The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-10-16
also, and weaving little romance of

also, and weaving a little romance of
her own.
"IIush childp' Miss Sligo cried.
''IIOw can your She has not been in
her grave a year yet, and David Allyn
will never marry again, anyway. Ills
romance, like mine, is ended"
miss Priscilla kissed the maiden
lady's faded cheek. and flung her
young arms affectionately around her.
81 shall love you better than ever,
now," she said, tenderly, ''and hope
some day things will yet come right.''
Then she went away, and Miss Bet
tie stood in her open window for some
time after, looking at the sunset.
Lawyer Allyn saw her as he came up
the street from his Office. lie had
moved to R-from the city, and
walked more slowly as he came to the
little brown house among the trees.
They always spoke to one other; it
always seemed foolish not to speak.
So when he got by the window he
said:
"Your flowers are looking very fresh
and nice, Miss Bettie."
The spinster gave one of her little
nervous starts. She had not seen him
coming. Her hand struck against one
OF the flower-p0ts and knocked it
over 1t rolled off the narrow sill,
and lay at David Allyn's feet.
ut is broken to pieces" he said
picking it up, with little smile OH his
thin, sall0w face, "but am going to
keep it-may not?''
"Yes-if you want to-" she made
answer, a little breathlessly.
lie took the plant-a pale-pink gera-
nlum-Out of the earthern pot, and
shook little of the dirt of the roots.
"Tllis shall bloom in my window, "
he said, "and | am going to name it
Charming Bettie,' in memory of other
dayS.'
Miss Sligo's face flushed deep red.
'Good-nght. she said, abruptly,
and was about shutting the window.
She felt shocked; his wife had not been
dead a year.
''No, don't go yet," David Allyn
said, his hand on the fence railing.
Then he seemed to remember himself.
Every, well, goodnight" he added
and walked slowly away, the little pink
geranium in his hand
A few days later another stormy
afternoon near dusk Miss Sligo heard
a knock at her front door. There, on
the porch, was Lawyer Allyn.
Miss Bette smoothed her curls
quickly and FASTENED to the door. She
led the way to the parlor.
"Take this CHAIR" she said, drawing
a large rocker close to the fire.
The lawyer held out his hands to the
blaze.
You have snug little home, Miss
Bettie," he observed. "I suppose YOU
would never be willing to leave it now. -
81 am attached to the house," the
spinster said, gravely. "My dear fa-
ther and mother both died here, and it
has many associations"
Size was sitting in ;.uotiler rocking
chair near by, and had taken up her
knitting.
David Allyn watched the swift-hying
needles.
'Don't you ever get lonelyp" he
asked, after Il few moments silence.
III do, up in my big house. 1t is a pretty
place; but it i3 too big for me-"
Miss Bette only Knitted faster, and
was silent. His coming had disturbed
her greatly. Suddenly he moved for
ward, and took her work away.
IL don't want you knit any more TO-
night" he said. ~ want you to look
at me.n
''Lawyer Allyni"
''No, not Lawyer Allyn-David.
Call me that, as you used to.''
Miss Bette trembled; her cheeks
glowing as in youthful days.
David Allyn took one of the spin
ster's thin hands III his-the one on
which the little worn ring was, it hap.
pened.
"Bettie," lie said, gravely, 81 have
come tonight to ask your forgivness
and your love again. L feel made IA
mlstake-a great mistake, once in my
life, and l want, if possible, to rectify
it. DON'T tell ME it is too late.n
10 feel she was loved again, all
these lonely years was too much for
Miss Bette; she burst into tears. Her
white kitten purred and rubbed his
soft head against her dress. The fire
light danced Oh the wall and made
black shadows in The cofners.
In the uncertain light David Allyn
bent and kissed the faded cheek beside
him.
They were speedily married..