Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-10-06
The Three Drawers.

room in Montague Street, and 4
strange idea came into her mind
She was romantic, and all kind
), of strange ideas constantly Aittet
); in and out of her pretty little
silly head. Stamping as hare
as she could an elegant patent
leather boot on the carpet, throw
ing back her shoulders, her dress
frightened over her bosom, which
was heaving like the Mediterran'
can, and pointing to the Japanese
cabinet in the corner of the %room
with a commanding gesture, she
said in the peremptory tone o1
one who will not brook con.
tradiction, whom nothing car
turn from a set purpose:
"Open one of those three
drawers" :rq
The young man precipitated
himself toward the cabinet.
"Dont be in such a hurry, pray,
First hear what I have to say"
He stopped suddenly, as if she
had told him that the drawers
were charged with dynamite, ready
to explode as soon as the cabinet
was touched.
"Open one of those drawers
and be careful how you choose,
for in each one I have placed an
answer to the favor you havebeen
begging and praying for SO long.
have made up my mind to let this
speak for me, and if you put your
hand on the paper on which 'Yes'
is written, then I must yield to
you. Then I am yours. But if
the paper in the drawer says No.
it must be-" a:as.
,.'I am sure it will be against
|me," said her Bassanio, who: was
not SO poetical as he was an ar
dent love- "oh, I say, it Z is not
fair, you know; it's rely too
cruel of you, 'pon my soul it is"
You:must take, your.-chance.sn
fsheyreplfe7 st any
Erate, Ishall have this consolation:
if you choose the answer you
want, it will be fate that gives me
toyou. Tell.me, do you believe
in fate?" ''@
II don't know" he answered,
hesitating between the three
drawers. He paused every now
and then to look into her face for
guidance, but he found none there
so closing his eyes and trusting
to Providence, he elected for the
middle drawer. He opened it,
took out a tiny roll of scented
pink paper, and handed it to, her,
sWell, ,what'smy sentenoe.?"'.-.S
"Read it YOURSELF" and she
held up the rose.leaf of paper up:
on which was written one i word.
Yes.
So she was his. His, his, his /!
AS if to take immediate possess.
ion, he put his arm, about. her,
and pressed her to him. She did
not resist. She had given her
word: and she resigned herself to
her fate. With her lips clinging
to his, the young man was not en-
tirely happy; for after a few
moments of supreme ecstasy, he
became suddenly cool. - -.
"What's the matter, darling?"
she asked, noting the nhange, and
looking amorously into his eyes.
care you not happy now2"
"Not quite"
"Not quite Am I not yours2"
eyes: but I owe you, don't you
see, to chance. I won you by
chance. You did not come to me
of your own free will; did you,
now?" and the poor fellow looked
so ridiculously disconsolate she
could not help slaughing in his
face. 5,
"Don't be SO silly" she said,
Tightening her arms about his
neck, and standing on the tips of
her toes to reach his lips, for he
held his head high <in the air ;
you syou needn't look 80 glum:
for, if I must tell you, you old
darling, I put the same answer il
every one of the drawers !'-
Brooklyn Life.
z---
Mr.. T. E. Wiley. 14e Chambers
st., New York City, says that