Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-05-29
BRIEF CoURTSHIP.
10 l look nice, Auntie 2"

- ~NN~~
The speaker was standing before a
full-length mirror, her pretty head
twisted to one side to survey the null
titudinous fiounces of white tulle over
pale blue silk, constituting the elabo-
rate evening dress covering her slen-
der, graceful figure.
"You look very nice, my dear"
Miss Della Merriman had taken a
long survey of the exquisite face be
fore she spoke, and was satisfied with
the appearance of her protege.
every nice !" she repeated. "Hor-
tense has fitted you perfectly, and the
dress is most becoming. Now, if you
will get my jewel case, you shallwear
my pearls"
"Thanks" cried Elsie, carefully
lifting the heavy casket and putting
it on table beside Miss Merriman.
ooh, Auntie," she continuedopening
a small box in the jewel case, 81
never saw this before"
She held up, as she spoke, aslender
chain, from which depended a gold
locket, upon whose surface cleaned
one pearl of great beauty, pure and
large.
"Oh, how lovely" cried Elsie,
clasping the chain around her slender
throat. "May / wear it?"
Miss Merriman had grown very
pale as the locket was held up before
her. Some strong memory stirred
her usually placid face, for the soft,
brown eyes grew troubled, and her
lips quivered.
Glad you rather I took it OFF,"
Elsie asked, gently.
"No, dear, you may wear it. Put
in the solitaire pearl earrings"
Elsie kissed her so-called aunt and
fitted away.
Miss Della Merriman, who had in
herited a hundred thousand dollars
from a second cousin, greatly to her
own amazement, was not Elsie Gar
mans aunt. Nineteen years before,
she had closed the eyes of the girl's
dead mother, lifted a week-old babe
to her own bosom, and taken hel
home.
Though but forty, her hair was
thickly streaked with gray, and pre-
mature age was the fruit Of toilful
life and a sorrowful heart. Yet she
was lovely still, goodness ever look
ing from her sad, plying eyes, anG
sweetness lurking around the perfect
ly shaped mouth.
Memory was very busy in Deli'
Merriman's heart, as she sat over TIT
fire during Elsie's absence-so bus,
that she started as if from dream
when the carriage rolled up to tn,
door as the mantle clock struck tn,
hour of two.
There were words of parting, thel
light steps on the stairs, and Elsi
came in, not as usual, full of brigh
animation, but with an earnestnes
ofpurpose in her large, blue eyes
quite unusual there.
"Did you have pleasant evening
dear ?" Miss Della asked.
"Yes-no-I don't know. / hav
u strange message for you, Auntie.
"For me?"
"Yes, from stranger who was 6
Mrs. Walton's tonight-Mr. earring
ton-Ralph Darlington"
Miss Della Merriman rose to he
feet, CHASTITY pale, her eyes staring
her breath coming in short, quic
gasps, She tried to speak, but til
words would not come.
"Auntie? ~ the girl cried, terrified
don't look so-don'tn'
"The message" Miss Merrima
whispered.
ale told me to tell you that Il
murderer of Henry Garman w
Charles Ralston, the cashier of Il
Hope Bank, who had confessed h
guilt. He said, Tell Miss Merlin;
Twill see her tomorrow"
" Auntie," continued Elsie, h
eyes full of piteous entreaty, "wh
does it mean? Was not Henry Ga
man my father"
eyes, child. 1t means," Miss Ne
man said, solemnly, "that the ere
that for twenty years has Iain nm