The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-06-05

"And how is that?"
"Ask her.'
And then Tom sprang up, II pale
| eager look OH his face, and caught
Amy's hands in his.
"Will she say no?'
"Amy, will you take what Marian
didn't think good enough?"
"if you will, l will be 50 thankful she
has Tilted me.''
There was no gainsaying the earnest
ness of what he said, and Amy flushed
and trembled, and then laughed.
.",'Let go my hands, Tom-somebody
will see us.''
"They may see, and-welcomep'
81 shan't let 60 until you promise
you will have me-rmtil you tell me
you love me dear"
"But WON'T"
'"Then you can't gO.''
a saucy little dmpling of tho Grim
son cheeks.
'"rom, please let me CO."
'l'll-say-yes- don't mean it
a bit"
I'll take the risk"
And then he leaned over and said
something that made her cheeks Grim.
son even deeper.
While, ut the self-same moment, MI.
Alter, three miles off, asked Marian If
she would marry him.
~ said yes, OF course, mammal" she
said later, when she rehearsed the
scene for her mothers benefit.
"Certainly you said yes!"
"Marian, / think | have nothing left
to wish for, now that / shall see you
mistress Of such a magnificent home as
the Grange"
"You have done splendidly with
yourself"
"And he never dreams that we have
discovered his charming little romance,
mammal"
And al hour or so afterwards the
picnic came home, and Marian watcher
them with a faint little sneer OH he'd
pretty face, that deepened into a posi-.
tive mOcking triumph when she saw
Tom Lester and Amy Proctor going by
i'll Farmer Hetwyn's numbering wagon.
nette-and thought that she would ride
III her own carriage before long
II will cut every one of them," she
decided.
And then something in Sybil Con
yers', grave, naughty eyes, as she and a
tall, handsome young fellow dashed by
wonder very much at it.
She turned to Mr.. Alter who had
been standing at the other side of the
window, idly looking out on the merry
little cavalcade.
"Nliss Conyears is with strange
gentleman, and he seems to know you,
Ernest" she said.
"Who is he?''
Mr. ltar lOoknI ny
"That?"
cit is Mr.. Clifton!,
"Why, what can have brought him
| so unexpectedly"
Cliftonl Cliftonl
Then Mr.. Ernest Alter was nobody
in disguise after all; and all her charm
ing romance had not an atom of FOUL
dation!
Mr.. Alter was only Dlr. Alter, and
a sudden rush of rebellous tears
clouded her eyes as she tried to realize
it-she was not engaged to the master of
theiGrange, who was driving with pretty
naughty Sybil Conyers, and apparently
very much smitten, for all he was q
stranger, but to Mr.. Clifton's servant
and oyerseer.
And Tom Lester and Amy looked 50
comfortable and cosy together-while
Poor Marian could hardly bring her
self to believe it.
Was it true that she had made such
an awful mistake, blinded by her pride
and ambition?
And, in the midst of her self-tor-
menting thoughts, she did not see the
chagrin and alarm that was on hel
lovers face, or the umeasiness in his
manner, as he excused himself.
And--"made himself scarce,' OF
vanished that same day.
with a big bill unpaid, not to mention
the quantity of stolen underlinen he
had borrowed from the wardrobe of the
Grange.
Poor Marian!
She had nobody but herself to blame,
but all the same her worst enemy would
have pitied her could they have seen
her all forlorn and discOnsolate, her
face red and swollen with hours of
crying, as she watched the double pro-
, cession of carriages, the day Tom Les
ter and Amy, and handsome young Mr..
Clifton, the master of the Grange, and
Miss Sybil C0nyers were married.