The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-10-14

I" | ILL.,. ss-ss@2
THEY READ FROM THE SAME BOOK.
| MI the moro when they do come. In
side of two years we can look back on
the past Jew months and laugh over
our p~ivat:ons and wonder what it was
VIC fretted about. Well come out all
right"
And John went off to his work sing
ing as happy as q king, and Mary
locked after him snilingly, equally as
confident rs he.
Paul, too, applied himsel: 10 his work,
and as he ploGGed after the piow he
dreamed of the future, of the time when
| he should be doctor and have a coy
| little hoice with Louise for its mistress.
Ambition or love ought either to be suf-
fcient to urge man on to his best en-
dcavors: but when they combine, as
| they did IN Paul's case, there is no tell
| ing what strength they Will put into q
mans arm nor what determination into
| his hest.
Thus it was that among all the set
tiers on that great level plain there
were none that devoted themselves
more seGulously to work than John and
Paul, and as the season advanced and
the spring months gave place to
those Of summer, there were no fields N
all the settlement that looked more
fouriShing or promising than theirs.
And each of these men, sangulne ma
turcd as they were, counted the victory
won, and each in his way made his
plans for the future and constructed in
numcra5le castles in the air.
Every Sunday now Paul came to
John Green's house, for it was distinct
" understood all around that Paul and
Louise were to marry by and by,
though not q word relative to the mat
ter had passed between their parents.
Often the young people read from the
same book, as they sat on bench out
side the house, and on such occasion
they seemed to have vast amount OF
| 6tncultv in making out the words, for
they brought their eyes close down to
the page, their faces almost touching,
and the words they sometimes pro-
nounced were not printed on the page
at all. But every person who has
courted knows how that is.
One day Paul and Louise went for q
stroll or the prairie. I: was . clear,
calm Sabbath, such as summer Sab
baths usually are, and a misty haze
danced about near the green earth.
They walked on and on, mile after
mile, and at last coming to the road
that ran over toward Paradise Park,
they turned into that and went on to
the east.
About the 1st Of September" Paul
was saying, 81 shall be ready to go
back to school. There will be a year
Of separation, and it will seem long,
but when it is passed Will come back
and build up a home, and then we will
marry and settle down in it to live as
happy as can be-"
Louise gave a little start, and after
casting a hurried glance at Paul, looked
down and blushc6. Paul noticed her
manner, and thinking It due to embar-
rassmeut went on:
II have not forgotten, Louise, what
you told me your mother said, and I do
not ask you to promise ne anything
not until the year is out. am quite
satisfied without it, for know that you
love me, and it requires no words to re.
veal yoar heart to me, and no promise
to make me understand that you will be
my wife"
II do love you, Paul" Louise said,
swith all the fervor Of my nature, and
will never love you less. You are SO
good and noble. But, Paul, you
What is it, Louise?" Paul asked.
"I-I don't know" Louise replied.
VI suppose I am foolish, Paul, but ]
| cant help it. am so common and in
significant, and you will be thrown
among so many women who are beauti.
ful and accomplished"
For moment Paul was unable to
understand the girls words, but after a
time light began to break on his
mind, and with light, cheerful laugh
he drew her closer TO him and said:
"And SO you think will be so
blinded and dazzled by the beauty and
accomplishments OF other women that I
shall forget my little girl away off out
here on the plains? Is that the bril-
liant idea that has edged its way into
your mind?"
Louise walked on some distance be-
fore she replied, half vexed at herself
9or uttcring words that showed she
doubted Pauls constancv, and half glad
that she had uttered them, as it gave him
an opportunity Of reasserting his love
for her. Louise was an uncommonly
sensible person, but the most sensible
girls love to play the coquette just q
little. Finally, after the lapse Of a
minute or so, she looked up into Pauls
face and said:
"Why shouldn't you, Paul?"
"Why shouldn't forget your"
Yes
''Thcn will ask why should I?'
Because, Paul, am so insignificant
| and small, and you can win the love Of
whom you please. know there must
be grand ladies out in the world, aad, as
compared with them, am so common.
You cannot help but see the difference
and know how much more worthy OF
your love they are than l."
at this point Paul placed his hand
over her mouth and stopped her speech.
There, you have gone lar enough" +"
he said, ''and I will not hear another
word I have done nothing to deserve
SO poor an opinion from you, and you
have 10 right to talk SO. would never
have such an opinion Of you, Louise,
never"
Paul spoke like one very deeply hurt,
and in an instant Louise was all con-
triton. She saw that she had wounded
Pcul, and she would not hurt him for