Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1890-03-01

veil, N glad cause m not old
enough yet TO get married, and you are.
Now you'll put It right over the parlor
door, and you'll be sure to marry the first
one that steps under it
He laughed at the prophesy, and care
lessly slipped the homely charm into hi.
vest-pocket as Harriet and Dick Lowrey
came up the steps. Then he forgot abou,
it until an hour later.
The party was breaking up then.
Dick Lowrey, who was to drive Har-
riet home, had gone out to see about his
buggy, and Harriet was up stairs with
Lucy, having few moments confden-
tial chat before parting.
Robert Ellis and Oracle were alone in
the pazlor. He drew out his watch, and
with it came the lucky-bone.
''Ah, had forgotten my promise to
Flossie, he said; and reaching up, placed
the charm above the door
Il wonder how that foolish notion
came to be SO POPULAR said Oracle, with
little, half -scornful smile.
'tProbably from the resemblance, in
shape to horseshoe, which the super.
stitlous place over the house door, fos
luck, he replied.
And Just then light footsteps were
heard coming down the stairs and an.
preaching the parlor door.
The eyes Of both turned thither, and
Robert did not see how his companion:
check changed color, and she seemed to
be unconsciously holding her breath
Lucy passed the door and Harriet fol
lowed, paused, and seemed about to
enter, when Aunt Ellen's voice was heard
calling to her, and she passed on.
"There you have Just missed your
fate!'' said Oracle, laughing.
"Perhaps it is only postponed" he
answered, lightly. "But will you excuse
me while l step out and deliver a mes
sage to Dick for Squire Willisa It will
,sve the squire long ride in the morn
4ng."
The buggy was coming round to the
gate, and Robert stood on the porch and
waited for it
y Involuntarily his eyes turned to the
parlor window, through which, himself
invisible, he could see Oracle seated as
le had left her.
How pretty she was, with her eyes
or;;c5t and her checks flushed with a
changing color!
He saw her rise and stand looking for
an instant, hesitatinc, and looking half
tearfully around.
Of what was she afraid?
But while he watched she rlided
swiftly across the room to the door al
most on tiptoe, looked up. and deliber.
aRly placed herself exactly under the
lucky bone.
At first Robert could hardly believe his
own eyes. But then, with shock Of
JOY, came the sudden impulse to take
advantage Of this fortunate moment-to
surprise her before she could escape him.
With step as light and noiseless as
her own he stood before her, face TO
face.
"Gracie'" he said, in a low voice, that
rembled in its carnestness, edo you
know where you are standing' Do you
know that it is you whom fate has sent
o me: Fell me, dear, that may claim
YOU
What could she say or do? He had
seized both her hands and held them
irmly, while his eyes sought hers, and
with crimson bushes and a sudden gush
of tears she Welded to her tate
L was scarcely moment in which
they stood thus; but that brief time
sliIiced to secure the heart happiness OF
each
Harriet and Dick, a they entered the
hall, could both see enough to convince
them that eheir own hopes were a an
end and perhaps this WAS the beginning
Of a sympathetic tic between them, for
their marriage took place about the time
nf Rab.-t -Telititrr