The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-06-02
about, bearing decided resemblance to


and Lucy withdrawn into snug corner,
debated the questions whether he we're
handsome or otherwise; If he had dark
hair or light, if he had not several broth
ers, etc.
Dreams, such as had never vigited
them before, came this night to the
members of the Harper family. A. tall,
melancholy man, with black whiskers
and black coat, disturbed the slumbers
OF the gontle Fanny; mamma talked in
her sleep OF ''tne establishment-ju
the thing for Fan; don't you think so,
pap, And Mr.. H. answered without
waking: eyes, my dear, he'll put his
name on my notes, I dare say" Pretty
little young men, brothers of Mr.. Som
erby, fitted around the apartments of
Lucy and of Ann, while visions of plum
cake danced temptingly before the eye
Of Tom and Sam.
Poor Fanny was in sad perplexity.
Her mamma had expressed it as her
opinion that the match was q desirable
one, she had even limited that her
daughter might never have "another
chance" and that for her part she could
depart in peace should she see her fam
lily comfortably settled for life.
And Fanny's filial affection conquered
all her scrupples, and she resolved to
see, to accept MI. Somerby.
eyes" said she to herself, as she again
dwelt upon the tenderness Of the prec-
ious letters, "the sacrifice must be made.
l must crafty my dear mother, even
though it be at the expense Of my own
happiness. I will be Mrs. Somerby"
Fanny looked out upon the quiet sky,
the moon and stars, and thought, Glow
fine O tale could be made from this-a
! daughter sacrificing herself for the sake
of her mother!'
1t was time to write her answer to the
letter; but how should she begin? Must
it be with "Mr. Somerby, sir?' Oh, no,
that was too formal. With "My dear
sir?" That was too affectionate. And
when the matter had been settled and
the letter fairly written, the equally i'm
portant question remained how she
should subscribe herself. Was she to be
"Yours respectfully" or ''truly," or
sincerely" or "affectionately?" A diff
cult problem!
But all things have an end, and the
letter was sent. Then it was that
Fanny's heart began to quake. What if
Mr.. S. should not fancy her handwriting?
Perhaps her note was too cold, maybe
too hot; he might not expect an answer
so soon and would be shocked at her
haste. But all these heart-quakings
we're in vain-the letter was gone.
To pass away the time, which now
hung heavily upon her hands, Fanny
called to tell Julia the whole story. The
kind friend was in raptrres. "Just the
man for you, my dear, she cried. $50
he says he has met you in your walks
and ut church. Well, I can imagine
how he looks; he's the very image of my
husband, I've no doubt"
Fanny next called upon the second di-
rectress of the Anti Matrimonial Society,
n young lady of an uncertain age, and
informed her that for private reasons
she must resign her own office, begging
her friend to make this resolution known
to the society at their next meeting.
Meanwhile the four sisters ran to tell
the news. Each one had her own par
ticular friend who must not be forgotten,
and in the course of two days, it was
known to all Fanny's acquaintances that
the fair damsel had been wooed and
won. The third day passed, and there
had come no letter from the impatient
lover Fanny resolved not to sleep q
wink that night "What will become of
me, thought she; 81 must be in 1over'
In the midst of her despair she fell
asleep.
The next morning little note, sealed
with "Forgive and forget!" was brought
from the office. Fanny ran to her own
room to read 1T at her ease, pressing it to
her lips all the way up stairs. Behold
the note opened:
"DEAR FANNY"-("Why, how bold!"
thought she)-"Weh have been amusing
ourselves at your expense by writing you
q letter signed Thomas Somerby.' We
are afraid that we have carried the mat
ter too far, and must now beg you to
think of this imaginary person no longer.
Now don't be angry, Fanny dear, for we
are both quite sorry, and are ready to
hunt up for you real Mr.. s., who will
write better letters than the pretended
one. Affectionately,
"JUnrA AND GEORGE"
Fanny sat like one petrifed. At last
she slowly rose, looked in the glass to
know if she were pale, tried to faint
away, and called her mamma. Mrs.
Harper's indignation knew no bounds.
"And SO we shall have no wedding,
after ALL" said Ann.
"'And we shan't have our new dresses,
sighed Matilda.
"And there'n be no wedding cake, "
screamed Tom.
cit was that horrid George Thomp-
son, suggested Fanny.
"What an impertinent fellow" cried
Kate.
And everybody, vexed and disap-
pointed, turned away to fret, to wander
and to scold. Ann and Lucy ran to burn
up the verses which they had written
about welded bliss; Kate descended to
the kitchen to tell the story there, and
SAM and Tom, having vented their dis
appOintment in hasfo,rrinn. ,,u,or, nT.