The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-07-26

she WaIECl l-L0 AES. lei AA-5 a4~-
tinc room and found her awaiting her
with a smiling iace. She thought that
she must be in a very good humo5 but
said nothing, allowing the good
lady to smile as long and pleasantly as
| -ho wished.
She understood it all when supper
time came and Mr. Perkins entered,
followed by Mr. Perry. This was
wcll-Iaid plan to make the two become
| friends.
Miss Briggs bit her lips and inwardIy
vowed that nothing should tempt her
to 'sgivo that man. her hand in friend
ship. She hated him aud always
| would.
He was placed directly opposite at
the table, and many times forced to
pass the biscuits or preserves, and Miss
Briggs accepted them, although she de-
clared to Mrs. Perkins after supper that
they nearly chokcd her.
Before evening they were both per-
suaded to overlook the horse and cow
difficulty and be civil, and Miss Briggs
was frightened when she found her
self talking to him with easy and pleas
ant familiarity.
The party was success, and although
the sports were generally monopo.izcd
by the younger portion, they found
room for the old maid and her enemy,
and several times they found them
selves doRg most ridiculous things in
the way of paying forfcits.
At the end of the evening Miss
Briggs was at the door ready to depart,
when he called:
"lIiss Briggs, I am going right up
your way. VIII you rile?'
Would she ride behind that old horse,
and beside that detestaDIc man2 She
was wondering whether she would or
not, when Mrs. Perkins came and tri-
umphantly led her out and packed her
iuto the carriage.
It was as dark as pitch, and they had
to let the horse 60 his own way and
fad it the best he could. He dill so
very we'll until they reached the cot
tacc, and then he was bowildcrod,
Mr.. Perry spoke, jorllcd the reins,
but to no purpose. lie then took out
the whip. Whether his natural dislike
to that article or the memory Of the il
dignities he had suffered from the hand
of the owner of the cottage ovcrcamo
him, it is hard to decide, but at all
events he kicked up his heels, ran q
few yards and fell, overturning the
buggy and its precious contents.
Miss Briggs was up in a moment, un-
harmed, but NJ. Perry was silent as the
grave. She ran shouting through the
darkness until Mr.. Perry's 'help" came
with lantern to her assistance.
They found the poor man half dead
beneath the carriage, and while Dan
was at work, Miss Briggs ran home fol
her own servant. After much hard
labor they succeeded in e1tricating him
from the wreck, but he was senseIess,
and they bore him home and sent fol
the doctor. Upon examination they
found his leg to be broken, and thu
Miss Briggs enemy was at her mercy.
The days and weeks that followed
were dreadful ones 10 the sufferer, but
Miss Briggs never left him. Day and
night she stood beside him, and he
plump hands administered to ever,
want.
He forgot the COW and his turnips
He forgot the cats aud the canary. IEt
only saw little patient woman, with
pretty face, trim figure. and tende
hands-and would you believe it-fel
in love with her.
How could he help it? She had sa
by him through the drcary days of pain
she had brought him her preserves, am
nice invigorating corG~.Is. She had, Il
all probability, saved his life
What could he do3 Nothing but fal
in love.
"lIiss Briggsr he said one day wher
he was able to sit up.
'Wel, Mr.. Pcrry?
''You have been very good to me, an
feel as though I owe you grea
deal"
There! now stop just whereyou are
, You owe me nothing"
Z But would you mind if I trespasse
c a little further on your good nature|
',Not at all"
e "WelI, Miss Briggs, will you take m
in charge for the rest Of my HIc|'
" "What2"
''WiI you marry mc2 There"
Miss Briggs bIushed, and her answe
came thus:
Il II will marry you"
1t There was a wedding in the church
few weeks later, and Mrs. Perkins pre-
= pared the wedding supper.
, Mr.. and Mrs. Perry live in the brio
. house, and the cottage IS rented to
Young man and his wife, to whom Mrs
. Perry bequeathed hec cats and th
canary.
- The mastiff and the knock-kneed oil
- horse are with their forefathers. = Ba