The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-12
Washing a Lover.
a rainy day in the country!

~ io'hJ way Ill Illc country!
Drip, drip, soupded the water in tic
barrel under the caves; patter, pate trim.
kled down the rain drops upon the leaves
OF the syringas and lilac bushes; and Lucy,
Darl, sitting at the window, her round
chin resting in her hands, aud her eyes
fixed dreamily on the woods, half hidden
in vapory mists, began to feel the least bit
in the world bored.
An open letter lay in her lap-a letter to
which shc referred every now and then,
with pretty, half-puzzlcd contraction of
her brows.
"Wash and wear! - she repeated to her
self. 81 wonder what Aunt Judith means9
she hopes that whichever of my suitors
may select may wash and wear. Upon my
word that is likcning the lords of creation
10 pattern of calico, or gingham sun bon
nett"
Aud Lucy laughed little-a very be-
I coming rreoooe, WHICH, uiousuL ouC inc
dimples around her cherry lips, and tho
dewy sparkles under her long auburn
lashes.
''rm sure they are both models Of amia-
bility and good temper" said she to her.
self-"that ls as far as l know"
And then all of a sudden it occurred to
her how little wo man could really know
Of the actual bona .ftte habits and character
OF a man until she is married to him, past
all escape.
''Ah, if one could peep behind the
scenes" said Lucy. "If one could only
put lover on trial for a month"; as Aunt
Judith takes n servant girl and discharges
her if she don't give satisfaction! Aud
then the wash and-wear question, which
gives Aunt Judith 50 much trlbulation,
could be easily settled. Heigh-ho! l be-
lieve shall have to draw lots which /
shall marry, Eugene Folliett or George
Haven. But there's no use wrinkling up
my forehead about it now time will de-
eide. In the meantime 1 snail be hope
lessly wcaried if sit here staring at the
rain. I'll put Oh my things and run over
to Nell Folictt's. Eugene must have
started for the city long ago."
1t was pretty, shaded road, delicious
in the freshness of morning, but rather
drippy and dragly just at present, that led
to the old Follictt mansion-a sturdy erec-
ton of groy stone, with half a dozen honey
lccusts Keeping guard over it like band
of sentincls.
Llcy Darl, a privileged visitor, did not
ring at the front door bell, but slipped
quietly in at the back door and ran up tc
81 Miss Folliett's room.
81 "At home, Nell 2" she cried, tapping
8 softly on the panels Of the door.
IL 'Of course Pm at Eomc," said Nell
# brightly opening it. "You dear little rose
al bud, you've come just IN time to help mt
- about the pattern for my new polonaise
Ss Isn't 1t a wrctched day9"
t3 And the two girls were presently deer
88 in the mysteries of bias folds, knife plait
a ing and side cores, until, all of sudden
ss Il surly masculine voice down the hal
s cried:
s@ "Where's my breakfast, say2 wan
& my breakfast Confound all you womel
M folks. why don't you bring me my break
N fast Am to starve to death 2 Nell
5sE '.OehSh >oAAob WiuS oTuNC3 tIlCtC
my slippers! Fetch the newspapers
d somebody AR ssSsaatc ''>'. 4" yo'
,% hear2"
NJ And the door way ''' "f'"'" WIFI :
siderable emphas, s'
81 Nell looked rat Lucy with a crimson
h hrow ,n[sy opened wide her inquir
M u,Es Eugene" SAID Nell, in rather
81 Ii0arrassed manner. "He was out
81 ,s7ast night, and he oversight himself
q morning."
w. "Oh" said Lucy, beginning to be c
scious that a flaw existed in this pate
masculine diamond--that this pattern
goods "washcd" but indiffcrently,
AT this moment footsteps hurried by
was the patient and much enduring N
olliett, bringing up the tray of toast $,