The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1886-04-20
STRANGE If TRUE.

! eyes, Sir, it was the strangest thing
that ever happened to me. didn't be-
lieve that it could be. but 1t came right
along, and amt a bit. sorry for 1t
now, I'll tell you how 1t was, and
then you'll see the strangeness Of it.
IL was young and foolish, slr. Most
girls are at my age. I was just six
teen, and I'd read all about Cinderella.
and thought my prince'd come Que Of
these bright days and say to me, Come,
Julia, and we'll laugh and dance and
be merry all our lives"
IL don't suppose there was any par
ticular harm for q girl like me (who
had to work so hard and please a cross
missus, who the harder you tried to
please the less, < satis6ed she was) to
dream at her work, which, was from
the rising ofSthe sunsto near. midnight.
of princes and beaux and such like.
''Well. one day my heart gave o great
big, thump, and I thought it'd rise
right up. In my throat and choke me-.
I'D beeIE NSeaming more than ever ON
'latt6at particular day about Prince
NV >aafming. and rs was trudging
= through the street where I'd goLe on
d MESSAGE, a nice young gentleman
stepped quietly up to my side, and with
a smile. that was all sunshine on his
handsome face ---and 1T was handsome,
-said:' ',"''. ..n
4, "'Pardon me, miss, but I'm a
w., stranger In this town and, Pm in search
Of the house or Mr.. Rodgers, the
lawyer. Cau you direct me to his
Iesidence?' .. 49, -
''Why, yes, sir" said. Il live With
Mrs. qRodgers-she's myemistresg>'S
"'Auht Rodgers-Aunty II Becky
Rodgersl' he repeated. I'mJD glad. 4
:'.Now. sir. weren't 1t queer he should
say on such short acqusutance that he
was gladP ! know J was more than
glad. Oh, he was good looking. Was
he the one I'D been dreaming and
thinking Of so /longp But, perhaps,
after all he + pnt that he was glad he
had found odt where his cross aunt
lived. s,s II y: .HE.H>
81 took him directly to the door of
the house, land i warned him on the
way not to asy to- his aunt tliat he had
seen, and talked with me.
' .%t5:H,$ssygByp ~ sshs asked. -.
"Ma!!I3etapsss, SAID; looking down and
blushtngs Know; Al keS d cab baiie rose,
'ifsyou ssdossAhe'lt SbissXef sangEyy with
me'apd scold me, ahti. @ 'Saa S;::Sas pre-.
, suning and.a}l ttiat;'5';', 49,, -
"'Poor Julia he murmured ever so
softly. "Yon .s see, sir " :llFtold HIM; my
name. p III ~" 's%' =
TO- swell. sir, II ian down. the basement
steps and was in the Kitchen as oincon-
cerned like tas possible I, where Mrs.
Rodgers ~ just then happened to be,
when tremendous ringing Of the door
bsll began. la, -, ''.1sste.g
. 'araciousl, exclaimed the MISTRESS
who can that be2 Julia, run up and
see whoSthat issapdif tits any one for
tell .'em I'll be up presently. And then
you come right down and tell ne who
tits, do you hearp' a. "a
'''Kes'm,'.I said, and with my face
all afire, bounded up to the basement
stairs and into the hall. few to the
front door and opened it. Here was
the handsome young gentleman. 1
StSiN W oi" w Nlh AhCO Cilo pdIlOIs
Your aunt win be with you in a
minute u
"iIe followed me into the room, and,
all at once, sir, he put an arm around
me, and STOPPING until his bright, Sun.
Shiny face was. .$on4a level with mine,
whispered as no looked right into my
eyes, Remember, Julia. we are to be
friends. And this shall be our pledge
"And all at once, sir. he kissed me.
If my face had been aflre before, what
was it now, ,'and there was mistress to
meet. wv s@
But was In good fortune, sir, that
days; i okesgawayf from the young.
man, George lBigart his name was, and,
ran back into the hall. n Then; went to,
the basement stairs. which we're dark
like, and there met mistress coming
up them.
"'You've been q long time letting