Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-12-02

ting out her hand to detain her. q
l thought you must lave been misin-
formed. How did you hear?"
"Oh," said Miss Simms, softening,
only too glad of the chance to go
over the details. 81 didn't hear at all
i saw | was up at the 'squire's
when he brought her home. The
sewing-room door was open, and
saw them come into the hall together.
Then his mother and the squire ran
out, and heard him introduce her
as their new daughter. Then, in the
midst of the laughing and kissing and
handshaking some one closed the door,
to prevent the dressmaker from wit
Messing their family joys, 1 supposed
Poor Ivyl She turned faint and
sick as the fatal truth. forced itself
upon her. Her face grew white as
death, and there was a stony look of
misery in the soft eye that would have
melted less cruel heart than that of
the woman beside her. But in the
midst of her misery pride came to her
aid. One thing she was resolved upon
no one should ever suspect her an
guish; no one should ever say that she
wore the willow for gay Joe Dalton.
How she accomplished the rest of
the distance to church she never knew.
She had confused remembrance that
she turned the subject with some COM
monplace relnarks-that she discussed
the weather, the fall styles, the new
minister, with now and then laugh or
careless jest, in much her usual fash
ion, till they parted at the church door,
and Ivy mechanically ascended the
gallery stairs and took her place among
the singers seats"
"Why, Ivy Sunderland !" chorused
the girls; "what is the matter? !?
You're as white as q sheet. and your
eyes-why, girls, just look at her
eyes :"
"There, girls" said Ivy. with faint
smile, "please don't talk to me; I've
got a horrible headache" Which was
true enough. but heartache would have
been truer.
So the kind-hearted creatures hustled
about and brought her glass of water
and battered old palm-leaf fan from
a dusty closet. and mercifully left her
at peace. But for once the soaring
soprano was silent, and the anthem
obliged to pursue its windingway with
out her aid, while she sat on one side
idly watching the congregation drifting
in, one by one, with their shining holi-
day faces.
By-and-bye came a firm. light tread
up the aisle, and Ivy closed her eyes
with sickening shudder. When she
opened them again Joe Dalten stood
at the head of their pew, ushering in
a tiny, elegant creature in rustling,
purple silks, cloud of fluffy blonde
hair above a childish face, and eyes
like great soft viOlets. He faced the
choir for an instant, and. as his eyes
met Ivy's, the whole face lit up with a
CLEAN of dark eyes and a flash Of daz-
zling teeth beneath his brown mus
tache.
But the smile faded to a look of
half-indignant surprise as Ivy looked
straight on and beyond him without
the slightest sign of recognition, and
he settled himself with that impatient
shake of the broad shoulders which
Ivy knew SO well.
Long after service she fingered in
the gallery to avoid all chance of
meeting him, and then slowly made
her way home. curious numb feeling
at her heart. strange blur and chill
over the sunny autumn landscape and
in the crisp, golden air.
But when she reached home she was
even more gay and cordial than usual
in her greetings of the numerous
aunts, uncles and young fry of cousins
who had assembled there during the
morning; and all that afternoon her
laugh was the loudest, her Jest the
widest among all that hilarious group.
A bright spot burned on either cheek,
and there was feverish light in her
eyes; but no one knew.that her hands
and feet were like ice. that the wild
gayety came from an excitement that
had just escaped delirium. And when
Julia Hunt and her cousin called they
found her radiant in the blue silk,
and ready TO discuss "the news" which,
thanks to Miss Simms. was at present
briskly circulating from one end of
Redleaf to the other.
SO through the long twilight they
sat in the freight, cracking nuts and
jokes indiscriminately. pounding their
thumbs and screaming with alternate
pain and laughter. and ehattering
through it all like convocation of hi
larious magpies.
Then, as the young moon looked in