The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1884-10-31


shall love you to the worlds end,
and you mast have seen ii tor your.
self during the last lew days that
we have been working together for
the church fair! Yet you will not
give me "a word or glance Of en-.
c0uragement!
ais this right, my ruthless queen
of heartsi But | am determined
that you shall tell me when We meet
again whether may hope or not.
Untii then, sweet one, | am, half
in despair, half hopeful.
Yours, ever aud unalIerably,
G.M.n
He bad just scribbled of this un.
studied effusion when the sound OF
footsteps chased away the soft
shadows of his love dream aud be
bad just time to slip the paper un-
der a leaf OF Norway spruce twigs,
when Mrs. Meeker aud Miss 0riu.
tina Brown entered.
"At work so sonnw cried the
latter, archly. "lsn't he industri-
Gus, Mrs. Meekerp
"Yes,1 said Gilbert, hypocri,ical.
ly. "Pm at work alreadyr
So he was, but not exactly for the
fair.
He watched nervously for an OPP
portunity to possess himself OF the
precious sheet of paper, without
observation, but Miss Orintbia,
doubtless prompted thereto by
some baleful evil spirit, lowered
around the spruce boughs like Il
middle-aged turtle dove, and effect
ually war,led off his designs. Aud
presently he was borne down stairs
in the popular current to open some
boxes OF donations, " hlcb had just
arri, ed by express.
III can easily come back and get
1t when they are busy cackliug over
the new things" he thought.
But-it illustration this OF the
futility of all human plans-when
he came rejoicing back some twen.
ty minutes or so later the sheet WIS
gone.
Gone, leaving no trace or vestige
behiud-gone, utterly and entirely.
IL believe there has been some
superhuman agency at work.
thought our bewillered hero, as he
tumbled over the chaotic contents
OF the table IN vain.
But Mr.. Mott was wrong. The
agency had been exceedingly hu.
man--no other, in fact, than mis-
cbievous little Billy Arlington came
up III search OF stray prizes tor the
famous grab.bag which bad been
temporarily delivered into his
hands. CornucOpias, pin cushions,
scent bags, needle books he poun.
ced on all alike, aud perceiving a
sheet OF pink paper, written on be
crumpled it into an old envelope,
directed "Miss Oriutbia A. Brown,'
which lay beyond.
"What larks it will be,' thought
the incoirigible Billy. "Some of
the girls will thiuk they've got IA
love letter, and how mad they'll be
when they fud it amt nothing but
one OF Rintley's receipts or crochet
patterns.'
And away rushed Master Billy,
little recking OF the mischief be was
unwitiingly working to the cause
OF true love.
The evening of tue fiir came
and the pretty rooms, made still
pretiieI by paper roses and ever
green garlands, were crowded with
the brave, the fair, aud some that
were neither one nor the other.
Georgia Arlington, presided at one
of the tables, looked lovely enough
to drive halt dozen young men
distracted, instead of one, and Miss
Orinlbia, in a rustling slate.c0lored
silk dress, went about like an au.
tum Leaf in a high wiud. The grab.
bag circulated from hand to haud,
carrying, AS is the wont OF these
institutions, a little current OF mer.
riment aud laughter in its wake.
Georgia drew a cigar-case, Mr..
Mott became the proprietor of
rag doll, aud Miss Orlnthia Brown
drew-a letter, addressed to her.
self.
Gilbert Mott, leaning against the
doorway, saw Miss Brown burrying
up to Georgia aud displaying her
prize with Il malicious glee; while
Georgia colored and bit her lip, aud
looked ready TO cry, aud feigned a
merry little ripple of laughter, all
in one and tue same breath.
"Why don't that horrid old maid
keep away from Georgia Airing.
toni" thought our discoutented
hero. "She looks like dried.up.
bunch OF raisins beside cluster of
blooming Isabella grapes.'
Aud, watching his opportunity,
he slipped through the crowd aud
edged up to the table where Ge0r-
gia was selling pin-cushions and
tape trimming at an exhorbitant
price.
"Georglar be whispered softly, |
"Georgiap
But she turned her head haugh- !
tily away.
"Please to excuse me, Mr.. Mott,n
she said, coolly.
While Gilbert was staring Mt her
In amazement a hand was slipped
through his arm, aud Miss nlhia
Brown drew him gently away,
"Where are you going !" he de-