The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12

It was near z o'clock. Selenl and her
father had paused before large hotel.
The piazza in front was crowded with
men. Some of them gazed at the girl
who stood so patiently beside the old
organ. Her hat had slipped back and
her black hair lay in rings on her smooth,
white forehead. Seleni did not know
how pretty she was and wondered why
the men stared at her so. She knew that
she was tired and hungry. She wished
some one would toss them some money.
A young man came down the steps.
He wore q blue flannel shirt, and his
coat was quite as shabby as the one Sell
eni's father wore. He stood in front of
the organ with his hands in his pockets.
For few moments he did not speak,
but seemed to be listening to the music.
And then his eyes fell on the flowers.
"Where did you git 'em2" he asked
'Found 'em," answered seliui, quite
as shortly.
He came step nearer, and held out
his hand.
"Let me see 'em."
Seleni drew back hastily.
"Pay for 'em first. rllsell 'em cheap"
she said.
He thrust his hand still deeper into
his pocket, then tossed silver dollar on
the top of the old organ. Then he took
the flowers, and studied them intentiy as
he turned the bouquet around.
"Tell me where you got 'em, " ne asked
pleadingly. -,
Found 'em," Seleni said again. ga
lady threw 'em out the winder.'
The young man said something under
his breath, then turned and walked away.
Seleni had seen the color come to his
face, and hurt look in his eyes. AS she
looked after him he gave the bouquet a
toss, and it fell in the muddy street, only
to be crushed the next instant by the
wheels of passing wagon.
s.Haint there enough money yet2"
asked her father, touching her arm.
/ "Yes, dad" she answered. "We'll go
and get some supper, and then we'll ind
a place to sleep"
The little parlor of Mrs. Murphy's
lodging house was crowded with dodgers
that evening. seleni left her father
seated contentedly in corner and stole
quietly out at the front door. She was
SO accustomed to being out of doors that
she felt sutfocatcd in close room.
Some one sat on the lower step with
his head resting on his hands. he
looked up and saw Seleni as she stood
hesitatingly in the doorway:
"Don't be afraid" he said, kindly.
! 1t was the young man who had bought
the flowers.
! seleni sank down on the steps and
drew her old blanket more closely around
her.
! "It's cold out here" said the young
man. "Mebbe you'd better 60 ln."
81 haint cold; I'm most always out
DOORS" said Seleni.
"Where do YOU say you found the
DOS 'es:" he asked.
: g, young lady throwed 'em out. She
had yeller hair. 1t was house with
white curtains at the winders. didn't
set no price on the flowers. You needn't
ha 7e paid me so much for 'em.
81 don't complain of the price; they
cost ME pile to begin with"
Ibid you give EN- to her::"
eyes; more fool, too"
"They were faded some," remarked
Seleni, consolingly.
"Yes," he said bitterly. "she had
'em twelve hours" :.
His head dropped on his hands again.
81 wouldn't care" said Seleni, softly.
The young man glanced at her. Selenl's
eyes were soft with sympathy; she
looked so fair in the moonlight.
"How old be you" he asked.
"Seyenteen."
"And you travel round with your
father2' ----
! "res; dad likes to travel. He won't
! let me do nothin'. He says he reckons
he can support me" said Seleni, proudly.
"Can you writeW looking eagerly into
her pretty face.
Considerable was to public school
once" answered Seleni.
Ihain't got no edication, and want
to get letter writ"
'I'l do it,"
"Will you, now?"
eyes," eagerly.
The young fellow sprang up.
"Come on into the kitchen, then;
there's nobody there"
In q few minutes he had brought
SeIeni sheet of paper and pen and ink.
They were alone in the little kitchen
that was scarcely more than shed. The
girl seated herself at the table.
"Begin Darlin' Lizzie,'" sad the
young man, leaning over her shoulder.
eyes" said Seleni, and in very
cramped hand she wrote the two words.
"Tell her l love her; tell her Pm goln'
over to Red Mountain tomorrow, but
she can write to me. Jim Conroo'll read
me her letter. Got it all down9"
"Pretty near. You told me such an
awful lot, " said Seleni.
She handled the pen awkwardly.
A bright color had come to the young
mans cheeks. His hair was light, almost
goIden--just the color Of the young
lady's, seleni thought. She glanced
do IN at the letter. Would "Garling
Lizzie" say yes or no2
SCOT done2" said her friend. cpl
take it over to the poito.hce."
He sealed the envelope carefully and
put it tenderly in his pocket. Then he
held out his bronzcd hand.
'&ood.by. Pm much obliged to you.
If I don't never see you again 1 wish you
good luck"
As he passed Selenl's chair silver
dollar dropped into her lap.
The next April Seleni aud her father
found themselves once, more crossing
Red Mountain on their way to Silver
City. Seleni h I'd grown a little taller,