Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-10-23

Doulnu Ino CiendLlS vines, LnaL futu6
curtain Of natural green across the case
ment.
Hush those were surely the rumbling,
sonorous tones of the Squire himself
81 s'pose, Hail. said he, with q
chuckle, ''you consider me too old for
that sort O. thing"
"Well, I don't know" the good
farmer replied, slowly. tastes ditfer"
''But eff I've took fancy to the little
thing"
"Hum !" said Mr.. Hall, doubtfully.
"And I'll give her real good home.
Every bit as good as sh. has here"
"I never doubted that. Mr.. Silber."
sIll go bail she'll be happy with me. ="
'.she ought to be happy with YOU
sartin, squire"
"Come," said silber, insinuatingly,
''is it q bargain2" ;,
Il can't take it on me to decide, z said
Mr.. Hall, meditatingly. "You must ask
Narcissa your own self, Mr.. Silber."
"But YOU don't think she'll object2"
81 don't know" said Mr.. Hall, shaking
his head-''I don't know. Girls are
queer. There's never no telling which
way they'll jump You askher yourself,
say"
But Narcissa did not wait for the
SEQUEL of this strange discussion. Her
cheeks blazed crimson; her eyes sparkled
like Jet stars as she caught her pink
gingham sunbonnet off its nail behind
the kitchen door, and eaving the jars OF
garnet-colored sweetness ou the table,
sped away over the daisy spangled fields
to a certain upland meadow, where Wal
ter Millman was Harvesting the ole
horses to glittering moving machine.
''Narcissal" he cried, in anna cement
"Whats the matter? What has hap
pened2"
She caught nervously at his arm.
ooh, Walter" said she, Il am 81
frightened! II don't know what 1t al
means. don't know what I ought tt
He hung the bride over an old stump,
and led Narcissa into the shadow of an
umbrella. Ike oak that grew near the
stone fence.
"Tell me all about it," said he.
It was strange how each had settled
into his and her rel tive p1sition-Nar-
cissa clinging, trusting, hiding herself,
~ it were. under the agis of his protec
tion. Walter calmly superior in the
midst of his tender Sc licitude.
"Why, child" said he, "the old idiot
wants to-marry youl'
Narci sa crimsoned to the very roots
of her hair.
Il thought so" she whispered. T
was almost certain of it. But-but what
an to do2"
He took both her little cold hands in
his.
"Don't be frightened, Narcissa," said
he. "You cant marry two people at
once, can you"
"No at least, suppose not"
Sand you're engaged to me, aren't
youi'
"If you say so, Walter, " hanging down
her head.
~ do say So Narcissa! And now let
me take you home. Wen see whether
old Silber is to ha' 9 everything his own
way or not"
"But the horses, Walteri"
''They stay h re. eontentedly enough,
until come back. pet never fear. Oh,
by-the.way, Narcissa little Dorette is in
the basket under the hedge. l haven
given her to Alice Jedreys yet"
"Oh, Walter, do get her." whispered
Narcissa THE little. white, fluffy dar-
lingl I've been think ng OF her ever
Bince-ever since you went away. And,
Walter" (nervously playing with the
button of his coat, Il told you horr;d
story about the parrot. l couldn't Cd
dure the screeching thing. and Billy
johnson took it away three days ago"
"Narcissa, you are the dearest little
girl in the world !" cried the enraptured
lover.
"No, am not" confessed the fair
penitent. II am cross deceitful,
treacherous-"
But here the catalogue of sins was cut
short with absorbing kisses.
Squire Silber, rubicund and portly
gentleman, well on in the forties, sat on
the porch, tanning himself and waiting.
while Mr.. Hall peered restlessly up and
down the road.
"Here she is now," said Hall, with a
long sigh of relief, as his daughter came
lp, with Mr.. Milliman carrying her pink
sunbonnet as reverently as if were a
queens crown. "Narcissa, here's Squire
Silber wanting to speak to you."
miss Narcissa-" ingratiatingly COM
menced the stout gentleman.
sits of no use, said Narcissa, putting
both hands to her little, pink ears. 81
never, never will consent"
eyes; but won't you hear me, Miss
Mar"
mo. no, mol" and Narcissa stamped