The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-08-12
ttI'm SORRY Uuuh Dudlcy declared.

was not strong enough, duu 'oo S"eV'
And when Ellen, having bssn scNe-
~hat grutfiy informed OF it, tsd made
'ome afrcsh, Mr.. Partitt drank it, snd
resumed hi. shawl and his chajs and his
uncomfortable reflections.
The door bel! rang again. Georue
thought he knew the ring, Sure
though, it was Tom Dauforthi
"Laid up" that young man demand.
ed, coming ir breezlIy, big and broad.
shouldcred ard bright eyed and cheerful
"Too bad, On your lungsi Have you
tried capsicum plaster | eau get you
one in five minutes if you want me to-"
cts IN my head" said George dis.
mally. But he smiled his pleasure at
Tom Daniorths appearance. aud wrung
the young mans hand and took his coat
and hat. "Tm glad you came glad to
sec you, Stay to lunch, won't you7
Have this foot rest, Constance is home
up stairs. he said, in breath. "Just
wait" he ended, eagerly. Ill go
get her"
But he came back sulkily.
"She went out with Kate, it seems"
he explained in an injured manner. II
didn't know il. They're always gadding
about. Have some maraschino or some
thing"
Cordial at this hour of the tiay?"
Tom protested, looking the soul OF reas.
surinG good nature and betraying mo- "x
Citemcnt At the fact of Cuustance's
absence.
He even took mp newspaper.
lie doesn't care George unused,
g'oomily. May TIC he isn't in love with
her after all.
And h" sat and eyed his stslwart
fl emo, and thought what n husband no
would have made for Constance, and
how blind an" contrary and e4aspcrating
they all were and how helpless he him
self was TO arrange matters as they ought
to be arranged.
lie fell into unhappy silence.
elias the cashier of the Freeseborough
Bank really gone of with the funds?"
said Tom, with his handsome nose in the
paper. "There's rumor To that effect
Stewards his name. He's rich enough
anyhow. He ought to be"
The bell again
II was Mrs Parttt, looking pretty aud
pink checked after tho fresh air, and as
bithe As though gong to the Carpen.
tiers reception in her old beaded wrap
"cto nvV s,"i.'S ~ t---.,A -------,.,.
"Oh, you. Tom?" she cried, cordially.
''I am SO glad Poor George is so
wrotched with that cold, and you can
cheer him up"
Il don't need cheering up" said
George, budding his shawl closer.
Where is ConstauCe,"
"Conny2" said Mrs. Parfitt, brightly.
"Oh, we met Hugh Dudley in his cart,
and he took COMFY along with him.
What stylish turnout he has"
Mrs. Paraftt unpinned her bonnet
"flc did, did hc;"
Her husband twitched in his chair so
violently that his elbow knocked the
ginger-tea cup to the floor.
Tom picked it up.
~ wonder if that scamp has taken
the money, if it will burst the bank :" he
said. ''It's shame" :"
"What bank?' Mrs. Partitt ques-
toned
And an animated discussion ensued.
Mrs. Parfitt knew the defaulting cash.
ier's daughter, Tom Danforth had known
MS brother. Georgc, who knew more
about him tban either Of them, contri.
buted nothing to the conversation.
He leaned back and shut his eyes,
three distinct vertical lines showing be
tween them. He confessed to himself |
that hc was entirely out of temper; but
h' had-ccrtainiy he had-amplc cause
Tor being so--ample distraCting cause.
He began I" think about golrg up and
going to bed as a temporary escape flom
his Affections.
"And I'm sorry enough for Sally
stewart There's Conny.' said Mrs.
Prrhtt. Said she shouldn't be gone
long -
Constance came sweeping in. Her
stylish long dress traileI after her with
hne elect. Her light coat was open. and
showed the white silk vest Of her dress.
Her little hat set back prettily on her
fair hair which was blown IN"
many strayin9 ten1rilS.
George thought, with a mental groan,
that che had never looked so lovely.
"Oh, Tom, you2' Constance cried,
quite AS Mrs Paritt had done.
And then, not at all rs Mrs Parftt
had done, she gave him both her hands
and--it was TO hallucination, it was
faCt-and let him kiss her.
She turned upon her cousin with hcr
blue eyes swcetly dcwy.
80" you like it, George'" she said.
"Are you glad; know you like Tom.
Aren't you pleased: We'd have told
you before, but we've only been engaged
week. and nobody but Kate has known
II so far
And | thought | wouldn't blurt it |
out, said Tom, standing, flushed and
heaming. 81 thought ia let Conny tel!
vou, you know"
"Are you two engagedF' George
roared. He sought vainIy to get his
wrfc's eye. Then how about Hugh
Dudley"
"Mr. DudIey" said Constance,
vaguely. con, George You haven't
thou"ht that Hu.h Dddlcy wanted me
or I himf Why, it's all about Grace
Quinhy. They wcr" engaged, you know,
and then th,y had some ridiculous