The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1886-11-25

mcanncSS IN janet IN always huC"
it, But couldn't refuse her the bonnet
when she car1e in with the ministers
wife and ordered it."
Now, there's the new agent goln'
around town with those beautiful BIZ
ble:," resumed Miss Jane dreamily.
There's a head to admired I noticed
it the day he came here with his books
there was bcnevolence, an sublimity, an
idcality, an veneratcn all standin' out
like little hills-I declare I could hardly
keep my hands of his head. His pcrccp-
tive faculties are beautifully developed,
too. He admired mothers old silver
set an said it wa, priceless relic. l
showed him all the old plate an never
see man 80 charmed. Before he left
he asked if he couldn't come an board
with me; says Widow Browns Is too
noisy, an he wants sheltered, quiet
place, where he can read and study when
his works done.
Goodness, Jane, you amt goin' to
take him, be you" exclaimed her friend.
Your house won't be the same place
with stranger runnin' round it. You
don't think of it, do you?"
Miss Jane really had not quite decided.
but the small opposition instantly dis.
PEELED all hesitation, and she firmly re.
sponded.
Eyes, indeed, I do. He can have the
spare room next to mothers, and he ain t
goin' to be any trouble. Miss Brown
says he always pays in advance. an four
dollars amt to be sneeAed at these
times"
Here diversion was caused by small
Johnny Brown, who, in despair of enter
ing any other way, had rashly precipi-
tated himself over the garden wall, and
was discovered generously handing
peaches out to his delighted compan-
ions.
Miss Cummings did not forget the con-
versation, however, and repeated it at
several residences on her way home,
therefore, when it was ascertained sew
eral days later that the new agent had
actually taken possession of the "spare
room" at the Chandler cottage less sur
prise was expressed than might have
been expected.
Nevertheless. when the following Sum-
day night, Miss Jane and the agent
walked into the meeting house together,
entered the same pew and even gazed
into the same hymn book, the congrega.
tion was so much excited that Elias
Green sang out of tune twice and Alviny
Brown entered in all the glory Of new
white dress without causing the slightest
comment.
Things having begun in this propitious
way. moved on serencly. Every day
Miss Jane discovered new beauties in
their boarder's head and fresh charms in
his countcnance. They walked, talked
and rode together. The Bible business
languishtd, but phrenology Eoprlshed.
The village resigned its!lf to the state
of affairs and merely looked on with in
tcrest until suddenly, without a mo-
mcnt's warning. came local earthquake
that shook Russellville to its very foun-
dations. Mr.. George Winburne, the
new agent, had left town. He was not
there; he had gone; and to assuage the
pangs of parting and as memento of
that peaceful vale he had taken Miss
James watch and chain! Seventy dol
lars in cash. Mrs. Chan Hers solid
silver sct!!
Later developments showed that
while Miss Jane and her mother were
quietly reposing in the arms of Nor
pheus, George Winburne, the mai who
personified the beautiful attributes of
ideality, veneration and reverence, had
risen from his couch and quietly stolen
away. His perceptive faculties were
certainly developed, There was no
doubt Of that.
* * *
Three days later Miss Cummings
called on her friends with the laudable
intention of explaining that the entire
village had foreseen Just what had oc-
Cured, and could have warned Miss
Jane weeks before it happened. She
rang the bell, but no one responded; so.
availing herself of the rights of an old
friend she calmly walked in.
Through the little dining-room she
passed out into the kitchen. The room
was empty, but a fire burned in the
stove and on the bright Goals lay a num-
Der of charred books, pamphlets, maps,
etc. AS Miss Cummings stepped nearer,
tongue of fame shot up in the center
of the doomed volume and one par
ticnlarly bright flash threw out in bold
relief the title on burning page, "How
to Read Character; 4 Guide to Human
Intercourse; by"
The door opened and Miss Chandler
entered from the garden. She looked
rather con used at seeing her friend and
glanced hastily at the fire. Reassured
by the blaze. she greeted the visitor
calmly, and entered into an easy discus
sion. Only once did she lose the high
serenity of her rma1ner-when Miss Cum
mings broached the subject so near her
heart. Then Jane Chandler rose in her
might. and with few well-chosen re-
marks, so awed the gentle Martha that
she afterward remarked to Widow
Brown: I'D as lieve discuss murder
with full-hedged lunatic in the State
asylum, as phrenology with Jane Chand-
LEI" ."-Ar&anSaw IrQUeler.
Number Of Farms in the United States.
State. 1880 1870 1850.
AlabamD 135 S64 CT 3S2 55l25