Smyrna times., 1882-06-21


the parlor after tea, and played little
on the cracked piano, sung some simple
ballads in a fresh, young voice, and
finally it was the usual thing to see
William standing, raptly attentive. at |
one side of the piano, Smith behind
her, Morrison, the newspaper reporter
in louRging chair wheeled Sc that he .
could watch her face, and Timmins,
the hardware dealer, turning her music. |
To be sure, he did not know one note |
from another, and she was obliged to |
stop her song and say: NOwm as a |
signal at every page.
l found that the gentlemen regarded |
William with a certain cOolness, as, |
owing to the affair of the celery, he was
on a more familiar footing with her
than any of them.
AS for me, l liked Miss Archibald
very much. She seemed sensible
little thing, and, beyond that, was so
extravagantly pretty that one could
but admire her.
She invited me to go on shopping ex-
peditions, and | found she was having
d number of elaborate dresses made,
about which my advice was asked, and,
of course, that Difference to my opinion
in the matter of dry goods had moll-
flying effect on me.
William became more and more
infatuated, as did the others, and grew
provoked, As if men of their age
ought not TO have something better to
think of than being at the beck and
call of child in her teens.
One night | went into the parlOr to
wait for Mrs. Jerrolds, who had invited
me to lecture, and in the darkness
for Mrs. Ford was too economical to en-
courage the lighting of more than one
gas-jet-saw Miss Archibald on the
piano stool with her hands resting on
the keys, while William was standing
beside her, looking eagerly into her
face.
"Yes, Miss Bessie" he was saying,
" friendship is such noble, such an
elevating thing! How it lifts us above
petty rommonplaces to know there is
one heart will be true to us!'
Charming indeedr' said I, drily.
"Yes, William, as you say, there is
nothing like friendship"
1t was wicked of me, | know, but
was abundantly repaid by the start he
gave and the expression | could
tenance. Miss Archibald was undis-
; turbed, and began playing softly as /
| went out.
Well, things went on in the same
t ratio until ! used to see William COM
: ing in with little white parcels, un-
A mistakably from the florists and Miss
t Archibald wore violets and daisies at
f her throat.
2 One morning We came down 10 break
: fast and her seat was vacant. Iimmins
\ fingered over his breakfast, but she did
!. not appear; Smith was silent and pre-
) occupied, Morrison read the morning
j. paper nervOusly, and William played
$ with his biscuit.
: At noon she did not come, and the
t four lunatics became still more agitated
I In the meanwhile | had ascertaineG
that she went to Dorchester the pre-.
vious afternoon and had spent the
e night thefe, Dpt ny opinion Was moi
o asked and of course ] did not Yolun
teer information. After dinner, Will
a liam, instead of going out as usual
e waited for me in the hall and said
e Deborah, wont you go up stairs an(
e see if Miss Archibald is ill?"
e "NO, I'm sure shan't, said ] coolly
e Not even to Oblige you"
1t Deborah, how unkind you are !
| cried he, dramatically is this al
lie the sympathy one woman has fo
d anOther9 Why, person might die il
le hoarding,h0use without soul near.
? William" said |, impresslvely
take my word for it, you're making
ID decided simpleton of yourself" Blu
d William had shut the door forcibly ant
~ was gone.
ID In the middle of the afternoon Mis-
Archibald came into my room, fresl
and rosy.
m "such a nice time, dear Miss Fraser,
er she said, And may ] tell you
" secret?'
s. ITO be sure, my dear said l, stroll;
m ing her soft cheek as she knelt besid
ly me, for couldn't help liking her.
er "Well, all my shopping is done, an
z, l am going home unexpectedly tornigt
ID at 6. Harry has come for me and IL
i'd He said papa gave him full liberty
Id take me whether | was willing or not.
en- And who is Harry ~
nd THAT'S the secret, Miss Erase
a though after am gone you may tell i
We He is Harry Starr, and we are to }
married in three weeks"
rt, $50 that was why you had so muC
of shopping to do" said !. "Well, m
/ dear, ! hope you will be very happy
er- helped her pack was introduce
nj to Harry when he called for her
ty handsome, brOad-shOuldered fellow
,p- and said good-by with blessing.
ad That night at tea felt that had
re mission to perform. All were earl
and the gentlemen a. they came
ne glanced quickly at Miss Archibald
We seat only to find it vacant, A gener
ng gloom settled over the table. Final
ed Timmlns could hear it no longer al
nd said to me,
yas "Is Miss Archibald HIP"
me ooh, no." said /, cOolly, "she h
be- gone home rather suddenly. The ge
tleman to whom she is engaged was
his town, and thought it would be pleasa
for her to go down on the same ira
sits with him."
! cast glance round the tahl
ing Smith and Morrison were eating rapl
,ell ly, William pushed back his chair al
left the room, but only Timmins cou
rst not be satisfied.
d.n "The gentleman to whom she is e
gagged ?" he repeated feebly.
lri. "Yes," said l, helping myself to b,
an ter with utmost cheerfulpess "She
, Is to be married In three weeks
as William never mentioned the naI
of Miss Archibald, aud ! noticed til
,er- the four gentlemen settled back imm
nth diately into their former staid a.
ent sober ways, and gave up cultivati
am. the gTaoes of youth,
ong My brother has been quite huml
We since the occurrence, and / am 81
aid, has more respect for his sisters comm
, us sense than before. / only enjoy
am. situation, especially as he took me
veg the opera that week, evidently a.
re il tacit brihe Ia restrain me from sayir
and ~ told you so.n But am not abe
ass. accepting a bribe, even though
chi tolerably we'll convinced that
ince tickets were purchased for Bes
A sL,1