The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-06-19
"why not gor' asked Percy. 49,.

fellow like you making -
himself. All of the other fellows are
going" -,
leone now, say you'll go-just to
p,case us," said Ben. "we're going TO
try for Miss Carlisle's basket, and the
lucky fellow has to stand treat. We
sbal, not know ber basket, OF course.
All that is to be kept secret but WeLe
going to guess. II its liks her Uhder. 81 t.
-trahdT"
Mark nodded, and sudden light came
into his eyes. To him Miss Carlisle was
almost an angel. The thought of her
awakened all the manhood in his
breast.
"See here, boys" he said bravely,
"what's the use of my pretending to you
this waya You know as we'll Us I do
why can't 60. ] haven't money to buy
anybody's lunch. Besides, my clothes
aren't fit."
"Pshawl Lots of the fellows will
wear just their everyday clothes, and
maybe you can earn two bits between
now and Thursday"
eff can, I'll go"
"Sure2"
"Yes, sure. I've got two bits now,
but I wouldn't like to 60 to place like
that with less than four bits"
"Give us your hand on it."
Mark went on his way in strange
tumult Of feeling. What did it meant
Perhaps the boys were not SO bad at
heart as he had thought. Nssas
"Now. tell us what you're up to,
Percy" said Ben, as soon as Mark was
out of hearing.
"What Clint said about the pumpkin
made me think of it. You know how
the boys bother Mark about Betty7 He's
sensitive to ridicule, and if you want to
make him angry, ask him about his
friend Betty. Now, mean to get Betty
to go; and take a raw pumpkin for her
lunch, and we'll fix it so Mark will bid
it off and get her tie"
"Will she do it9"
"I'll make the thing work some way.
You'll see."
Before the boys left the bridge the de-
tails Of the plot were carefully planned,
and they parted in high glee.
AS the last boy vanished from sight,
there was a rustling in thick clump of
willows that grew on the river-bank
close by the bridge, and Miss Carlisle,
with botany case in hand and queer
smile on her face, stepped out from their
leafy cover, and walked quickly up the
bank.
SO mysterious were the preparations
that went on the next week that one
would almost think Christmas was Mt
hand. Each lady wanted to>outdo her
her neighbor in the tasteful arran cement
of her lunch, and at the same time keep
her secret. So: ,!.<:.::.
The boys plot throye WELL. Betty,
through Clinton's skilful diplomacy, was
induced to 60 to the festival and send a
pumpkin for her s'lunch.'
AS good luck would have it., Miss Car
Isle gave Mark an erraud to do for her
in the country: for which she paid him
half-dollar. II might have laen. pure
accident that she paid him the money in
the presence OF Percy Drake, !, :; =: =.
Another apparent accident happened.
She madoi so 90 - b brslieN 8prs1 1hse.
school to work on sat recess, ,wne0 .s7s
pupils were OUT! Once, ON heating foot.
steps, she slipped it quickly in her desk
without covering it,. ;'i[.&
A short time afterward, she sent Gin
ton McKinsey to her desk to get a book.
He had the lid: half raised when she
stepped forward ;te Intercept: him. 1t
was too late! He had seen the basket;
and noted the neoktie of fringed white
silk which lay upon it. :;
There was no danger that Clinton
would not keep the secret He even
went so far in his self -conceit as to- sus-
pect that she wished that he. should
know which was her lunch! : :.
The eventual evening arrived. The
church house was filled to its utmost ca
pacity. The boy conspirators sat on q
front seat with their unsuspecting vic.
tim, Mark Grannis, in the midst. His
eyes sparkled, aud his Cheeks glowed
with excitement, for { the foam s.hoss
seemed bent on nothing else than max
ing him have good time.
| Such unwonted comradeship was in
toxicating to him. - He forgot all about
darned and threadbare best suit, espec-
inlly after Miss Carlisle came in, and
smiling brightly at the group Of boys,
took seat facing them, in the "amen
corner" ~ ,'.:
She wore dress of dark blue, on
which a white silk tie showed very
plainly. There were white chrysanthe-
NUNS in her belt, and her hair glistened
in the lamplight like waves of gold-+at
least, sosMark tn ought. :, Z
He even forgot to be annoyed when
Ben T3pdaI nudged him Significantly as
3etty: Morley came in. Betty was never
dashed by crowd. and elbowed her
@ay @: the front, until she had found
a seat as near as possible to Miss Cat
lisle.
Betty wore dress of gaily Howered
ired print, upon: the breast Of which was
pinned sEeHoreaasistle R 5of::green cam
Miss Caris fisSR poaber also, and
Betty grinW kEoaaaiy Miss Carlisle
had paid xsssaxsiit afternoon, and
the honor efbtwas fresh IN Betty's mind.
Soon theHbidding began. Baskets,
large anAlsmslk fshey boxes and orna.
mqutss Of in pittlslccos,ion.
As yet abaa sold q faf:tless than
= -lf (.