The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-03-17
LOVE TO RESCUE.

LOVE TO RESCUE.
Wen take You in,'' said Betty, with
patronizing air that was quite new to
her, !s'becauSe You have been so kind.
az have got us all the boughs to deco
rate with. But You mustn't tell any
body, George. Mr. dc Eauy and want
to astoniSh the natives tonight. .
It was George Knox for whom she
opened the door OF the new barn, that
marvellous structure of Mr.. Sprague's,
an outgrowth OF fancy farming on large
capital.
There it stood. like . palace Of agri-
culture. painted pure white, with lattic-
ed windows of emerald-green, and an
airy observatory at the top, surnounted
bv a gilded weather-vane.
The barn had just been finished that
summer, but the crops were all IN and
half threshed when Betty made up her
mind to have . harveSt-home. There
was plenty Of room for dancing in the
wide area between the mowS, when the
farming implements and machinery
were moved out Of the way.
walk in, NIr. knox," said Clarence
de Vaux. with the air of one to the man
ner born. Miss Betty and l have been
doing the decorative inside.
George WINGED at the constant asso-
citation OF his name with Bettys, and
looked jealousy at the girls fair face,
which had never seemed farther from
him than now.
..She will never care for me- George
said eloomilv. with desperate look at
his brown hands and homely clothes,
thrice ugly by contrast with the dainty
elegance OF Clarence de VauN.
He went into the barn marveuing,
vet full Of despair.
1t never occurred to him that he had
anv part in the beauty of that in
terror, though nc had loaned his team
and spent a whole day cutting boughs
and gathering flowers for Betty at her
command, without even know : what
she was going 70 do with them.
Doesn't it look prettv?o Betty de-
n,anded. as they stood inside of the
barn. and she took 4 few giddy turns
with De Vaux over the well-waXed floor.
This is Mr.. &c Taux's doing. He is
oaitc an artist. l assure YOU.
..Ah, now. Miss Betty cried De
Yaux, pulling his miiStache. Spare
my bushes.
1T looks beautiful, George said
simply.
And for i mon'~1t his honest eyes
shone with pleas, -,
The scene was 4 ,:.v pretty one. All
around the walls were arranged I'M
promptu seats; the walls We're hung
with green bouehs and autumn leaves.
with fruit and grain, and farm imple-
ments gaily decked with ribbons.
Chinese lanterns depended from the
:afters. and 4 chandelier, made of laths
.levcrly nailed together, supported
hundred wax candles.
You will have to be careful about
Ere" suggested George mildly. With
all that hay in the mows, the least
spark would make Blaze in a minute.
There won't be any danger, |
guess Betty said carelcsSly. "Would
You like to 90 up in the cupola, George?
There's lovely view from there. You
can see Rankcs hill and the mill-pond
quite plainly Won't you come up, MIR.
de Vaus?'
No, thank You : De VauN said
lazilv. Il am too tired for stairs. II
You'll excnse ire Miss Betty, I'll wait
for you below.
A look OF pique came over Betty $
face, but she managed to hide it. and
went on up the staircase with George.
There was lovely view Up there, but
he had no eyes for it. He had been
longing so for moment with her alone
that he pressed close to her side, and
looked down into the witching face that
had broken his peace for ever.
Betty" he said, in o voice thar
trembled from YER, love. what is the
matter with YOU lately? You are not the
same to me as you used to be.
"Why, nothing she answered in
feigned surprise. You're full OF no.
tons, George.
NO, l am not" he said decidedly.
II know when YOU are kind to me and
when You are not. Betty, you know
that love YOU with my whole soul. /
have never asked You to be my wife,
lust because your father is 4 rich man,
and am only young farmer who has
his way to make. But if | thought you
could care for me little Oh, Betty,
do YOU think You could?'
He had seized her hand. and was
looking wiStful!y into her fair face,
with great hunger on his lips to taste
the Sweetness of that tempting mouth SO
near his own.
He was fine fellow, and Betty knew
it. He had never looked nobler than
he did at that moment; but De Vauz
was a gentleman with invisible means
of support; his hands were white and
he could dance the lawn tennis quad
rifles beautifully.
i am sorry, George she said hasti:
". u am very fond of you, but Il
don't think could care for You IN thai
vvev ,: