Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-03-10

n CltuI anu AhhSihB "hhSSACtOoO oAAe
fell and rose again, a pleasant sound to
hear, upon the evening air; but the
girl who stood knee-deep in clover be-
side the meadow fence looked SOM
berly down as the joyous notes struck
upon her ear.
"Poor fellow! dear fellow r she
said to herself. 1T is so hard to go
against him when he Is as light
hearted as that"
A moment more and Ralph Arm
strong, her lover, vaulted lightly over
the intervening bars and stood beside
her.
Straight, sturdy, brown, something
of the contrast between himself, with
his superabundant life, and the wee
woman waiting there. seemed to strike
him.
"Why, my little Daisy" hesaid, with
o playful touch turning up her chin
until he could look into the soft eyes,
that straightway filed with tears.
"Why, DAISY !" he repeated. in an al
tered. vexed voice, Il thought when L
saw you out here that you were glad to
have me come. Never mind; you will
be when l tell you the news. /
have paid off the last installment on
the farm, and there's to be an end Of
your drudgingyourlife away. No more
cooking for dodgers, or sitting up halt
the night to look out for Rick. Is he
Up to his old tricks again? Is that
what has taken the color all out Of
your face?"
"He was away all night" said Daisy,
in low voice. He never got home
until noon to-day. He is asleep, and,
OH, Ralph! | am afraid to have him
wake. 1t is so much worse now that
Miss Winter is here.
Didn't l tell you how that would
be?" reminded Ralph. not very kindly.
But, luckily, it don't matter; you can
get rid of her as soon as you please,
and we will have the wedding-whens ?
won't be put off very long, my deal" I"
Daisy turned her face away to the
gathering dusk.
"Oh, Ralph r. she cried, piteously.
:" Be contented to wait"
ITO wait What for? For Rick
to drink himself to death? For you to
grow old before your time with the
hard work of taking care Of yourself
and him? Daisy, once and for all,
you'll have to choose between your sot
of a brother and me. If you are bound
10 put him first now and forever"
The unfinished threat fell upon
other ears besides those it was intended
to reach. A dogcart rolled almost
noiselessly past on the thick green turf
of the lane upon which the meadow
bars gave, and DIR. Lloyd. lifting his
hat to Daisy, shot a keen glance at the
young fellow standing sulkily at her
side. lie was gone in a moment, but
somehow Ralph Armstrong expert
enced feeling Of shame which kept
him for the time from pressing what
he had been about to urge. He turned
and walked toward the house with
Daisy.
1t was a shackly, tumble-down cot
tage, with moss and lichen breaking
out in patches over the decayed wealth
erboarding, and q creaking porch
from which the rustic benches had
long ago rotted away. The picturesque
aspect Of the old place had taken Miss
Winters fancy, and 50 little. fair-faced
Daisy had found the weekly addition
to the sum which she earned with her
dressmaking was all that now went
into her shas BY purse.
There was a muflled cry-of DAISY!
Daisy~ as those two approached to-
gether; thence once. twice. the report
Of pistol, together with the sound
of shattered glass, was borne to their
ears.
Its Rick cried naisy, breathless-
Iy; IL looked tor h4..4 in his room.