The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-07-27

piece OF constancy produced no result il
my favor. She turned her back D
me, if possible more completely than sh,
had done before. But I would not Civ,
up.
Cant you love me a littlep lin
quired, tenderly, trying to take her hand
But she snatched it away, and declined
either to turn her head in my direction
or to answer my question.
Gas the train was making a tremend.
Gus noise, I thought that perhaps she
couldn't understand me, so I repeated
my words at the top of my lungs. She
made some reply, but I didn't catch it.
"'What do you say, dear2' I bawled.
"T don't even know you she an
swered, in what sounded like a shril
whisper, but the tone was in reality q
shrek.
II thought I could not have heard
Alright, aud to convince myself that it
was my hearing which was at fault,
planted my glasses moro firmly on my
nose, and took a closer inspection of her.
"I tell you I don't know you,' she
repeated, bringing her foot down on
mine with much energy; leave me this
moment, or I'll -
"Here the train emerged from the tun.
mel, and you can picture my amazement,
horror, and modification, when I tell
you that I found that the girl to whom !
had been screaming out my love was an
utter stranger to me.
"Dazed and scarlet, I arose from my
seat.
"T beg your PARDON I said, remov-
ing my hat, 4 have taken you for some.
n else.'
"Not observing how my apology was
received, I retreatcd to the smoking-car,
where Remained until we reached x.
too stunned even to think.
"When I left the train, in looking
about for some sort of conveyance 70
take me to the Wilson's place, I found,
to my increased embarrassment, that the
girl to whom I had so recently offered
myself was standing on the platform, ap.
parcntly waiting for someone.
"That she saw me I could tell from
the expression of not seeing me which
she Immediately assumed. As she would
not LOOK at me, I had plenty OF opportu-
nifty to observe her, and saw that she
really did resemble Helen in many ways.
Notwithstanding she was both fairer and
smaller.
But my object was not to admire
her, although I assure you my inclination
was; SO, finding that there was no hope
of obtaining a vehicle, I started on foot,
getting a lift over the create,
part of the way.
"Arrived at the house, I was well
coined with much cordiality by my host
and his family, and introduced to the
other guests.
81 imagine my feelings when, in the
of the conversation, I learned
that Franks sister was expected home
from boarding-school that afternoon by
the very train on which had come.
cit wa then to her I had been MAX
ing love, instead of her cousin. My dis
position was to turn and run, but I
I should have to stay and make
the best of it, so I smothcred my mott
~ication, and when a few minutes later
carriage arrived bringing Miss Will
son, and 1 was presented to her, 1 think
that of the two she found the situation
the more awkward.
"Thc next day the tardy Helen ar
rived, and explained how, returning to
house for something she had forgot
ten, h had missed her train and her es-
cort.
"During the entire week I was impa-
tiently waiting for an opportunity to
offer myself to her, but before 1 could
10 so 1 learned that a large diamond
ing which she had been wearing for
months was the pledge of en-
5agement to some other fellow; and, to |
ny surprise, discovered at the same time
hat the knowledge did not trouble mo
very much.
II suppose you think that I was half
n love with the sister, but assure you ]
vas not. I considered her too young for
ne, although now I think her just right
or me in every particular, and it was
lot until several years later, when Imet
Ter again as a charming young lady,
hat Irealizcd that I had accidentally |
proposed to the woman whom of all 9TH