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

~ ~ - ASa> ~ &O Wv ~ A4AA ~ - tSs
Miss Orinthia Brown set down her tea
cup with ar emphasis that made all
The china rattle. And little Mrs.
hIeeker jumped nervously at the
sound.
| 81 never heard anything so ridiculous
In all nv life, ~ said Miss Brown, deri
Eively. "Gilbert Mott in love with
Georgia Arlington! Why, she is mere
doll with big blue eyes and pink cheeks
md yellow curls.
s.She's very fascinating in her man
bers.n Mrs. Meeker ventured to re-
bark.
oh. pshawn was Miss Orinthia's
ontemptuous comment. "And you
Sally think he's in love with her2n
ayes / must say that think So"
"Ah-h-h." said Orinthia, meaningly.
If only dared tell you all!'
"Dear me-" said Mrs. Meeker, eagerly;
what do you mean?"
bd of her head. ''He walked home
om church last night with me-didn't
"les, but"
'He stayed on nv side of the room
the time we were decorating the
ir rooms with evergreens, didn't
eyes; but that was because"
"And-but never mind, never mind -
d Miss Orinthia, mysteriously. "Time
Il show! Georgia Arlington, indeed
why, she's nothing but child-a
Pre school girl! l know better!'
'Do tell me, Miss Orinthia," pleaded
IS. Meeker. "Is he really engaged to
u?''
Miss Orinthia pursed up her lips, drop
her eyelids with manner that was
|nderfuliy eloquent, but she would
nmit herself no further.
Let's 90 up stairs and finish dressing
pse China dolls for the lucky bag" ="
d Miss Brown. ''We shall get more
ney out of the lucky bag than any
ne else, and we must be sure and
Fe it we'll furnished"
While the tea drinking ceremonial
been going on in the lower part of
mansion of Mrs Meeker, quite diff
ent chain of circumstances was trans
ing above stairs. Mr.. Gilbert Mott,
o had been inveighed into the snares
The ladies' fair, nolens volens, had
pc early to help in the last prepara-
bs and walking up to the work-room
surprised lovely blue eyed lassie
the occupation of filling sundry
es of bright hued paper with sugar
ms and French bon-bons
eorgia Arlington shook back her
ny curls and blushed like June rose
, as she started up.
Don't go, Miss Arlington, please :"
hded Gilbert, himself not unembar-
led. But Georgia muttered some
pg about a roll of ribbon which she
forgotten. and fiuttered past him ere
Fould demonstrate further.
ilbert locked after her, with whim
| expression of dispair on his counte-
ce.
Now, why does she run away from
like that" he said to himself.
fobably because she knows it tanta-
me. But I'll be even with her vet
be won't let me tell her how dearly !
her, I'll write it to her!"
nj needless of the neglected piles of
pr sprigs and princess pine yet wait
to he wrought into garlands, he sat
n to the table, and seizing pen and
began passionate billet -doux after
following fashion:
I OWN PRECIOUS DARLING: Why are
30 cold and cruel to mea Why will ycu
et me- tell you in words what you must
read IN my eyes-the story of my hearts
tlons For love you, and have loved
hi ii I.Nrv.a 70 %1,~ L. =
You must have seen it for yourself dur
he last few days that we have been
Elng together for the church fair! \ let
VIII not give me word or a glance of
uragement. Is this right, my ruthless
oil heartss But | am determined that
snail tell me when we meet again
her l may nope or not! Until then,
one, am half in dispair, half hopeful
Yours, ever and unalterably,
g. M
had just scribbled off this unstudi-
fusion when the sound of footsteps
pc stairs chased away the soft shad-
of his love dream, and he had just
to slip the paper under leaf of
Say spruce twigs, when Mrs Meeker
Miss Orinthia Brown entered.
work SO soonp cried the latter,
y. Isn't he industrious, Mrs.
ker?n ''
es," said Gilbert. hypocritically, 81
work already"
he was, but not exactly for the
watched nervously for an oppor-
to possess himself of the precious
OF paper without observation, but
ornthia, doubtless prompted there
some baleful evil spirit, hovered
Pa the spruce boughs like middle
turtle dove, and cffectually warded
designs. And presently he was
uo"n stairs in the popular current
en some boxes of donations which
us1 arrived by parcel delivery.
onn az easily come back to get it
:hey are busy cackling over the
hlngs," he thought.
Int illustration this of the futility
human plans-when he came re-
paek some twenty minutes or so
nc sheet was gone. Gone, leaving
ptirely! n0' u''eiiy
,e'leve there has been some super
osy agency at work." thought our
,s.eu nero, as he tumbled over the
NJ Ion.ents on the table in vain,
en % Mott was wrong. The agency
:" exceedingly human no other.
ton 'uan mlschievous little Billie
r' for w VINO came in search of stray
en- en- ta .ne famous lucky-bag which
- ce cseeInporsrily delivered into his
scsn. secsun,.nulcopias, pin-cushions, Rim
oags, needle-books. he