The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-02-11

!
ises to let; or, rather, since Jenny had
matter; few days after l was ut the
The entire group of female mattresses
showed me over the house again, the
elder lady, the mother, pointing out to
me the conveniences and praisifng them;
and /, looking always at Mary, who
seemed averso to parting with the home,
assentcd to all the old lady said about
the rooms, ETC., while my eyes took in
nothing, and my wounded heart assent
ed to nothing except Mary and her love,
her heart.
''How much of family have YOU,
Mr.. BartonP" said Mrs. Anderson Incl
dentally, while showing the neat bed
chambers.
stood in the upper hall surrounded
by the three young ladies, and the
mother stood at the door of tho front
chamber.
"None at ALL" replied thoughtlessly.
-Four pairs of astonished eyes of var
1ous hues were focused upon me in
stantly.
The grey eyes of the elder woman
, seemed to pierce my subtorfugo, but 1
turned to the liquid brown eyes for re-
,, lief to find in them q puzzled expression
only.
Then you are contemplating mar
riagc? questioned Mrs Anderson.
Yes l said boldly, still staring at
pretty Mary, who turned away her eyes.
Il think the place will suit nc very
well" added mechanically. And then
to myself: ut would be paradise for me.
with that girl to share it!''
"And could you decide the matter
soonp" asked Mrs. Anderson. ut is
getting to be quite annoying to have
SO many people running in to look it
over
ut must be, indeed" 1 replied. "She
| includes me, of course, in the annoy
ance," mentally added II will take
the place." said suddenly, with the
foolhardy reservation vividly in my
mind--'if Mary will remain and be its
mistress"
The latter had turned away from the
little group, but not before I had seen
the miserable tears start into the dear
eyes She was evidently panied at the
thought of leaving the pretty nest.
What should do? God knows
don't want her to leave it," I thought
L would take the wise sister into full
confidence, and she would undoubtedly
pilot me through the trouble.
Before leaving had managed to add
another crime to my sins by stealing
from the center table daguerreotype of
Mary, just as she appeared to ME in the
garden, dress, hair, and all. intended
faithfully to replace it again upon the
! table as soon as / could have copy
| taken.
$50 you arc deep in the mire, Ned,
and want me to help you out-ehp" said
Jenny with mOck-serious face. "For
shame! to como to woman, too. You
! who profess such contempt for their
assistance"
Pm only babe in this sort of bust
ness" | confessed humbly.
"And, as a babe, of course, you need
a woman 8 tender care. You shall have
1T, Ned I'll do all can for you, but
don't be foolish enough to suppose that
! girls lie around loose, waiting to be
picked up by the first man who comes
along"
Jenny was as good as her word She
made quick and close acquaintance with
the Andcrsons,a and through the reading
of certain cabalistic signs that would
have been unintcligiblc as Sanscrit to
me, had discovered that there was "a
possibility of success for me-" she
thought.
was surprised and delighted one
afternoon to find Mary at my sisters
house when went there, and I deter
mined to know my fate before she left.
What q beautiful picture you would
make! i blunderingly remarked. She
blu8hed like rose, but said nothing.
MY sister smiled approvingly and soon
after left the room on some pretense. I
went over to where Mary was sitting,
una said: ''You will, no doubt, daspise
a thief and man who goes through the
world under false prctenses But such
is the man before you,"
She looked surprised and shocked at
TINS; but drew from my pocket n faded
but still fragrant bunch of honeysnckle
ana held it close to the one she had
pinned upon her bosom.
"A very small theft, and readily for
gwen" she said, smiling.
They arc mates," l said; chat is.
tho hoWers--I wish the owners were.n
The deep color began to run riot in
her checks now.
ana here" said, sis the poor SUBJ
sutute Tor the original that fave also
stolen and kept close to my heart as n
souvenir OF you, Mary" PRODUCING tho
picture | had taken from her. :AnT MD
besides" " | added, as she made no "a.
ply, save the silent toll-tale bushes
which spoke volumes to my heart: "he.
sides, l used false pretenses I did not
want any house when l inquired with
in at your home. 1t was only Won that
wanted; and have gono and made q
fool of myself l have got a house on
my hands, but [ have no wife to occupy
it with mc"'
'But you told mamma that YOU con.
tcmplatcd marriage" she suggested
shyly.
1T was a long leap in the dark.
had only you in view, Mary: and now
if you would only consent to get me out
of the scrapo it would be all right yet"
She did not say she would, but when
[ took the little unrcsistng hand in
mine and kissed it tcnderly, she put the
two bouquets into my hands and
pressed them together MATES now,
both the towers and their owners"
We three went over TO Mrs. Anderson
nI l. 1 n