The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-18
Slippery Courtships.

''Has May come"
eyes, Bertha. have slowed her away
safe and sound in the carriage"
And kr. Webb, of Framington Hall.
busted himself in lifting various parcels,
bags, &c., from the old family carriage.
While SO engaged he did not perceive
the antics of his irrepressiblc son, who was
oapering about the road In tho vain en-.
deavor to catch a glimpse of his cousin
Mays face. ... ,s....".
AT last Mr.. Webb .assisted his niece to
allght, in response to her impatient remark,
"that he was going to keep her there all
day." ,y..'.
She was slender, delicate girl of about
eighteen summers, with a soft, pearly
complexion, and great laughing brown
eyes; her hair fell in ringlcts about her
shoulders, and looked like showet of
gold as the setting sun lit up the darker
shadows Of her nut-brown hair. She was
the orphan niece of Mr. Webb, and had
been brought up entirely at a fashionable
boarding-school. On the completion OF
her education she came to her uncle's home,
IN accordance with tho wish of her mother;
but May did not like the idea Of residing
in dull stupid country place." as she
described 1t. - 2 q 80 = %.A IT,. -,. -H.y
She was speedily made welcome by her
aunt and cousins, who had collected at the
garden gate, all impatience to see her.
Mrs. Webb was q gentle, placid lady,
with kind, motherly manner very COM
forting to the stranger. Her cousin Bertha
was very pretty girl. Her hair was
fastened into careless knot behind that
became her wonderfully.
Edwin came next, and 1t did not take
May many minutes to learn that he was the
most incorrigible tease che had ever met.
He was good-looking fellow, with tall
we'll knit figure
"Wel', May. I suppose your mind is
filled with rapture at the thought of spend
Ing your future days In this country placer"
sal Edwin, looking, with teasing smile,
at his cousin, who was leaning against one
Of the columns, covered with ivy, that
supported the verandali.
A shadow fell over her bright face as
she replied, warmly
II should think not. indeed"
Edwin laughed slightly, and went on to
say, In the same light vein:
81 know you would like to be farmers
wife. You would MAKE capital one.
with those dainty white hands"
May said, emphatlcally, with pout,
'"rbat will never bel To have great
clumsy fellow treadlng on your train cor-
stantly-I could not bear it"
"What are you talking aboutp" exclaimed
another voice.
And Bertha came slowly towards them,
swinging her broad hat IN her hands, for 1t
was an intensely warm day in July:
May was expressing hor delight at the
prospect of settling down as farmers
wife"
Bertha looked at them both, and said:
'Oh, know you have been teasing her
already. Really, It Is too bad. But it Is
no uso to quarrel with HIM, for he IS incor-
rlgible."
May found that tho time passed very
quickly oven In tho country. and did not
regret her town home. What with her
drives, boating, walks, croquet parties,
60, her time was so fully occupied, that
she did not find an opportunity for gricv-
ing. lf@ s>EN H. l\i.>5A l y .@
Shortly after her arrival at tho Hall, she
made tho acquaintance of wealthy young
farmer, who owned large farm aud coun-
try scat few miles away. II
flo was not handsome, but possessed a
frank, ingenious countonance that was
very attractive. His manner was triflo
awkward and construined; and May made
him the butt for her constant rldicule.
Ha bore all this with undiminlshed good
h,imor, and was her constant companion.
From, tho first he had been her devoted ad-
mirer.
1t was pleasant day In September, and
early In tho morning young Oakland drove
up in his pretty phaeton, and stopped before
Mrs. Webb'ss door. He jumped down,
aud darted through the flower beds, regard
less Of the damage they sustained, to the
lawn, whsre be had seen little figure IN
white muslin vanish. Atlast he found her