The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-02-10
Tense, IanguidIy assumed his usual sta

was father gOOd-lOOklng man, who
certainly was no longer young. Having
lost one wife. he was now looking for an
other. When he was presented to Viola
she was barely civil. Mr.. Nicolson
seemed to like It.
Frank Thorpe had ceased being
frozen. To tell the truth, Viola made
tRe af ,onont: advances. There was shade more
gray eyes had an added shadow but he
sought no explanation from her.
One frosty, sparkling morning Viola
had been out for walk. On the way
she met Frank Thorpe, as she was very
apt to do. He accompanied her home
and entered the house with her. Then
Viola, feeling bright herself, began lect-
uring him on his purposeless life.
eff L were q "emphatically
"Thank heaven you are not How
ever, go on"
"You put mo out, Mr.. Thorpe why
don't you do something?"
vo,'r "DE GoIa}n9 s9}m9ethti4ng2 dt4ng RGn't 1 r I am
my waking life."
eyes, and get yourself and me talked
about by everybody. Not that L care,
certainly" hurriedly to recover her
blunder. CT shall choose my friends
",AUAO PA0"H0j Ahth1llS ulttIGerS WOrSe,
of course.
"You see," he said, leaning forward
and laying his hand confidentially on
her arm, CT cannot bear to sec q clear
hearted, honest girl lowering herself to
the ways of these artificial, brainless
girls, who have been bred up all their
lives III the business of catching hus-
band. You don't need any paltry ambi-
ton. Wait until you find man worth
falling IN love with, and then marry him.
Wait forever. if you don't find him."
Viola sat motionless with astonish-
ment. If any dumb thing had found
voice she would not have been moro
amazed. And she felt so fully called to
administer advice. While she sat, his
hand still on her arm, and his eyes still
on her face, the door opened, and John
Ellsworth was ushered in. Viola swept
toward him with eager, outstrotCiiSi.,
hands.
Frank Thorpe, being disturbed by this
newcomer, who was called John, and re-
ceive6 with such an outbreak of enthusi-
asm, gathered himself up and Iounged
away.
John Ellsworth was in town for fort
night. Viola always accepted his invi-
tations, and when the time came for
their fulfillment there was some unavoid-
able obstacle in the way
Then Lent came and there was sud-
den cessation of gayety. John was
called away by his fathers illness, and
Viola felt the inevitable reaction.
1t was alike everywhere. In the mar
row circle out of which she had come
there were jealousies and heart burnings,
and petty scheming-no better and nc
worse than she had come to know in the
past weeks, though possibly less dis
gulsed by smooth, conventional polish OF
manner. Wait till she met man she
loved She might wait until she was
gray and blind. There had never ap-
pcared one to whom she could give a
second thought, unless it was-well, per-
haps, John Ellsworth, if the life that
would follow with him we're not too mar
row to breathe in or Frank Thorpe, if
ne were not too lazy to speak. And
then, by contrast, there came vision of
Mr.. Nicolson and all his wealth,
If she had shown the first symptoms
of hor moods to Mr.. Nicolson he would
have desisted from his attentions ut once.
Here was youth and beauty in statu-
esque state of perfection. That was
what he wanted-the statuesqueness,
and everybody considered it settled
affair.
think Viola began to consider it her.
self. She had just one letter from John
Ellsworth after his return, and he said
love you, Viola, and am waiting for
YOU"
She did not even answer the letter.
But she was cross, even with Mrs. Morn
mgtOn, for two days after If
Then she was seized with O. fit of
been taken very suddenly i'll, nothing
would have kept her there. Mr. Mic
olson came more frequently than ever
in his way, very kim and considerate.
Ono night in early spring Frank
Thorpe came and took Viola out for q
drive.
"You arc looking tired. We may not
have another such night for O month, "
Frank said.
In the half hour they did not speak
| set her down at her own door, and hello
her hand for minute as he said "Fare-
well, =" Viola felt that they were nearer
| each other than ever before.
Viola was one morning summoned to
! the drawing-room to meet Mr.. NicOlson.
In the occupation of the past weeks she
had had very little opportunity to think
about him or his purposes. No
girl ever went to meet the final question
with less determination as to her answer.
She knew his errand the moment she
entered the room. Not that he was con-
fused or hesitating, or in any way dis
concerted.
"My dear young lady," he said, "I
want your permission to ask you per-
sonal question"
"You have it, sir" she said.
And then, in speech which was more
like o set oration than ANYTHING else