The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-08-16
DISENCIIANTED.

Pretty little Mrs. Norton sitting be-
hind tho urn was as fair md lovely q
two year matron as ever smiled over n
table at her lord and master.
He was fine looking fellow, too, that
husband of hers, and it was very evident
thnt there was no lack of warm affection
between them, for all the subject Of con-
versation was one of very decided opin-
ion, at least upon Mrs. Norton's part.
Just now she sugarcd and creamed
Mr.. Norton's second cup Of coffee, and
handed it towards him with q little i'll
dignant remark:
''But it's too bad, Frank, and I be-
lieve you think SO too"
And she looked suspiciously as if there
were tears in her pretty eyes.
"Indeed, think it's just rs bad it
can be-bad enough for us, but
thousand times worse for Uncle Tom"
cit is ridiculous The idea of him
falling in love ut this time of life, but
more than ridiculous in falling i'll love
with such creature as Aura Vane. !"
Frank laughed ut Lottie's emphatic
remarks.
eve mustn't forget that of course the
gentleman has n perfect right to do as
he pleases with his own, dear His be-
ing sixty years old does not preclude
him from even marrying Miss Vane if he
chooses to"
Lottie looked very earnest indeed as
she answered:
'T know all that, but why can't Uncle
Tom sec her rs she is, as everybody else
horp She is forty if she's a day."
said Lottie.
He interrupted her with little tor
menting laugh. ;,
"A very suitablerage you must admit
for him, Lolita.
"Frank Norton! How can you, when
you know just as we'll rs l do that Its
only Uncle Toms money she is after?
And to think he promised to leave it oil
to baby if we'd name him after him, and
wanted the little darling called Roland
so badly, instead Of Tommy. 0 Frank !
You never will know what sacrifice
made. And TIL change baby's name--
ycs, will-if Uncle Tom marrles that
horrid old thing, who never had beau,
nor an offer before in her life. How
ever she colitrivcd to entrap him I'd like
to know
Two bright little red spots were tiam-
ing in her checks, and despite the
passionate bitterness of her protest Alr
Norton realized there was great deal
OF righteous truth in it, and he was
looking grave and thoughtful just as the
front door was opened, md in minute
or two Uncle Tom himself came in.
"I an sorry to have been so late for
dinner, my dear," he said brisltly, with
q smile toward Lottie, "but I have been
driving in the park with Miss Vane, and
really it was dusk before I knew it"
care you personally acquainted with
Miss Vane, my dcar?" he continued
presently, after dilating upon the
beauty of the park in its late autumn
dress. ....
And then Lottie purposely avoided
her lords eyes, where she knew, full
we'll would be ca,ltionary signal.
"Not ut all intimately, uncle Tom.
When T WAS q little girl she was n
grown up woman, and, of course, L
never had OCCASION to associate with
her. AS q child I mover fancied her,
however"
He laid his knife down in the act Of
slicing off delicious piece of brown
meat.
"You mean to insinuate that Aura is
as old as-all that ?"
Then Frank took up the cudgel in
his uuiet, ,lnimpassioned way.
'I don't think my wife would 'insinu-
ate' anything, Uncle Tom. She simply
knows it to bo fact, rs I do, and any
one elsc who cares to think Mt all about
it, that Miss Vano is past forty years
old But thon, of course, Nc one ever
troubles ones self about il. Complexion
md hair con both be Bought nova.
days" - = H..
II nm perfectly oware Of that fact
But assure You have satisfied myself
that Aura is one of those rarely pre-
served womeA who at tllirty--for T have
it from her own lips th9t her last birth
day was hor thirtieth--are more charm
ing and mature, and every way suitable
to discerning mans taste than wher
young and girlish."
And he'looked :straightly, defhntly, II
Lottie's eyes. ~,
"Ohi WE'LL" she retorted stubbornly
"youn find out. some day." ..,J5
eyes," he answered, IT expect to fine
out thatSthe woman who will honor mi
by being my wife is just what I hav'
said she is in all respects. Frank, don
YOU want tickets for the opera tonight