The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-04-15
THE LADIES' TREE.

NV husband and I renamed on Mr.,
Cardewe's Dorsetshire property for more
than q year, and after that Mr.. Cardewe
wrote to Charley to come up again to tho
Manor, as he wished to have him look
after the young plantations which were
being formed.
The first news that greeted us was that
Mr., Hemphill, who had always been kind
to us, was as good as engaged to be mar
ried to Miss Anderson, whose parents
lived near Bournemouth. She was a
very lovely girl; and every one was
pleased to think that Mr.. Hemphill and
she had made it up together, after all.
There was a little story connected with
this young lady. She was something OF
an heiress, it was known, and many peo-
pie had made offers for her to her
parents. Capt. Martyr Henry, who had
been at the Manor, and who was again
expected this same summer, had, I knew,
been one of her admirers. But although
everything seemed satisfactory, the i'm
pending rumored engagement was ended.
Capt. Henry went abroad in hurry, and
people said very unkind things concern
ing him. But Miss Anderson was evil
IDENTIFY fond of him.
However, after awhile she appeared as
pretty and cheerful as ever. Mr.. Hemp
hill on his part seemed quite happy.
Miss Anderson rode to the hounds to the
very middle Of April, and he wanted 10
marry her in June. Everything was pre-
pairing. She was certainly fine girl.
Such eyes!-bold black ones. Such
lovely hair, and figure which was, in.
her riding habit, perfection. Her man
ner was quiet and shy at first, but they
told me she improved" wonderfully
after awhile; and there was no daring or
almost reckless thing she would not do
if she was defed to it. That is not my
idea of improvement, but being only a
dressmaker, I hardly know.
However, she came and stayed with
the Cardewes; and Mr.. Hemphill rode
over day after day. One day il was
very thundery and stormy, and just as
the rain was beginning, into our little
house the young pair came for shelter.
When the thunder stopped rolling they
went into the porch; and the day being
hot and sultry, though only May, the
house-door was open. was washing
things, and could hear their voices, and
sometimes even what they said, without
minding..
& The tones in which Miss Gladys con-
tradioted poor Mr.. Hemphill, and the
mild, submissive way in which he put up
with it all, astonished me. That any
man would behave as he did I couldn't
have believed! I'd like to see Charley
put up with such @tantrums" as Miss
Anderson's! Now, said to myself, see
the reason of Capt, Henry's and Mr..
Elliott's sudden "crying off," They could
not put up with her temper, of course;
and I wonder Mr.. Hemphill did. He
seemed afraid to contradict her.
The shower passed. The sandy soil
icEed up the drops, and everything re-
manned as parched and dry as possible.
A single match dropped in the under
wood would have set the whole planta-
ton and all the gorse in blaze. The
keepers were particularly desired to be
on the watch for smokers, who might In
a moment, by accident or for "fun, set
fire to the whole of the furze, and burn us
up too.
hrr. HemphiI and Miss Anderson were
discussing this when DR.. Joliffe rode
past, and stopped suddenly. He was
special friend of the Anderson5, and
often visited them, dined, aud even slept
there at times. Mr.. Hemphill greeted
him at once, but Miss Gladys looked sui
len when he came up.
81 wish I had seen that fire." Miss
Anderson was saying; II would give any
thing to see q good fire. Some day we
will have another"
Have another!" cried Mr.. Hemphill;
You can't mean that, Gladys!"
Have you seen Capt. Martyr Henry,
Nlr. Hemphill?" inquired the doctor.
NO, has he returned?"
Miss Anderson's face was pale as
death.
is there anything the matter, Gladys?'
asked Mr.. Eemphill.
Nothing" she said. "Dr. Joliffe, will
you come back to the Manor with us?"
and they rode away.
When Charley came in he was in
terrible hurry.
"Let's have tea, Lucy" he said almost
before he was we'll in the house. Il
must 60 out at once and keep an eye
round the plantations. There has been
some atippers" across to-day, and l doubt
they'll have left something after them,
and the place is all as dry as tinder. A
A spark would burn us in our beds"
Just then a messenger rode up from
Mrs. Cardewe for Charley and myself to
60 to the Manor. She wanted to see me
about some drcssmaking. Mrs. Cardewe
made me stay and take tea with Mrs.
Jones, the housekeeper, and she sent two
q IL l.-.s b. ed ~, or1o,, ,pd toll him