The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-17

IN the ordinary day run, there were
twice as many red haired girls as white
horses. This of course did not allow
for unu sual occurrences or for night
travel, when there were fewer horses on
the street. At the end Of
the first week the. result vas:
failures, one; verifcations, forty
eight. Spriggs did not quite believe in
the thing yet, but the next week was
even more convincing. The record
stood; failures, none; success, seventy
four times By this time it hal be-
come not a definite test to prove the
truth of the saying, but a wild hunt
after an instance where failure could
be recorded Night after night SPriggs
prowled around the streets peering into
the faces of the pedestrians aad fire.
quenting localities where there would
be little likelihood of finding quadru-
peds. The fever had grown to such an
himself that there must be something III
it while he professed to believe that the
truth needed further investigation.
One day Dick dropped in and taking
Spriggs aside, with much hesitation and
stammering, confded tt ftct that he
was engaged to be married. 'Its
Mabel Austin, Uncle Zeke, a beautiful
girl"
Light or dark?' asked Spri ggs with
a quick look of interest.
"WelI, I guess you'll call her bru-
nctte, for she has the loveliest black
hair in the world; but have promised
to bring you to see her tonight Say
you'll go, Uncle, Zske-pll call for you
at 8, shall Il'
1t had been many years since Spliggs
had gone out calling and he was 10th to
begin now, when he needed all his
time for his investigations; however,
he promised and sent his nephew away
rejoicing.
Spriggs found Mabel all that Dick
had claimed for her, and was well
pleased with his boys choice; yet the
evening dragged somewhat, and his
dress suit made Uncle Zeke overly con-
scious of his society shortcomings.
He was standing near the window for
moment alone, when h3 heard his
name called. Turning quickly, he saw
Dick approaching with a vision of
Ioveliness on his arm.
One look was enough, aud the next
instant S2rigg' had wheeled about and
ierked aside the hangings. Trotting
slowly past, and directly under the
street lamp, was the inevitable white
horse,
Then he remembered that Dick posi-
by wanted to present him. and, drop
ping the curtain in great haste, he con-
frontcd the pair The vision had a
cold and naughty look, and Dick was
clearly embarrassed. Spriggs appreciat .
ed his awkward o jtion fully, and with
a great effort made himself exceedingly
agreeable. Indeed, in his abicct hu-
initiation he was so devoted that Dick
was led to whisper to his tiAncee; "Your
sunny headed friend seems to have
caught U1cle Ze!1e hard"
When Sprig9s went home he sat down
aHd went over the eve2ts of the evening.
The vision was certainly handsome and
could talk as few women were able, but
he shudlered at the thought of her
hair. It was an unmistakable red
Nevertheless, he had asked permis-
sioa to call an1 it had
been graciously granted. Spriggs
called and then called again. In short
time his lei: ure hours were about evenly
divide betweea his Investigations and
the vision. Spriggs was struck harl, SO
hard, Indeed, that when in her delight
fuI presence he almost forgot his hobby.
He invariably hired white horse, how
ever, when he took her out driving.
Once he had the temerity to try a bay
horse, but he never repel tied the expert
meat. He was uneasy the whole time,
for while his heart d slul were with
his companion his mind and eyes sadly
missed the familiar sequence.
One evening as matters were ap-
preaching a crisis, Spriggs found him
self seated in close proximity to his
inamorata, He had fully made up his
mind to settle the matter at once and
have done with it. There was just
enough of manly conceit about him to
make him feel assured that his suit
would not be unsuccessful but it was
with considerable trepidation that he
approached the subject. The conversa-
tion had drifted, as lovers talk invari-
ably will, to the personal, and Spriggs
was expatiating on early struggles and
ambitions.
4 had a hard time when I was
young he was saying. My nature
was not one to make friends readily,
and female friends were exceedingly
rare. Indeed, my mother was the only
woman with whom I felt really at ease.
Then, as my business grew, I had so
much to attend to that social pleasures
were almost unknown"
There was silence for moment; both