The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-01-18

head Tent over the dlsnes, WHICH tnelr
rattle drowned.
"Happy East Wheelerville-to have
been your native place! !" Tom whispered,
with a look which, an hour ago, he
would have set down as idiotically soft.
"Oh, thank you!" said the hired girl,
prettiIy, washing the last pan.
The evening few by at lightning
speed, 50 it seemed to the enthrallcd
young man. Ho helped Susy put away
the dishes, and hung the dish-pan on II
hook that was too high for her, and held
the dust-pan when she ''brushed up"
and then they went into the sitting
room and played delicious game of
dominoes by themselves, while Aunt
Sally knit, and Uncle 'Rastus and the
doctor talked politics; and talked all the
rest of the evening, after Wilson had
gone up stairs and while Uncle 'Rastus
dozed.
Wilson was walked by sharp shaking
at half-past ten.
"See here-wake up! want to talk"
said Tom, sitting down on the doctors
feet. "See here, Wilson-I'm gone this
timem
"Whcrc2" said the doctor, sleepily.
"T'm in love! Yes-no fooling I'm
going to marry her if can get her!"
"Who2"
"Why, susy!" cried Tom, wildly.
The doctor sat up, fully reused.
"Susy!" he echoed, sternly; "your
aunt's servant grill Are you crazy,
Bronson2 What will your people say3
But, pshaw! you're talking boshl"
Wilson lay down again.
'Bosh2" cried Tom, almost deliriously.
"You'll seel Rosh2 I'd marry her if
she was crossing sweeper! She's the
loveliest, sweetest creature in the world.
Plf have her if die for itr"
Wilson laughed drily.
"You're crazyv' he repeated. "You'll
be over it By morning. If you amt, III
put you into an ice-pack.
And he won't to sleep, In the middle of
a second frantic protest from the excited
lover.
But Tom was not cover it" by morn
ing-nor by the end of the first week.
1t was hard week for the doctor.
"You're making a fool of yourself,
Bronson" he said, almost tearfully, sew
eral times a day. "What will your
mother say, and all the rest of them3
You don't really mean to 90 any further
with it, Come now, be sensible You
want girl that's your equal in birth and
fortune when you do marry; not poor
and uneducated girl you'd be ashamed of.
Don't, BronsonW
"Ashamcd Of" Tom would retort
hotly. "You don't know her, Wilson.
Ashamed of her2 Neverl I'm going to
have her if it's possible thing"
And he would stride off, generally in
the direction of the kitchen.
The climax came on the morning of
the eighth day. The doctor had taken
walk, and was changing his muddy boots
in his room, when Tom bounded in,
breathless, and excitedly red of face.
"She's mine" he shouted, leaping
across the room. "She's minei DO
you hcar2'
The doctor, in spirit half of irony
and half of real alarm, sprinkled q hand
full of water from the pitcher on the
young mans head.
: "We'rc engaged" Tom went on,
pantingly. mot quite, you know; she
saws she's only known me week, and
she won't call it an engagement; but
she'll think about it, and she'll write to
me, and-oh, it's rs good as settled"
ISIS it2" said the doctor grlmly. II
guess not-not till I've made an effort
to unscttle it. You're young and hot
headed, Bronson'-the doctor was two
months the senior-"and I'm going to
prevent your making the worst mistake
q fellow of your family and fortune
could make. Pm going to let your
people know what you're doing"
: And five minutes later he was rear
rayed in his overcoat and muddy boots,
and was going down stairs with sealed
letter, followed by Tom, pouring forth
TRADE of mingled remonstrance and deli
anco.
The sitting room door stood open.
"Herc she isl" said Tom, forgetting
everything, but his happiness, and fly.
ing in to Join Aunt Sallys charming hired
girl on the sofa.
Aunt Sally sat in the largest rocker.
llCT HpOV -ildt tuTcu ldCo WIS Sto"AuS "''A
pleasure, and she burst out into screncly
delighted speech at the sight of Tom.
Wilson laused in the doorway to hear
her. with stern frown, which gradually
faded.
"Wal, Susy's been tellin' me all about
it, she said, taking of her glasses in her
enthusiasm, San don't know jest when
I've been so glad O anything. I told
Susy, fust night she come, | did hope
you'd take fancy tn each other. I've
allus been afraid Susy Il have to marry
to suit her pa, and not her own self.
Her pas allus been sot on her marryin'
somebody with money. lie says, out
and out, the match d be unequal if she
didn't. Susy havin' so much in her own
right and he bein' so rich, he want
goin' to have her takiu' up with no poor
Young man if he knew it. do consider
that money makes folks terrible proud
and overbearin', though your pas we'll
meanin' man enough, Susy, and own
cousin to 'Rastus.'
The doctor was staring broadly; Tom
was open moutEed.