The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-09-14
An EPISODE Of The SEaS0N.

over the sands at the seaSl1e: SS d
sudden turn round cliff, we ran
plump against each other. The gen
tleman, not at all dlscomposed, lifted
his hat and apologized. /, with my
breath nearly knocked out Of me.
conscious of looking flushed ana
awkward, hurried away.
was II and susceptible. 1t was
Notifying to be presented 1or the
first time to the notice OF so elegant
a. gentleman under such awkward
circumstances. Inyoluntarily l
looked back.
He stood just as 1 had passed him,
looking after me. Sufficiently vexed
t. shake myself, 1 hurried on.
As I came back an hour later, the
sands were dotted with loungers, but
saw nowhere the stranger.
- At dinner I contrived to have
,cok at every face that came in, but
I did not find the face was looking
for. had made my toilet with es-
pecial reference to correcting any
unfavorable impression Of the morn
ing. Elegant strangers do not fat
in e"'7 r. my bonnet had only not
!y,Gtad over my eyes in that rldlcu-
Ions fashion, and it would not, if |
had been taking the lady-like pace
to which my, sister Mabel SO con,
stantly exhorted me. Mabel had
made good match, and she was
quite determined I should do the
same.
Mabel was very handsome and sty-
lish looking. Her face had been her
fortune. ldon't think I was plain,
and l tried to be stylish to please
Mabel, but l hated it. | had little
fortune, too, besides my face.
Mabel and I were only half sisters,
with the same father. My mother
had left me some diamonds, and
other handsome jewels, besides a llt-
tie money, enough to marry me we'll.
Mabel said, and she had taken me IN
hand for that purpose, as soon as she
was married herself.
Twas too romantic to like the idea
of marrying in SO practical fashion.
! would not stay in the par'ors
this evening. Having once made
their circuit l stole away just as they
were beginning to dance.
went to my room soon. l heard
my sisters step in the passage. and
I slipped through the window to the
piazza, which was at this hour usu-
ally deserted.
! had left the key Oh the outside Of
nv door. so that Mabel came right
in. Fortunately she did. not look
upon the piazza, but anathematizing
me as a careless creature l heard
her 90 out and lock my door, taking
the key with her.
l was laughing softly to myself,
when an oddly familiar voice close
beside me said:
Good evening".
whirled with start, to behold
my acquaintance of the morning,
standing in an attitude Of almost
mock humility before me.
He is laughing at my vanity, l
thought. He is certainly very pre-
Stunning to address me without being
introduced >"
wished to return to my room, but
the window-sell being rather more
than one good step above the piazza
floor, such proceeding would have
involved sacrifice of dignity that .;
was not prepared, under all the cir
cumstances, to undergo. So / stool |
still.
Il am afraid I intrude,' said my
companion, and when l lifted my
would be cool eyes to his mine fell
under the smiling audacity Of the
others.
It was necessary ! should say
something. What should it be?
Il believe the piazza is not private
property" I said superbly.
I knew he was laughing at me and
at that instant l remembered some
OF Mabels despairing comments con-
erning me that very morning.
Il believe not, ;" was the response.
and my companion, with grave in
clination turned aud slowly left the
piazza.
climbed back into my own room,
ready to cry with vexation. How |
wished I lad stayed in the parior
and made the acquaintance of this
elegant look strangerin a legitimate
manner. OF course he would have
sought an introduction to me. I
dared not go down now.
Presently Mabel returned; / hoped,