The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-21


Unto an old envelope directed ''Miss
Orinthia A. Brown" which lay beyond.
"What larks it will bel" thought the
/, incorrigible Billy. ''Some of the girls
I'll think they've got love letter and how
mad they'll be when they find it amt
nothing but one of Rintley's receipts or
| crochet patterns
And away rushed Master Billy, little
reckinp of the mischief he was unwit-
| tingly working to the cause of true love.
The evening of the fair came, and the
pretty rooms made still prettier by paper
roses and evergreen garlands, werd
crowded with the brave, the fair, and
| some that were neither one nor the other.
Georgia Arlington, presiding at one Of
! the tables, looked lovely enough to drive
half dozen young men distracted, in
stead of one; and Miss Orinthla, in a
rustling slate cOlored silk dress, went
about like an autumn leaf in a high wind.
The lucky bag circulated from hand to
hand, carrying, as is the wont of these
institutions, little current of merriment
and laughter in its wake. Georgia drew
a cigar case, Mr.. Mott became the pro-
prietor of a rag doll, and Miss Orinthia
Brown drew-a letter, addressed to her.
se'f
Gilbert Mott, leaning against the
doorway, saw Miss Brown hurrying
up to Georgia and displaying her prize
with malicious glee, while Georgia
colored and bit her lip, and looked ready
to cry, and feigned a merry little ripple
of laughter, all in one and the same
breath.
"Why don't that horrid old maid keep
awav from Georgia Airing onl" thought
our discontented hero. ''She looks like
dried-up bunch of rasins beside clus-
ter of blooming Isabella grapes"
| And, watching his opportunity, he
slipped through the crowd and edged up
to the. table where Georgia was selling
pincushions and tape at an exorbitant
price.
"Georgia!" he whispered softly.
"Georgia!" But she turned her head
haughtily away.
| ''Please to excuse me, Mr.. Mott" she
said, coolly.
While Gilbert was staring at her in
amazement, hand was slipped through
his arm, and Miss Orinthia Brown drew
him gently away.
"Where are you going2" he demanded
rather unwiilingly.
"Just outside the door, one minute, -
whispered Miss Orinthia, falteringly.
''It is not in the tumult of common
crowd that such words should be spoken. :"
;'What words2 haven't an idea Of
what you meant" cried the young man.
Orinthia drew him into the hall, her
head dropped on his shoulder.
Eyes" she falters, ''yes. How could
you for moment doubt it?''
''Doubt what2 Excuse me, Miss
Brown, but think your wits are forsak
ing you," said Gilbert Mott, striving to
free himself from the damsers grasp.
| "Gilbcrt, would you then be false to
me?" sobbed Orinthia with the dawning
symptoms of hysteria.
| 81! False to you'll" echoed our hero.
s'Miss Brown, will you be so kind as to
| tell me at once, and plainly, what you
are talking about2"
! Orinthia Browns sallow cheeks red
dened-her eyes sparkled ominousIy, as
she drew from her pocket the precious
missive.
''Do you mean to say, sir, that you
/ didn't write this letter." she demanded.
Gilbert took the letter and scrutinized
| it closely.
| eyes, of course, wrote the letter.
"Then, dearest"
"Stop, though" ne interrupted, fran
ticeliy. ut wasn't t. you.'
s'Not to me?''
''No. Do you suppose I want to
many you?"
Miss Orinthia uttered shrill Shrek
but the next moment size was alone. Gil
bert Mott had vanished. For the mat
ter was growing serious now. If Geor-
gia were to be won, she must be won at
once, before Fate conspired with an
other cd maid to deprive him of her
coveted love.
Georgia, he said, planting himself
resolutely beside her. 81 have something
| wish to say to you"
"You had a great deal better say it to
your beloved Miss Orinthia." )" said Geor~
gia, tossing her tlaxen curls.
"But she isn't my beloved Miss Grin
thia," cried Gilbert.
81 suppose you will be denying your
own handwriting next" said Georgia,
Indignantly. ''But it's of no use; 1 saw
the letter myself"
But, Georgia, the letter was written
to YOU"
little, chow did she get it2''
"That's just what 1 can't compre-
lend myself" said Gilbert: "but one
thing am very certain of love you,
and you alone, and won't leave you un-
til you tell me whether my love is re-
turned"
And he did not; neither was it neces-
sary for him to stay there very long.
But to this day nobody save Billy, the
irrepressible, knows exactly how Geor-
gia's letter came into Miss Orinthia
Browns hands.
A Logical Hen.
Every one has heard of the distress of
the hen on beholding young ducklings
hot Nv hor fol Ii TO + lo