The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-03-19
in twenty years. Are you quise SUR
Of that, Martha?'
Perfectly, sir"


perhaps you can tell HE what sang
about, Martha-the words, l mean.
why, no, sir, can't say that re-
member the words, but it went some
thing like
"'Heppy the wooing
That's not long adding.
"Wh-atr' gasped Mr.. Coates.
Martha slowly repeated the lines
Mr.. Coates groaned.
"You-you're quite sure OF that, Mar,
thai" he feebly asked. !
Perfectly. sir" I,
'"That will do. Martha, thank you,
you may go back to your duties. And,
by the way, shall not require my tea
till late tonight, as I have important
business to attend to-"
But the mullins, sir; they'll be spoil
ed," protested Martha.
Hang the muffinsr' roared Mr.,
Coates. ~ beg your pardon, Martha Y
he said, softening; Il mean save tho
mullins. really am not myself this
evening. I trust you will excuse any
l. seeming rudeness on my part"
mo offence, Sir" replied the unper'
turbed Martha. "But you'll have q
cup o tea, 1i-, before you go:'
"All right, Martha"
And Mr.. Coates departed to his dress.
tng-room, where he made hasty toilet
descended for his tea, and two minutel
litter was on his way to A-rs. Blacks.
Could NJ. Coates have but stepped
back to his hearth and home, he would
have been shocked at the antics Of his
housemaid Martha, who, taking by the
! paws the sleeping Tang, danced him
round the kitchen on his hind legs.
worrying him with such queries as: 4:
What d'you say to new mistress,
Tang? Ell? What? Can't you
speak?"
Although Tang could only, bark, he
seemed TO understand there was some
thing very interesting in the wind.
.
Cold, damp, and in anything but an
nmiab bic frame Of mind, Mr.. Coates
found himself at the gate Of Mrs.
Blacks cottage. Once within the gate,
however, and walking up the path, he
found his anger suddenly transformed
into a kind Of nervous dread. Several
times he was on the point Of retreat
ing, arguing that the morning would do
Us well; but his sense Of duty prevailed;
and rehearSing for the last time the
speech he had prepared on his. journey,
he walked up to the door and knocked,
hoping that the LADY might be. out. His
worst fears were realized.
fEnter," called q soft, musical voice
from within.
The next moment Mr.. Coates found
himself in the little kitchen and parlor
combined, vaguely conscious Of rows
Of shining pans, bright fire. and last,
but not least, q trim figure meeting him
hall way, and drawing him toward the
warmth and light
Good evening, Mr.. Coates" said
Mrs. Black, IN accents Of genuine pleas.
ure; this. is indeed pleasant surprise.
To what must 1 aScribe the honor Of
this timely VISIT"
Now was Mr. Coates time to deliver
his carefully prepared speech. But tha
utmost he could do was to gaze about
him in daZed way is he stammered:
'.The rote. Mrs. Black I-I-called
about the note
''Ah, to be Sure-you got my note,
then? But really, Mr.. Coates, what a
tremendous hurry you are in!'
Il assure you, ma'am, there is no
hurry at all. 1 was only joking when
I said there was-if indeed ever did
say there was. I can easily wait sin
months, or year, Or"
Ten years, Mr.. Coates had almost
said in his eagerness. But he checked
himself, rejecting that such heartless
Indifference was hardly compatible
with an affianced husbands passion.
The lady smiled SWeetly.
g. ain afraid you say that entirely
out Of consideration for myself" she
murmured. But I won't be selfish;
and, besides, l can manage very we'll.
Miss Mines tried ME on this afternoon,
and she has promised the dress faith
fully by the 25th."
Mr.. Coates fairly gasped at the auda-
cious manner in which his objections
wer. overruled.
However" continued Mrs. Black,
suavely, business will wait, think,
Mr.. Coates. and I'm sure you've had no
tea. You'll have cup Of tea, Of
course"
Tea with this little woman, in lone
house, and in lone part! Mr.. Coates
sluddered at the thought. And, be-
sides, would it not be sort Of tacit
compliance? He would have protest
cd, but his tongue again failed him.
Nacantly he allowed himself to be quar-
t.lel in the old Armchair while Mrs.
EIack, with bcwitching smile. in
which Il shade Of triumph might have
been detected, seated herself opposite
and poured the tea.
And here another surprise awaited
the already bewildered Mr.. Coates. 70
his right he found a plate literally
stacked with mullins, While at his left
rose maiestically a plate of-and his
eyes sparkied-cheesccakes! How in
the world did Mrs. Black know OF his
rondness for the particular dainties?
He looked at his hostess for an eX-
PLANTATION. That astute lady, antici
rating his query, murmured something
about studying the wishes Of those We
love, and for the first time began TO
blush furiously. Mr.. Coates wasted no
further time, but fell to.
"As good as Martha's, every bit" be
murmured, as the first cheesecake dis
appeared.
AGO .,!a,1 vo,l like them"