The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-09-11
A WOMAN OF SPIRIT.
BY LILY TYNER.

BY LILY TYNER.
My poor, dear husband had been dead
two years and over and, though l still
wore my mourning, tempered with the
most becoming of heliotrope, had be-
gun to feel quite reconciled to my wild
owkood. The dear man had been ever
generous during his life time, as we'll be-
came one more than thirty years the
senior of his wife, and, dying, had left
me we'll provided for. There was my
city house and my rent roll, my various
securities and my cottage by the sea.
Many young woman had greater cause
for discomfort. So reasoned aud forth
with determined to cheer up andasake a
more active interest in life. l was down
at my cottage for the summer. My
chaperone was with me, but began to
long for companions of my own age. 1t
occurred to ME that l might ask some of
my girl friends to come and stay with
me. / picked out two of my bridesmaids
and wrote them. Not long after l re-
ceived two letters and was overjoyed at
their contents. One was from Edith
Westcott, Boston friend. 1t said
"Your most kind letter received. 1t
will give ME great pleasure to go to you
next week. will let you know by tele-
gragh. Mother wishes to be remembered.
Your most loving friend, etc, etc.
The other was from Charlotte-or
Charlie, as she liked to be called-Fos-
ter, 1t was to the first as prestissimo is
to allegro:
=, 'sYous dearest darling! will fly to
you. l am dying to tell you of all my
latest triumphs. 1 will talk you to death.
1T seems a century since we last met.
Meet me day after tomorrow morning.
Your own," ETC., etc.
Edith was two years Charlotte's senior,
but it was not all difference in age.
However, they were both children of for
tune and my very dear friends. And
how they would brighten up the cottage
could very we'll imagine, for the cot
tage was little sombre, though pride
myself on its general arrangement. The
interior was just as l could wish it. A
wide passage through the center; good
sized room on the right, with polished
floor for dancing and a piano; back of
this the dining-room; on the left sit
ting-room, rather luxuriously furnished
for the seaside; back of this and con-
nected by doorway draped with a por-
there of antique lace, a small library
reading-room, we'll stocked with summer
fiction and the like; beyond this break
fast-room. The upper chambers were
mostly sleepiug-rooms.
. | spent the afternoon seeing that
everything was properly arranged and
next morning went down to meet Char
lie Foster. =.
SIS Edith comipg7" she asked, al
most the first thing, for I had written
her should ask Edith. -.
EYES," 1 answered; "shell arrive
later
'Did you know she is engaged7'
ITO be married? No; to whom2 and
whsn?"
~ dent know him." said Charlie,
tossing her pretty head. "He is a Mr..
Haskell-of Boston, of course"
Charlie was perfect little beauty y
She stood about five feet two inches and
weighed 125 pounds. Her eyes were
hazel and danced like sea water in the
sun; her hair was a splendid mass Of
golden chestnut. She was precious
lump of vivacity.
Four days after arrived Edith West
colt. Edith was very tall and slender
exceedingly pale, with black lashed
serious gray eyes. Her hair was black
without thread of color She was tht
quintessence of grace, moving deliberate
ly, laughing softly and speaking always
in low tone.
We three were happy enough during
the first few days, chatting together abou
old friends and old times. Then solici
tude came to me. Edith, found, hat
some peculia- notions of her own. Be
ing engaged, she discouraged even th'
slightest attention from gentlemen othe
than her betrothed. Of course ther
were many young men in our circle o
acquaintance, but perceiving Miss West
colts lack of interest they would natur
ally all turn to Charlotte, and | fearec
that Edith would presently find it yer.
stupid in consequence.
"Why don't you write Mr. Haskell t.
come down9' .'nally venturcd 10 asl
her.
Edith colored Gelicately.
II believe I will, she said, and Mr.
Haskell, whose first name was Harold, il
due time presented himself at the beach
He was acharmlng blonde Of thirty -tiv
or more. liked him very much; so diC
Charlie.
"Oh, Edith" she sighed. "What al
elegant fellow! Rich, too, isn't he
You're lucky girl"
Edith's betrothed, in turn, took a grea
fancy to Charlie. She had such buoy
ancy, such glowing health. He coul'
not keep hts eyes from her.
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