The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-13

neafted, TOOL
A thousand words and glanoea, before
almost unnotioed, now flashed upon
her.
She snatohed up the note again and
looked at it.
1t was dated the evening of that day.
"Oh, Dick, Dickl" she cried wildly,
''how could you how GOULD youP And
Il loved you sol
Then, with Il sudden storm OF sobs,
she broke down altogether, and, burying
her face in the orumpled overcoat, wept
and wept as If her very heart would
break, the graceful little figure shaken
and 81 convulsed.
The fire burned low IN the CRATE under
a coatlng Of gray ashes.
T. event
Now she did not pause to listen to the
music.
Foorst -ps came along the sidewalk,
up the stHp'.
A latch-key turned cautiously IN the
door.
She neither heard nor stirred.
In the hall Dick paused, curious
smile on his lips.
"Dolly's asleep, sure as fatel"
He divnstrd himself Of hat and over
coat, and hummin5 popular air, turned
the handle OF the par,or door.
"Gooduessl Dolly, what the sAi"t-
terP"
His song camo to ar ..utimely end as
he caught sight cr Vne sobblng, shaking
little figure II the hearthrug.
He 1J6k 0 >e stride towards her, but
~ The sound of his voice she had sprung
to Ter feet with crimson checks and
dangerously sparkling eyes.
Stand off, sirl Don't d ire to touch
mel"
''Great Heayenl Dolly" in direst
bewilderment.
"Don't Dolly mel" facing him like Il
diminutivo tigress -"don't dare tor
"Doll,"
Don't mention my name so soon
after hers--this 'Ed;th,' to whom you
are Dick, darlingr"
"Dolly-"
"Csn you find no other word with
which to defend or vipdicate yourself
except the repetition of my nane?" this
last with unnatural ealmness.
The temperature had waited round
from the torrid to the frigid zone.
"HaYe yon gone-mad?" slowly.
elf have, find the cause-there."
Scorntully she flung him the crumpled
sheet.
He snatched it eagerly and read every
word.
Then he lifted face of, if possible,
more intense, utter bewilderment than
before.
"Where did you get this. Dolly2"
"rhore."
She pointed dramatically to the tum-
bled overcoat.
"There?" i'll blankest astonishment.
"There!"
He glanced from the note to the coat,
from the coat 10 the note, then back
again to Dolly.
She WAS longing desperately to steady
her voico aud still her heart sufficiently
to ask hip. low he liked Gerster, Just to
exhibit piece of singing sarcasm; but
she could not to save her life.
There was blank silence II moment.
then Dick walked over and picked up
the overcoat.
Hark! What was that?
Not laugh, surely.
Yes, a laugh.
The maddest, merricst. widest peal
that ever rang from human lips.
There Oh the hearthrug stood Dick,
the coat fallen loosely on the floor, his
hands Oh both hips, and laughing-well,
he was.
"Dickl' in faltering amazoment.
"Yes," howled Dick.
"Oh. Dolly, it's tho best joke of the
senson."
"Oh-hi--.'
And then ho was roaring like CIRCUS
mad schoolboy again.
"Dlck-tell mei''
Then, seeing her white, anxious face,
he grew suddenly grave.
Dolly, dld you look at the envel-
ope?"
II saw none."
He shove d her tho envelope that had
flu tered unnoticed under the tabo.
Size read the address,
RICHARD HARVEY, ESQ,
102 Blank st.
ODDLY, did lid, you particularly notice
the oyercoat?"
A tremulous "NUl"
"Lookl Sec TINT velvet collar, those
buttons. this pocket book-Is this my
overcnat?"
/ "Oh, Dick. my dearest, forgive moi
No, no, nor
She was sobbing in his arms now.
"My darline"
"But," babbling again into boyish
laughter, ''what good jokel 10 think
that l should walk homo in, and that
you should mend, DICK Harvey's over
coat! Wonder if his folks are going
through my pockets now2"
"Who's Elith'2"
"Hls sweetheart, whom ho has to
sneak of to 500, because of formidable
heiress staying ut his house ut present,
to whom his folks are trying to marry
him. He told me all about it,"
"Dick, "-shy arms went creeping
round his neck, and blue eyes grew ln-
minous through their tears--I'm never
oven going to he jealous again. l. Pm
not gong to ask you where you were
to night" with triumphant heroism, I'M
derlaid by stratum of maddening curl
osity.
"NTy pet. was just going to tell you,
but these will speak better than Gun.
You see T had not quite forgotten what
tomorrow waB."
He had drawn q leathefn case from
his pocket. and touching the spring,
Disclosed q set and neoklet OF milk white
pearls on turquoise velvet bed.
"Oh--h. DIck"