The Delta independent., 1890-01-07
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.

haste, called himself Il hard name, and,
having made his toilet, sat down to
write Il letter.
He had had quarrel with his sweet
heart-Miss Sallie Peyton-and now
he was anxious to become reconciled to
her.
After covering several sheets of pa
per with words and sentences, merely
to destroy them, he at last produced
this etfuSiOn:
Ny Darling Lump Of Sugar: Forgive
your wicked Edward. 1t was all his own
fault, and he repents in dust and ashes.
Write to him to come to his own pet before
he dies of sorrow. He can't live without
you.
Having incloscd this missive in
neat envelope, Master Edward caught
up his hat and rushed toward the
village postotlice, but had not made
half the distance before he espied.
trotting along the road with a small
basket on his arm, a very small boy,
no other, in fact, than the brother
of the damsel to whom the note was
directed, and coming face to face with
him, uttered the eXclamstion:
'Halloo, Phil?"
'1ialloo, yourself" replied that
worthy.
Where are you going?' inquired
the young man.
Home" said Phil, 1--WE been to get
coffee at the store.n
"Oh, Coffee" repeated the young
man. You're little fellow to send
on errands, arn't you?"
NO" responded Phil, 81 is big"
"Oh, so l perceive. 1 wonder now
if you are big enough to carry a let
terp"
"Of course" said Phil.
"Thcn take this" said the young
man, handing him the missive he had
composed. land give it to your sister
as soon as you get home"
"Why don't yo:: TAXI it yourself?"
asked Phil.
"Oh, your legs are younger than
NINE" said the young man, seeking
for an apt reply and finding none.
"Zey amt" said Phil Indignantly;
my yegs is old"
Any imputation OF youth was always
resented with Indignation by this five
year older.
"Of course; where were my brains?
/ might have known your legs were as
old as you were," said Edward, in q
| modifying tone.
Yes" said Phil, "of tourse. I've
got new boots"
He laboriously lifted first one chubby
| leg and then the other, to exhibit them
the better.
'Regular seven-leaguers, declare, :"
| said Master Edward Now carry that
| letter safe to Miss Sallie and rll bring
| you some caramels when / come over" :"
.'All right. Dood-by," said the
young gentleman in the most conde-
sccnding tones. Tome soon," and
away he trotted. while Master Edward
confident of his lady's mercy, now that
| he had humbled his pride and asked
| forgiveness, stalked along the road,
which arose gradually from the fiat
farming land to the rocky hillside. and
shortly reached an elevation which en-
nbled him to see the chimueys OF Pine
farm, the abode of the Peysons.
| A few steps more and the increased
| elevation permitted him to look upon
the garden, and standing at the gate
he saw little blue figure that made
his heart beat. 1t was Sallie's own.
| At that distance he knew that even
| if she looked up she would not recog-
nize him. so he stood still and gazed.
He had not seen her for three good
weeks, and even to look upon tlutter-
| ing figure in blue, that he knew: to be
no other, gave him Joy.
She opened the gate and ran up the
road space. the ribbons ut her waist
floating out upon the breeze She
beckoned with her hand and went out
OF sight.
Shortly she returned, leading Phil
by one hand and carrying the little
basket in the her.
"She has got it," said Edward.
He kissed his hand toward the chin
ncys rcddened by the newly rising
sun, and said to himself that she
would surely write that very day.
His mother noticed that his appe
tite for breakfast was better that morn
ing than it had been for some time
past, and laid the improvement to his
morning walk.
Meanwhile Phil had been led into
the kitchen.
What on earth kept you SO long?"
asked his mother.
II found persimmous," said the
picked 'cm up"
II hope they were ripe" said the
mother.
"Yes. Sumpin' for Sallie in the
basket" said Phil, taking hot bis
cult from the pan and flying out in the
garden.
What is in the basket for me, map
asked Sallie.
There's II dandelion in here" re-
piled Mrs. Peyton, handing the basket
to black Martha, the cook, after she
had pecpcd into it and traced the yell
low flower.
The letter had managed to get it.
self under tho loose splint, and was
invisible in the shadow of the cover.
Sallie stuck the flower into her blue
belt.
Cunning OF Phil to bring it," she
said, and the basket was hung upon q
peg in the pantry. and poor Master
Edward waited in vain for an answer.
Waited and waited, growing sad and
sorry as the time passed on, and Sallie
waited also. She had believed thai
her lover would make ovcrtures o.
reconciliation. and she was ready tc
meet him halfway. And two young
hearts ached and were full OF bitter
Ecss and believed they must break, be,
cause of two inches OF loose splint in n
little old market basket.