Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-09-16
a Secondhand Sweetheart.

"Why, the ceilin' came down plump
i'm the north chamber last night eX-
planned Betsey, standing in the door
way, with the mop in one hand and
4 q pail of water in the other Looks
exactly as if there'G been anavalanche
O. lime dust there. Guess it was the
rain done it. I've knowed that ruff
was leaky this good while. An it's
my dooty to tell ye, ma'am, the back
staircase amt safe to use no longer.
There's one step gone and the balus-
ters loose. And cook says she's that
nervous she can't stay in the house,
with the loose bricks tumbling down
the kitchen chimney every time the
wind raises bit
Mrs Moore sighed. She was hand
some, high-featured woman with dark
eyes and shabby-genteel silk wrap
per worn at the elbows.
"Never mind, Betsey," said she. 1T
will all be right, once Miss Ethel is
married. Doctor Darrow is a man of
wealth. He will rebuild the old Moore
homestead for us
Well muttered Betsey, Its
good thing the weddin's comm soon,
or there wouldn't be no house left to
rebuild"
At the same moment n pretty young
gipsy of sixteen was rushing frantical-
ly into one of the great, sparsely fur
nished bedrooms with a pasteboard
box in her hand.
Overhead plump little plaster Gu
pids swung garlands of flowers from
the cracked and discolored cornic0s
IL faded rug supplied the place Of car
pet, and the merry sunshine played
hide -and-seek with the worn places in
the yellow damask curtains, and a
beautiful young girl sat at rheumat-
ic writing desk, with her chin sup
ported in her hands and her sea-blue
eyes fixed dreamily on space.
Ethel Ethel. here's another box
come by express - screamed the young
sister. breathless with rapture. 1T
must be the veil Do open it and
look. Do, Ethel, please. Oh, | never
saw wedding veil before in my life,
aud do so want to see what it is
like -
Ethel Moore looked up.
lyon can open it," said she, with
out n change Of posture.
well, | declare, said Milly. ANY
one would think | was the bride.
Well, here goes Oh, oh isn't it beau
tiful -
Ethel leaned forward n little and
scrutinized the delicate folds of lace
more closely.
Yes she said, indifferently, Its
pretty enough, but it's the wrong pat
tern; it don't match the founces and
the jabot"
1t must go back at once y cried
Milly. "Only three days now, and
the wrong pattern Of lace What are
people thinking off,
"Oh, let it stay listlessly uttered
Ethel. what difference does it make
whether it's one pattern or anotherg'
What difference Millicent looked
hard at her sister. "Oh, Ethel, Ethel !
I'm SO sorry cousin Jim is coming to
the wedding !"
Ethel Moore colored an intense
scarlet.
"Sorry-sorry that our own cousin
is to be here on the occasion of my
marriage?''
"N-no,1 hesitated Millicent-"not
that. But it sets you to thinking OF
him. Is he so very handsome, Ethel?
Is he handsomer than Doctor Darrow?
You're such a funny girl. or you
would have photographs OF both of
them. But there comes the pony, and
| must make haste, or l shall lose the
down express train, for the veil"
Mike, the errand boy, was prompt
ly deposed from his place in the bat
tered little village cart and Miss Milly
jumped in, took the box in her lap,
and whipping the pony briskly up,
drove away as fast as she could.
Just in time for the express :" she
cried. And now l may as well wait
for the up train. There may be some
one that | know on it"
Il beg your pardon" said pleas
ant, deep-toned voice, but can you
tell me the way to Moore's Cliff"
Milly turned, and saw handsome
man, with a light valise in his hand.
ITO Moore's Cliff - she repeated.
why. | am Millicent Moore, and I'm
going straight there. I-think-you
must be-Jim =
That is my name" he answered,
brightly. And you are little Milly,
of course"
Shelooked gravely at him. He could
almost read the sudden changes OF
thought in her blue, solemn eyes and
varying color.
Please get into the cart !" said she.
Il suppose | must take you to the
Cliff, as there's no depot wagon here.
But" touching the phIegmatic pony
with her whip-lash, I'm almost sorry
you've Gomez
"Sorryg Why, little Milly! And
thought we were to he such friends y
he cried.
Il think perhaps I'd better tell you
all about it" said she, speaking as if
she had not heard his words. No
one knows il all but me and Ethel.
Ethel won't be pleased, but-but-oh,