The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-06-19

sob, I don't know. ! guess ! don't
want TO-"
"Come now, there's no use OF smart
fellow like you making . hermit OF
himself. All Of the other fep~~ are
"Comc now, say you'll go-just to
please us'" said Ben. "Were gong 70
trv for Miss CaIlisle's basket. ana the
lucky fellow has to stand treat. We
sbal, not know ber basket, OF course.
All that 10 to be kept secret; but werc
going TO guess. II IT'S like Der Hhd9i.
standT
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" ne said bravely,
"whats the use OF my pretending to you
this way2 You know as we'll US l do
why can't 60. haven't money to buy
anybody's lunch. Besides, my clothes
aren't fit"
"Pshaw! Lots Of the fellows will
wear just their every day clothes, and
maybe you can earn two bits between
now and Thursday"
"If can, I'll go"
"Sure"
'Yes, sure. I've got two bits now,
but I wouldn't like to go 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 il mean2
Perhaps the boys were not so bad at
heart as he had thought.
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 Bctty3 He's
sensitive to ridiculc, and il you want to
make him angry, ask him about his
friend Betty. Now, mean to get Betty
to go and take raw pumpkin for her
lunch, and we'll fix it 80 Mark will bid
it of and get her tie"
"Will she do it2"
'Fll 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 rustlng 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
lcafy cover, and walked luickiy 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 ncighbor in the tasteful arrangement
Of her lunch, and mt the same time keen
her secret. . ...
The boys plot tlrove well. Betty,
through Clinton's skilful diplomacy, WAS
induced to go to the festival anil send
pumpkin for her "lunch.
As good luck would have it, Miss Car
Isle gave Mark an crrald to do for her
in the country, for which she paid him
alf-dollar. IL might have .Leen pure
accident that she paid him the money in
the presence OF Percy Drake.
Another apparent accident happened.
Shc made so elaborate basket for hor
school to work on at recess twneH ttisa a.
pupils were out. Once, on hearing foot.
steps, she slipped it quickly in her desk
without covering it.
A short time afterward, she sent Clin-
ton McKinscy to her desk ta get book.
He had the lid half raised when che
stepped forward to intercept him. Il
was too late! lie had seen the basket,
and noted the necktic of fringcd white
silk which lay upon it
There was no danger that Clinton
would not keep the secret. lie even
went so far in his self -conceit as to sus-
pcct that she wished that he should
know which was her lunch.
The cvcntful evening arrived. The
'i,urcn house was filled to its utmost ca
mcity. The hoy cnnsprators sat on a
ront seat with their unsuspecting VIC
i'm, Mark Grannis, in the midst His
yes sparklcd, AMI his checks glowci
with excitement, for the fo,,r bows
seemed bent on nothing else than max
ing him have u good time.
Such unwonted comradeship was in
toxicating to him. He forgot all about
darncd and threadbarc 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 vcrv
PLAINLY. There were white chrysanthc-
NUNS in her belt, and her hair glstencd
in the lapplight like waves of gold--at
least, 'so'Mark tn ought.
He even forgot to he annoyed when
Ben TYndal nudgcd him Significantly as
3ctty Morley came in. Betty was never
dashed by crowd. and ebowed her
,say ts. the front, until she had found
4 seat as near as possible to Miss Cat
isl"
Betty wore dress of gaily lowered
rcd print, upon the breast Of which was
pinned aHEaormous tic of green cam.
Miss Carlh& .len;fsss. u,on l.cr also and
Betty grnlYa Srosafy. Miss Carlisle
had paid h &saHStlts afternoon, and
the honor efHt was fresh in Bctty's mind.