Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-11-13

Il
stickin' out NV the bumps on that girls
head, that she was rash an deceitful
and sly. An what did she do? Run
away with the doctors son and got mar
ried when his folks was so set against it
that it most killed his ma! Humphl
knew just what was a comin'l oh, you
can laugh, Marthy, but l can laugh
louder She don't owe me four dollars
and quarter for bonnit." .o 1ly
This opportune reminder effectually
served to dispel Miss Cummings .mirth
and she quickly replied
''0f course there always was a heap of
meanness in Janet AM always knew
it. But couldn't refuse her the bonnet
when she came in with the minister's
wife and ordered it."
.'Now, there's the new agent goin
around town with those beautiful BIZ
bles,n resumed Miss Jane dreamily.
There's head TO admire! 1 noticed
it the day he came here with his books;
there was benevolence, an sublimity, an
ideality, an vcneration all standin' out
like little hills-I declare could hardly
keep my hands OIL his head. His percep-
tive faculties are beautifully developed,
too. He admired mothers old silver
set m said it was a priceless relic. ]
showed him all the old plate an l never
see man 50 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 work done. f .rs
"Goodness, Jane, you amt goin' to
take him, be voug" exclaimed her friend.
s.Your house won't be the same place
with stranger runnin' round it. You
don think OF it, do you?" a' an .ele
Miss Janereally had not quite decided
but the small opposition instantly dis
PEELED all hesitation, and she firmly re-
sponded.
ayes, indeed, do. He can have the
spare room next to mothers, and he amt
goin' to be any trouble. Miss Brown
says he always pays in advance. an four
dollars amt to be sneezeG 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 coI
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 Sun
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 serenely. Every day
Miss Jane discovered new beauties in
their boarder's head and fresh charms in
his countenance. They walked, talked
and rode together. The Bible business
languished, but phrenology fourished.
The village resigned itself to the state
of affairs and merely looked on with in
terest until suddenly, without a mo-
ment's warning, came local earthquake
that shook Russelvile 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 a memento of
that peaceful vale he had taken Miss
James watch and chainl Seventy dol
lars in cash! Mrs. Chandler's solid
silver setl!l
Later developments showed that
while Miss Jane and her mother were
quietly reposing in the arms OF Nor
pheus, George Winburne, the mai who
personifed 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 laudahle
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 m old
friend she calmly walked in. $500
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 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
ticularly bright flash threw out in bold
relief tie title on burning page, "How
to Read Character; A Guide to Human
Intercourse; by"
The daor opened and Miss Chandler
entered from the garden. She looked
rather con used at seeing her friend and
glanced hastily at the iire. 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 ma5ner-when Miss Cum
mings broached the sub 'ect so near her
heart. Then Jane Chandler rose in her