The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-08-28
A MODERN WOOING.
BY GERTRUDE MORTON.

auu thieW IL uOWn upon the rOck beside
her.
because if you didn't We ought to 90
home. 1t looks like shower"
The young man thus appealed to made
no reply. Clothed in that fantastic carb
which the liberal college education of
to-day renders necessary to the moral
standing of gilded youth. he was reclin.
ing in II studiously graceful attitude be-
side the speaker.
His eyes were fixed upon a fishing
fleet fast disappearing beyond the hori-
zon. A meditativu look adorned his sun
burned face
"Hal, spoke to you"
Still the recumbent figure moved not.
"Henry Richardson"
This proved cifcctual. The young
man quickly raised himself upon one
elbow.
"Oh, ] beg your pardon, Dorothy"
he SAID. "What was 1t that you asked
mel Why, YES, think you are quito
right"
cit is very evident that you are not
quite right in your mind" the young
girl replied, gazing compassiouately at
him. 'What is the matter, Hal2"
"Nothing,"
eyes, there is, too. You can't de.
ceive me, you know, so there is no use
in trying. What new scrape have YOU
been getting into9"
"Noue at all That is, you wouldn't
call it 'scrapc' exactly" Hal grInned.
''ln fact, Ivc been unusually good of
late, as you might have observed had
not your thoughts been upon other
scenes intent"
ooh, indeed, Well, the fact that
you have been go"' is sufficient cause for
a revulson of feeling OF some kind.
Now, want to know what is troubling
you"
"fou even deign to be interested in
my mental condition.
'Certainly. Have | not the family
good at heart. Speak ut once"
Thus brought before the tribunal of
an avenging little goddess clothed in
laassa! sss Ht4Atta.s anhista siisSs
again. Selling little stone, he crushed
to atoms shell that lay beside him.
Then he raised himself suddenly to a
sitting posture and save his companion
the benefit of his co3itations.
81 say, Dorothy, let's get marriedl"
Dorothy Hall came to gallant race,
and she had the repose of Il Princess.
For second there was silence, while
the pretty color left her checks. When
she spoke it was in voice that rivaled
Halls own for GOODNESS
"And why, pray, should we do that2"
"Iou know am going over to Lon
don in about two MONTHS" the young
man continued, UNDECIDED, "and don't
see any reason why we cant be married
and go together
Dorothy's dignity nearly forsook her;
nevertheless she managed to put consid-
cradle surprise, even reproach, into her
ejaculation:
"Why, cousin Henry!"
"For heavens sake, child" cried Hal,
"don't air that cousin illusion any long
er. 1t Is worn threadbare."
eff you object to me for a cousin I
shouldn't think you would want me for q
nearer relative" There was mischief in
the girls brown eyes.
''I should think you might see," re-
Piled Hal. "You know, my dear, that
it is the proper thing for man to be en-
rs long as we've NJ need to consider the
question OF bread and butter, don't see
why we should not be married.
"You know rs well as do, Dorothy"
he went on, warming up on the subject
-''you know perfectly well that this
thing has been planned ever since we
came into existence. Imagine the
worthy grandmothers ire did we cross
her in this respect. Mother wants 1t,
Aunt Jane wants it--cvery man alive of
them expects ii. And want it, by way
of aiterthought, apparently, as he
paused for reply.
Dorothy's mind moved swiftly, aud
the stages through which it travelled
during Halls little speech were many.
Angry was its last hating place. Very
evenly, but in tones Enthusiastically sug-
gcs;ivc of icebcrgs and glaciers, she
said:
'I don't suppose it makes any differ
ence whether / want it or not
This evidently inspired an cntirely =
new train of thought in the young man 8
mind. He raised his head in surprise.
Was it possible that any one else had
been making love to his little play
matei'
"Why, Dorothy2' he asked, soberly,
az his honest blue eyes met hers.
The girl dropped her eyes quickly. He
should not read her thoughts. He should
not see that she was waiting for him to
say the very thing it had not occurred To
him thus far to say.
Dorothy, look at me-is there any
one clsc?"
The amount of iucrcdulity that IIa
managed to put into that single sentence
touched her girlish pride.
lit does not seem to have suggested
itself to you, Harry. that when man
asks woman to marry him it is some
times for another reason than because
everybody expects it, If you desire sue.
cess should advise you to take that into
consideration iu proposals you may make
hereafter"
So that was the matter.
"Oh, is that allw cried Hal, infinite
rsli.f that ofTaire ware No yr0rse showing