The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-12
TRI-W EEKLY EDITION.

Lucy, Indignantly.
Presently poor Mrs Follett returned
with tho tray scarcely touched and stoppe,
IN Nell's room to relieve her mind.
"He won't touch mouthful, because it
Isn't smoking hot, said she with a sigh
"He's crosser than one would think posi-
bic, and"
But she checked herself abruptly at tho
sight of Miss Darl.
Il beg your pardon, my dear % said
She, III did not see you"
"Oh, don't mind me-" said Lucy, color
ing. "I'm going over to Mrs. Havcn's Il
lew minutes to sec about fern she prom
iscd to get me from the Hartford woods. ,
For it had occurred to Miss Lucy. thai
thls was an excellent opportunity to test
the washing and wearing" qualities OF
the second of her lovers Follictt had
been weighed in the balance and found
wanting. Now let George Haven take his
chance. The Haven cottage stood about
al eighth OF mlle further down the road
"A pretty little honeysucklc garland affair
ana Lucy Darl, feeling rather like spy,
crept up the stairs, (nobody ehanced to be
IN the hall, and took refuge in Mrs. Ha-
ven's own little boudolr.
Mrs. Haven had three or four unruly.
ill-disciplined children staying with her
That summcr-the children of an invalid
sister-and Mrs. Haven was not rich in
thissworld's goods like the Folliett.
AS Lucy sat there wondering whether a
lucky chance was about to befriend her. as
it had befriended her before, CHEEKY voice
sounded below. George had just come in,
dripping but cheerful. from the post Of
flee.
"Hello, mother! what's the matter e?
Crying and discouraged! Why this will
never do in the worldI Come, little ones,
run to the barn, every one of you, to play.
The fire smokes, does it3 Well, never
mird; I'll have things straight in minute,
with few kindllngs. Tie fact is, mother
you SIT at home too much. You get nerv
GUS. must contrivc some way of taking
you out to drive every day."
A sly, dimpled smile came into Lucy
Darls face as she heard the strange, caress-
ing voice of her lover, bring hope and
courage with 1t, and rejecting that he was
certainly OF different stamp from Eugene
Folliet, whose dashing manners and city
airs and graccs had 50 nearly captivated
her.
1t was quite evident that nc would
s.saisls Wash ens eneory year" according to Aunt
"I suppose am little nervous at times,
George" Mrs. Haven answered, ''but L
never feel it when you are here. don't
know what l should do without son like
you. But If you ever get married."
But Lucy Darl could not stand this-shc
felt like little, innocent eaves-drobper, as
she was, and hurried down stairs.
"You here, Lucy" cried Mrs. Haven,
who was busy at her stockings.
"You here, Miss Darl!" exclaimed
George who had just brought in al armful
of fresh kindlings.
81 couldn't find any one mp stairs, >" said
Lucy, blushingly, and looking painfully
conscious. l looked all over. I've just
come to ask you if you got the root of
Hartford fern you promised me, Mrs.
Haven"
''lt's set out in flower pot under the
back kitchen window, said Mrs. Haven.
''But you'll stay all tiay, Lucy, dear, now
that you are here"
NJ ss Lucy did not refuse.
Mr.. Eugene Folliett lay in bed until
eleven, and read novels. At noon he came
down stairs.
"Confoundcd dull here without a soul
to speak to- said he.
Of course his mother and sister were out
side the pale Of civilized humanity.
And at sunset, when the crimson beams
of the declining sun broke radantly out
through parting clouds, he tied on his best
nccktie, and pinned pink earnation in his
button hole.
III think I'll go over to Mrs. Durl's for u
little while, said ne.
"You needn't" said astutc Nell.
"Why not :"
because Lucy was here this morning,
and heard you scolding at poor mamma,
and because l saw her 60 by just now with
George Haven, and they are engaged"
GLOW do you know2"
"By instinct"
MIR. Follict made grmacc, unpinncd
he carnation and stayed at home.
The engagement became public affair
the next day, and Lucy Darl wrote back to
her Aunt Judith that she had accepted a.
lover whom she could warrant as an article
that would "wash and wear.''
!