The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-11-03
a. s "a 9 . M = "A N x r.,

the young man replied. .;Uniess yuu
hay" lost youT candor, You u'uHt own
that | never released You"
This borders on inauit." Alec Thorn
tom Ms, Styles sad quickly, and look
in steadily ,nto the eyes that were fax
tened with cQu,l esrneStness on heI
own. ~'For,umately | have your letter.
"And |, equally unfortunately. have
not yours, hut / nave what will. and did
sprinkle OF dust, and will flicker a while
III my candlcstick. thank you. So, on
reflection, though | was inclined to feel
Jealous at first, you are welcome to the
f:pgiie compliment your vis-a-vis has
paid your appearance this morning"
Miss Styles rniscd her eyes and met
those OF II gent!cmon who was Just TAX
ing u place opposite to her, Dir. Aloo
Thornton.
Il am fnttered to have-remained
among DE-. Thornton's menoriea,7 Miss
Styles said, bowing in acknowledgment
Of that s~entleman's greeting.
Never having scen you Mis- Dor.
man wont on, Il had to oall on another
gcnius who had, though aftor all he
would only be general, ard selected
whet would suit any belle. want that
1t, doctor?-Tair and fickls' he sage they
ere abe added, much surprised at tina
expression she saw on DIR. Fhornton's
face and not in the least understand.
inG it.
Miss Styles turned TO the gentleman Mt
her vioe. md took up the flowers again
rs shc sa!d:
AT Ices! We are charming while we
last, and il too much sunshine 10 fatal,
the weakness ia human; whcro is the
man who can endure unlimited pros
peri;y:7
GIVE the figure n sentimental turn"
IN" gentleman suggested. and for pres
l'erity read affection. the morning glory
illustration ia no, happy"
i shal certainly ciaim thick clouds
and rainy weather ut once. and nv
glory will thrive the better. Tho closer
analysis develops new charms" the
young lady continued, and | fccl my
self indebted to DIR. Thornton for tho
compliment he has paid my womanly
nature"
That gentlemen bowed again us he
said, They are beautiful certainly, but
tell its own story--my rsjeotsd pledge,
the little violsts."
Your rejected pledgeY' Miss Styles
asked curiovsly.
Eyes, my rejected, returned pledge
he repeated. Possibly circumstances
which have besn burned into my mem.
DRY have escaped yours. l wenS TO your
house one evening, ten years Co., u
happy lover, believing implicitly in the
woman who hal that morning, with
words she knew well how TO choose, dis
PEELED my doubts and, ! think. pardon
bio jealousy. l found, when the serv-
ant answered me, you had placed a full
explanation Of your absence, she photo
graph Of my hated rival, and my poor
violets! There was no need for more
these told their own story. You could
not facs me with the truth, tho English
captain had stolen your love from me,
or | hnd never Possessed IL, and you
chose this method of breaking the news.
i tried 70 return your COVERS, but could
not. The little ones folded In my hasty
farewell, scrubbed on a stray sheet l
found on the table, were taken from O
vase on the gallery. Yours lie where
your W fingers placed them that morn
ing. From that wretched hour Of
awakening | vowed TO forget you, but I
have not. alas, l can not. Once more,
Mary, | ask you, may l try again to win
your lover
There was n mornentary silence, dur
ing which Miss Styles seoInod oddly
moved. At length she said in n low
voice and looking quite awny from her
companion;
do you mean That you did not read
the note T
Can you mean that you wrote me
one - he asked eagerly.
And he flowers you left wore not
those | had given your" Her tono was
beginning TO trcmblo perceptibly.
For answer no touched the spring Of
his watch AMI showed, lying upon a bit
of white velvet inside the extra case,
four little purple %violc5s. "You laid
them thero," he said in a low, forcibly
calm tone.
Mary Styles draprsd her face in her
hands, ~ she eaid in broken tones,
ooh, Alec, Whist have you thought OF
meY'
Consider rather what you may be
giving mo reason to think of YOU" the
young man answered, touching care
lessly her soft hair; then after a mo-
ment, "Will you tell me il there was a
letter and what it said Z"
There was ono in the same sheet with
yours, il you had but turned it ovor."
"And it said"
Some very foolish words, I fear"
Miss Styles replied slowly, and, lifting
her eyes for the first time to her com
panion's face, but mono OF dismissal"
But tho flowers" and his strong,
brown fingers possessed themselves OF
a strangely unresisting, slim, white
hand.
Were taken from my hell. a few mo