The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-08-16
a LEAK IN THE ROOF.

kettle over the fire for tea.
That bright, CHEEKY New Hampshire
kitchen-not even the driving north.
east rain, which poured in torrents out
side, could put a damper on its merry
aspect. Close to the window a bulfincll
whist]ed meditatively in its cage OF
woven wicker boughs--a pomegranate-
tree on the other side was all sprinkled
with scarlet buds, and the very stripes
OF the rag carpet were suggestive of
sunshine and cheerful thoughts. And
Mrs. Drayton herself, one of those
plump, motherly, good-natured souls
who are born to make home happy was
setting the table with white and blue
edged cups and saucers that had be-
longed to her grand mother before her.
The bread was winter than snow, the
apple-sauce was pleasantly favored with
cinnamon, and freshly baked loaf of
"cup cake" occupied the center of the
feast.
She was reaching up for little jar of
homemade pickles, when PAIR of
strong arms encircled her vast, and a
handsome bearded face appeared on the
level with her own.
Drayton, 'how you frightened me |
But 1 do think, Harry, You get more
harum-scarum every day.
tie lifted her lightly TO the floor.
"Do you want any more eggs, moth
er ?'' he asked, there arc plenty in
the barn -
i've got enough for to-day" said
Mis-. Drayton, pouring the tiny picked
cucumbers into the plate.
'"Rosalie takes omelets, you know"
misCiliovOuSiY suggested the Young
man.
a frown darkened Mrs. Drayton's
face.
Harry" she said, "you've made a
"Have I, mother dear ? But you'll
find that I've not ~
Rosalie Hartley is selfish, heart.
less coquette !" cried Ms. Drayton,
excitedly.
Mother, hush % said the young
man, tenderly putting his hand over her
mouth. She has promised to be my
wife,"
ooh, Harry Harry! |"
ut is so, mother dear, and you
must learn to love her for my sake.
You will soon find how completely you
are mistaken in your estimate Of her
character, and she will be like daught-
or to you'll"
Mrs. Drayton sat down, still with the
pickle fork in her hard, and began to
cry.
Now there was nothing in the wide
world that made Harry Drayton feel so
uncomfortable as tears. A whole die
tionary full Of remonstrances would
not have melted him like one Of those
crystal drops.
Didn't you say there was leaky
spot over the kitchen chimney, moth
er :" SAID he. "If 60 up and look at
1t now 1 can perhaps see where the
trouble isl
And, thus speaking, he hurried away.
Mrs. Drayton looked after him with
fearful eyes, as she shook her head
doubtfully.
"There never was a better son." said
she. eff he had only selected Celandine
Hall ~
Poor MIRO. Drayton When aho took
the two pretty factory-girls to board,
just to earn money enough for a new
par]or carpet, she had not dreamed that
she was setting trap to catch Harry's
true and loyal heart. TO be sure it had
once or twice occurred to her mind that
little Celandine Hall, with her soft voice
and doye-like-eyes and the "handy
ways" that she had about the house,
would make very acceptable daugh.
ter-in-law, but Rasalie Hartley,-the
brilliant, saucy brunette with her loud,
ringing laugh, her cheap jewelry, hei
abject following Of the latest devices OF
the bankruptcies, the subrosa flirtationa
which she conducted with the foreman
OF the factory, the good-looking young
miller down town the handsome car.
riage-maker who was building the big
house under Ransom Rock, and her ull-
tidy fashion Of leaving Celandine to
care for the room which they occupied
IN common,-all these things were an
abomination to her mother.soIl
" Why is it, she sad to herself, in a
sort Of desperation, "that sons always
select the women for wives that theil
mothers most dislike Pm almost sure
that Rosalie paints, although I never
could detect her at it,-and there were
only three buttons on her boots yester.
d day. A real wOmanly woman Is as tidy
with her shoes as with her gloves. And
Mrs. Jessup told me yesterday that she
was flirting disgracefully with Mr..
Pecklam, that Spaniard-faced foreman
q at the factory. What can Harry posi-.
ply be thinking Of to trust his future to