The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-21
A WOMAN'S WIT,

OA "O tlV luCd uuG e
woman could outwit 4 man. I used to
say that smart as she might be, a man
with his senses about him was smarte,
still. That she could be detected in an
instant md that whatever her purpose
vas she showed it SO plainly in her face
that no one could be deceived for a mo-
nent. And that as she could 20 no.
wherc without attracting attention, and
needed a male protector, whenever sho
old anything out of the common. such
as taking 4 journey or going out after
dark rs she never knew how to dispatch
parcels or messages quietly, and had no
idea Of the hours of railway trains, or
tire way to get anywhere or do ANYTHING
legally, the man who suffered himself to
DC outwitted by her was little short Of
a. idiot.
l have altered my mind now. I have
been the guardian of Miss Matilda Mid
oleoury for twcnty-four hours, and I re.
woke all that I have said. A woman
canno. tic up a parcel, get to an unknown
part OF the world, cut anything with q
KNIFE or give a direction properly; but
when she makes up her mind to marry
some one who is willing, old clovcn hoof
n all his imps could not battle her
She'll have her way.
Miss Matilda Middlebury is a vouno
lady OF twenty-five years. +. "a her
fathers legal adviser, know her exact
age. Before last Thursday I had never
seen her lace to face. Last Thursday T
made her acquaintance. It was in this
wise:
There came to me, per post, a letter
dated Clemencc Hill, and written, as I
saw at once, by some person in a violent
Lines all crooked. Letters any
shapes. THIS is what it said to mo.
,. CLEMENCE HILL, Saturday
MR. MARTIN, Dear Sir: I shall make no
apology for troubling you about n mattau
"nlch you Will perhaps consider q little ont
OF your sphere. [ should not make anv anoi'
t to NH III t me R III OF anywhere for asking him
ing. This is a life and death matter to me-.
you must help me. Besides, Won are NO
legal adviser, and I want you to take the law
INTO your own hands. That is all.
Won nb 4 a aaushterIMatilda Middlebury.
possible maj you may have to alter it VET:
put that is neither here nor there. That
6 IS now twenty-five years old: cor.
se9u ohntss,, OF age and her own mistress. She
PIE; good-for-nothing rascal, whom I have
her to speak to again. and Che 10
ae6ermlnea to marry him. She tried to hum.
Dug me me Jade, and promised to give him
up ouS naFo positive information that she
mas resolved to marry him on Thursday
All preparations are made anS
the trunks packed for a departure to Emrone
l torgot 10 say that she is visiting a friend at
- street, New York.
Inc t rascal comes there every evening,
Cue piano, sings sentimental songs.
makes love. The other girl is in the MOT
and is going to be bridesmaid. And here an,
Win inc govt in my right foot, chained
dora n - e. 0iehienGe HILL; without a friend I
For Heaven S sake, find me the girl. Take
lnto custody. Arrest her. Do what YOU
choose with hcr-only don't lose sig hit of her
,vhat you brins her safe to me. I don't care
bll will be considered reasonable. You have
tno nndying gratitude Of your old friend in
the Bargain, of course.
Mat!lda DOESN'T know anything about law
ana IS awfuiiy afiaid of it. Eore:nbc-. out
oi your sight ono moment and all IS over
Thank Heaven you never married and nava
no daughter. ~
Yours truly,
j. 7. M%IDDLEBuRY.
No. ---s street. Don't forget. Lady
ne person she is visiting. J. F. M.
My friends, the man who would desert
us fellow-man under such circumstances
must be lower than brutcs. I confded
The business TO my partner, telling him
hat affairs Of Importance called me from
nome, n with n small carpet-bag con-
some linen and q brush and comb.
over to No. - street without
delay, and requested to sec Miss
Middlcbury.
In tive minutes she cumc into the
short. plump, very broad shout
Tered young woman, with a turned-up
lose, big black eyes, long eye-lashes and
curly black hair. Her color came
went, so that one moment her check
vas darpled with red and the next !
clear brunette tint. She had white
and pre':y hands, and 1 know by
he way she looked at me that she had a
'pirit: but l knew also that women are
gnorant of law, and I thought that I
could manage her.
"Miss Middl"bury?" saidI. |
eyes, SIR" said she.
"Ma'tin-of Martin, Grub & Co..
aid I, bowling.
every much pleased to see you, Mr..
said she. sTve often heard
'apa speak of you"
my dearest friend-one Of them. a.
east" san 1. "Your fx-her is o man