles. A pretty situation this,
truly, for Squire Converse's tenderly'
nurtured daughter! She fell to pitying
herself as she contrasted herself with
Sidney Alden, peacefully sleeping,
dreaming perhaps, of his loved Bertha
After what mi ight have been the lapse
of ages, the shrek of the engine rent
the air. 1t was the usual reveille of the
railroad workmen. but Angie believed
! it the signal for the starting of the train.
Hurrying past the handful of men
gathered upon the platform, she climbed
the dark passenger car and let herself
in. Oh, the comfort Of being once more
under roof! With henumbed fingers
she CROPPED her way to seat, and then
shrank back terrified as her hand
touched the shoulder of man.
"Angie? Angie Converse? Is 1t you
at last?" cried familiar voice.
""Sidney Alden! You here? How
you frightened mel" CALCULATED Angie,
very near Mysteries.
"Now. Miss Converse, will you have
the goodness to tell ME what all this
means?" asked the young man, impa-
tiently, seating her beside him.
Il had things to finish for the festi-
val. Did wake you?"
mo. 1t was current of air from the
north pole. Finding the street door
ajar, and the hat-tree rif1ed of your be-
longings, naturally investigated fur
ther. I have been hunting for you these
two hours"
I'm sorry I disturbed you. You
should have gone to sleep again"
Il suppose l can take hint as well
as the average fellow" pursued Sidney,
hotly. "You needn't have left my
fathers house at three o'clock of q
winter morning to convince me Of your
Indifference. Such an extreme measure
was quite unnecessary, assure you"
"You don't understand. l."
"I'm not complete idiot, Miss Con-
verse. I do understand that you
wouldn't have me making love to you
that you decamped in the night-watches
to dodge proposal. And now ! ask
you this was it sensible or expedient
to risk your health in this outrageous
manner? Why couldn't you have said
frankly that you didn't want to ride
with me? If you had intimated that
you wished to avoid further conhden-
tial interviews, should-well, admit
I should have been awfully cut up-but
l shouldn't have had cause to complain.
Instead of dealing honestly with me,
you sweetly remarked that you didn't
like to appropriate my time, and l was
simple enough to believe that you meant
Just as you said. / thought you re-
fused my escort merely because you
had scruples about taking me from the
rehearsal"
Rehearsal?"
"You consider me very stupid, no
doubt; but knowing as l did that you
were interested in the festival and the
progress of the farce, was it amazing
that"
"What farce?"
"Why, the farce! The Model Hus-
band AS was saying, | knew you
were aware Bertha and I were hurried
in committing our parts, and 1 natu-
rally Inferred"
Nobody told me there was to be a
farce!"
'"Possible? Didn't you hear Zet jok-
ing Bertha and me about our tender re-
lations? Well, that is neither here nor
there. l."
II thought you-and Miss Huntress
were actually engaged" murmured
Angie, furtively cropping for her pocket
handkerchief.
cousin Bertha engaged to me? You
precious little blundererm cried Sid
ney, in tone of sudden relief. "She's
to figure as my wife in the farce, that's
all; afterward / shall resign her to
her rightful bridegroom, who'll marry
her in March,"
Utter silence, broken at last by an
embarrassed cough from Sidney.
"You must have a fine opinion OF
fellow. Angie, to suppose I'd be inter-
ested in another young lady. You
can't help knowing | years ago elected
you"
"Oh, if you're going 10 talk politics
before breakfast, too"
Il won't be put off this way forever,
An gle. think the lady of my election
might at least grant me hearing, when
she knows how long I have loved her!'
"She's wretched candidate!"
"She's adorable! The point is, is
she my ver3 own? May claim her?"
YOU'RE sure you want her?"
Didn't | come down to Maine solely
for herw
"Foolish boy!" replied Angie, softly.
" Well, since you've really elected her,
she'd better stand as the politicians
say. That is, if you can stand it with
her" she added, saucily.
What matter that a sleepy brakeman
blundered in at that moment with
lantern and kindlings! The election
was over, and for once in the annals of
history both parties were satisfied
Penn Shirley, in Good Company.