South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-05-31


with . last, frantic dive at . card OF
buttons which had shaken out OF
one of the little bags OF blue silk
which were Auacbei to the affair. !
set the basket down on The door be-
side me, and prepared for work.
threaded the needle easily e.
nough. with the very finest thread
could ind. aud then, after trying the
thimble on each Of my fingers Ia sue
cession, and finally crowding il
down on the only one 1t could be
persuaded TO remain on Chat being
the last dnger on my left hand.
held the button firmly on ito proper
place. and began 10 sew. ~
will drop the veil Of oblivion over
the next fifteen mir utes. Let It sui
fico to say that. at the end CT that
time, had broken the points of
half dozen needles, split four but.
tons, aud met with difficulties enough
to have disc oura2ed any but the har-
dies, most determined Of man
kind.
was, however, nearly desperate
by this time, and looking aercely at
the clock on the mantel, whose sien :
der hands pointed mockingly a. five
minutes to eleven, l held the fifth
button on its proper place. now stain.
ed with drops of blood from my lac.
Grated fingers, and repeating grimly
the time -hOnored motto relating to
perseverance, began once more to
sew.
At this stage Of affairs I was a.
reused from my labors by a giggle,
veritable, school-girlish giygle,
from the direction Of the door.
Now, if there is anything hateful
10 ne on eaIth-if there is anything
which exaspersies me beyond meas
ure-it's giggle; and as l had often
told Mollie so, 1 considered that she
wa doing il on purpose TO aggravsie
Inc, and de,erm ned 10 treat it accor =
dinghy.
10 my excited s. ate Of mind, | lost
all sight of INV own treaoi. ferrous and
undetermined proceedings, and, man.
like ] was only too glad to find
some one whom could blame for my
broken engagement and smarting
fingers, therefore, without turning
my head, or deigning TO cast a glance
al her, l commenced in a dignifiel
way, which eat badly on my coatless
shoulders-I declare, MOllie, this is
pretty state Of things! No oce up
in the house but the servants, and
tue bell has already rung three times.
] guess that the next tune take you
to a party, you'll know il, any way
How much longer 1 should have
continued in the same strain, could
not tell for the insulting gi.gle
turned suddenly to a ringing laugh
which | knew lever belonged TO Mol.
liz. and wheeling around wrathfuily
on the music stool. | confron cd the
intruder.
To suy that I Was humiliated,
would express only slightly :he feel.
ings with which l looked a, the
plump little figure of Primrose OAR
ley, in a bright colore1 morning.
dress, her brown eyes dancing with
merrimen', her red lips smiling in
spite of her efforts to look grave, and
tue dark haii brisLling with crimp-
ing-pins.
Il didn't know you we're here, Mr..
Elliot, indeed 1 didn't ! she depreca-
ted beginning 10 retreat as she saw
The expression OH my countenance.
In order TO expl,in this young la
dy's appearance at that unreasonable
hour, it will be necessary TO say that
Primrose Darley was my sister Mol
lies best friend, and the two girls
were in the habit, although they lived
not a dozen squares distant from
each ether, OF visiting back and forth
to an alarming extent.
For the past week Primrose hal
been visiting Mollie, for the purpose
of mutual assistance in PLANNING their
toilets for the party, and as they hal
been for nearly all the time locked
into hlollIe's room, surrounded by.
and oblivious 10, anything but mus
Inns and lsces, had seen Ii tie or
nothing OF either Of them.
now 1 am not going To say that
was in love- with Primrose barley,
but "a she was Jacks sister and Mol.
lies best friend, was in a manner
obliged TO agree With my sister, when
she declared rapturously, as she Of
ten did, that Primrose was the dear.
tst girl in the world and although
will not y that was in love with
her, / wW say that | would rather
have been caught in that plight by
any one else in the world.
There was no way, however, but To
put brave face on it, and acknowl-
edge my failure and general helpless
ness therefore, seeing that the little
mink was going TO leave me 10 my
fate | stretched forth my hand. dis
playing my crump'ed aud parti l.
ored wristbsnd. and said solemnly,
Primrose barley, do you know bow
to sew button on2'
She vas demure enough by this
time, only a roguish twinkle 10 her
eyes betrayed how hard it vas to
a