The free press., 1894-07-05

shelter at his windows; that, having
business (?) which called him to
Charleston, he would. if provided with
the number of her residence, return
the pets in person.
For three days Ray impatiently
awaited reply. On the evening of
the third, however, the postman hand
ed him square envelope, addressed
In femenine hand, which caused him
to redden violently. He had never
before received Il missive from young
lady. On the way homcward he sat
down under the great oak tree over
shadowing the crossroads, and there,
while q robin overhead whistled his
tern.
Ray expectantly broke the seal and
opened to these lines:
Kind Sir: Your note of the 18th instant
was genuine surprise to me, but ! assure
you that l am pleased to learn of my pets
falling into your hands, as feel confident Of
your good care over them. They can be re-
turned by express, should you prefer, at my
expense; but as you are coming to Charles
ton on business, l should like to thank you in
person, and to reward you for your trouble
in the matter. My address is No. 81 Blank
street. Again thanking you, remain, yours
very respectfully, FANNY ATHERToN.
The faint perfume of the dainty
missive stole through poor Ray heart,
SO that he resumed the homeward
walk in Undergraduates of his sur
roundings. ''The name," he mused,
''is smooth enough for one of Tenny-
son'sidyls; she writes too good hand
to be ill-bred or ignorant. And if
young and pretty-why, here is my ro-
mance!"
Half mile onward, through deep
ening shadows, he looked up to see his
chamber window, where he had admit
ted the doves, glorified square set
opposite the rising moon. This he
took as happy omen.
"What do you think, Harriet?" said
Mr.. Kingsley the next morning. "Our
boy is goin' to South Carolina with
them pigeons. Spendin' money for
such u foolish thing!" And Mr..
Kingsley took his rifle down from the
wall to clean.
"You are not going to shoot him
for it, are you?" said the pleasant
faced mother, wiping her face with
her apron and regarding her husband
with smile.
"It is good thing his uncle left
him something" growled the father,
looking into the muzzle of his gun,
"for l never would support him in
idleness."
"When is he going?'
"To-morrow, he says"
Tomorrow Well, let him go.
The woman is likely homoly, or old,
or married, and sight of the South
may be good for the boy"
"Well, he can go ut his own ex-
pense-let him do as he pleases," said
Mr.. Kingsley, pushing the cleaning
rod down the barrel.
Three days afterward, Ray Kings
ley, carefully attirod, walked along
Blank street, in the city Of Charleston.
A box-like cage, neatly wrapped in
paper, dangled from his finger. When
his glance caught the right number
his courage well-nigh failed him; after
a nervous tumble he mastered the
secret of the gate latch, and walked
up the path toward an unpretentlous,
but neat white cottage
A servant ushered him into the
parlor and took his card. While Kay
entertained himself by looking about
tho room for evidences of young
girls home life, he heard the rustic OF
IA dress in the hall, and his heart be-
came quite still. A pleasant lady OF
perhaps forty, graciously advanced and
extended her hand. Ray blushed vio-
lently. Here, then, was the realiza-
ton of his day dream, this full pro-
portionate matron, perchance the
mother of whole string of femenine
pearls! -,
"My niece will be down directly
she said observing his embarrassment
"Ah, you have her little pets there
presumed" laughingly drawing his at
tention to the package yet dangling
from his finger. "This is an odd way
in which we make your acquaintance
Mr.. Kingley."
from