Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-11-17

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to their pledge. They were as friendly
now as they had been hostile short
time before.
Meanwhile Miss Meadows also cher
ishcd anger She resolved never to
forgive either OF her admirers. But at
the end Of a week her mood was some
what concilintory. She reflected that
the young men must by that time real
izc that they had made fools of them
selves and that she had done nothing
of which she need lie ashamed. She
expected that they would soon seek her
presence in shecpish manner and she
was prepared to show n gracious de-
mcunor and to let bygoncs be bygones.
But weeks went by and they did not
call. She met them several times and
they hurried by her and returned her
greetings with cold, formal bows only.
1t was now her turn to be very I'M
happy, especially as it was revealed to
her that she did greatly care for one of
her former admirers, viz, Mr. Hutchin-
son. She knew now how TO decide be-
tween the two, but alas, the opportun-
ity to make such Il decision might never
return.
Mr.. Hutchinson also became uneasy.
He was astonishcd to find how deep
his love for Lucy was and how futile
were his efforts to overcome it. lie
bitterly regretted his pledge, but as he
himself had been the first to propose
the compact, he could blame no one
but himself for making it and was un-
der the strongest kind of an obligation
to kcepit.
The painful situation was soon fur
thcr complicated by an act of Miss
Meadows. She began to encourage
middlc-agcd widowcr named Slawson,
who had long desired to show her
marked attentions, but who had been
prevented from doing so by her cold
dcmeauor toward him while his two
younger rivals were in favor. He was
now filled with incxprcssiblc delight
because of the winning smiles which
tho charming maiden for the first time
bestowed upon him, and he was so
clatcd because of his unexpected sue
cess that he did not stop TO inquire why
she treated him with cordiality that
she had never before manifested But
unlike the infatuated Mr.. Slawson,
Lucy was not dominated by sentiment
alone. She was as wise rs serpent
while seeming to be MS harmless as n
dove. She hoped that her gracious
treatment of the widowcr would render
Mr.. Hutchinson Jealous and cause him
again to seek her society for the pur-
pose of preventing, if possible, third
admircr from winning her affections.
The vancouver was skillful, but it
only brought about n part of what she
desired, and even ofthat part she was
ignorant Mr. Hutchinson was made
desperately jealous, but the agreement
with Walters, which, of course, was
unknown to Lucy, prevented him from
cndcavoring to become reconcilcd to
| her.
Two months elapsed Seemingly
Hutchinson was determined to main
tain his Indifferent dcmcanor, Miss
Meadows was discouraged. She believed
that the young man did not recipro-
cate her love for him and she began 10
think that the best thing she could do
would be to marry Mr.. Slawson. TO
be sure, he was widowcr twenty
years older than herself, and had two
daughters, each of whom was not much
| younger than she was, but he was also
wealthy and lived in fine house.
Moreover, she rather liked him, and he
adorcd her. She might do worse than
to accept him as husband.
| At this critical time Hutchinson, un-
able longer to simulate Indifference,
resolved to tell Walters how he felt, al.
though he feared that his former rival
might still love the girl as much as he
himself did. When the two young men
next met Hutchinson, growing rcd in
the face, broached tho subject that was
uppermost in his mind
II want to ask YOU" he said, in a
blunt and desperate way, "whcthcr you
are willing to release mo from keeping
the compact by which each of us
agreed not again to seek to marry Miss
Meadows? l confess that ] now love
her moro than | ever did. ! suppose
you may love her, too. ] would like to
be free to court the girl again, and Of
course if had that privilege, you, too,
would again have right to show her
attentions, provided you desired so to
do. Let the better man win, | say, and
il either of us is to win we must be
lively, tell you, for the widower is
making alarming progress in the inn
rrovemcnt of his opportunities, unless
/ am much deceived"
Walters laughed as the other spoke
and looked at him in a peculiar way.
81 release you from your promise.
Go ahead and may you have good
luck"
Hutchinson was much surprised.
"Can il be that you are no longer in
terested in Miss Meadows?" he asked,
doubtfully.
81 am no longer interested
''May ask the rcason?"
"Ycs; confidcntially | will tell you
that am now in love with another
girl"
~ am so glad. / hope she will
reciprocatc your affection and that
you will be very happy" said Hutchin-
son, as he fervently shook the hand OF
his companion. utA
"She has already accepted me-"
Good"
At two o'clock in the afternoon oi
that day Mr.. Hutchinson -tood before
Miss Meadows in the parlor of her
homo.
"Am / too lateo" he asked
mo; but you would have been one
hour from now"
"What do you mean?"
"At three o'clock Mr.. Slawson will
receive his answer"
"What will you say?'
"IIad you not called, my answer
would be yes"