The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-07-24
tnrned q sicklN nuttr color

really I am not at liberty to accept
your very singular proposition" TO
Fenella). ''Of course" (to Mrs. Grey
tom II sympathize deeply with you,
but we all know that riches have
wings, and | never did put any conf
dence in Mr.. birmingham as q busl-
ness man. So sorry that things should
come to such an awkward compllca
ton
There she goes the old harridan:
said Mona, as the withered hand
waved itself from the carriage VIM
dow, halfway down the drive. She
has lived upon US for six summers,
and now she wouldn't fling one OF US
a penny If were starviug.
Old Mrs. Playford was better than
an advertisement in the newspapers.
The Bideood girl came no more; the
city people kept sublimely away. The
old adage concerning the flight OF rats
from falling house came strictly
true.
Rosa Bidgood hasn't even come
after that conserve Of rose-leaves L
promised her, said Mona, sadly
And l gave five dolIarsfor the spices
and essential oil, and l dried the iac-
oueminot and neil leaves SO carefully
and Clarie painted such 4 beautiful
butterfly jar for it,
Can have the pot-pourri, Mona:
asked BeSs, suddenly.
"Nes, # You want it, answered
Mona, with sllrug of her shoulders.
We can't eat nor drink dried rose
leaves.
perhaps we can, said Bess to her
self.
And she rummaged out divers ana
sundry rare old porcelain Jar, ana
vases from the family stores, lllled
them with the sweet, strangely.scent,,
ed mass that Mona had concocted, and
carried them quietly to town.
1T smells exactly like Mrs. Grey'
tons drawing-room at the manor
house here" exclaimed Ferdinand
Houshton, as he entered the studio OF
Miss Malvina Morris, fair feminine
sculptor, who had some very Original
ideas of her own, and was on hail
fellow-well-met" terms with all the
other artists of both sexes.
She was neither young nor pretty,
vet every one liked Miss Morris.
We'll, l should think it might,
said she. "Doyou see those wine Jars
on the shelf"
s.Of course do. What are they,
'sThey are filed with.conserved rose
leaves. Mona Greyton made them.
Bess, the second sister, wants me tc
sell them for her. Real old porcelain
leaves full of the subtlest scents OF
Bendemeer. Will you take one at ten
dollars, Ferdy:"
"Then it's true." said Houghton.
about their financial troubles:
Unfortunately yes" said Miss Nal
vina. "Ionly wish could help them.
Come, buy the pot-pourri-there's a
good fellow, :,
Its may last ten n-dollar bill" said
| Ferdinand, 'but here goes. Mona
| Greyton is an angel. Do you suppose,
Miss Mally, she would accept a poor
artist like me, with no particular in
come and nothing to live on
TRY it and see," said Miss Morris.
But I'm not half good enough for
her"
Possibly" acceded Miss Malvina.
''But there are five girls, you know,
and nothing to live on.
SoFerdinand bought the pot,pourri,
and rode out at once to the manor
house.
"Your uncle, sir, wants to see you
up at the house." said the groom who
led out his little gray nag.
II can't stay this morning" said
Houghton I'm in hurry
But it's some very particular busi-
| ness" said the man, running down
the pavement after him.
"Oh, hang business" said Hough-
ton.
And off he rode.
Mona was in the garden with a
basket, gathering more rose leaves.
She thought the pot-pourri question
promised favorably.
Clarice was painting desperately
away at old India ginger Jars. up
stairs.
Fenella was writing an advertise,
ment, ''Boarders Wanted, " for the
''The house is as big as a hotel, :
| said she. why not make some use
| Of it,"
Mona Greyton listened with smiles
and tears to Ferdinand Houghton' S
vehement proposal.
But what could we live upon
said she.
why, 1 could paint pictures, : said
this sanguine young wooer. Il m
sure to sell them at tearing big
price as soon as my name becomes a
little better known; and III have
your mother and all the girls to live
with us"
'"Oh, Ferdinand?" said Mona, half
laughing, halfcrying.
And then the young artist knew
that he had not pleaded in vain.
"And it's all owing to the pot,
pourri,n > said she, ''the sweet, poetical
pot-pourri.
Every bit of it. said Ferdinand.
But his uncle listened gravely to
the tale when the young man came
home, late in the moonlight, with his
heart full of love affairs.
"Humph.." said Uncle Barlow.
'sHow many pictures did you sell
during the past year:
Two, sir.
cat how much"
"Seventy-five dollars each, reluc-
tantly admitted Ferdinand.
"Humph." again grunted this re,
lentless old Rhadamanthus. And
you expect to maintain wife and her
mother and four sisters on hundred
and fifty dollars year?
Il shall manage to maintain them
in some way, sir, said the I'M
abashed nephew. There's always the
Far West, you know.
Uncle Barlow laughed.
II think we can manage to do bet