The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-07-17

and it's such a fine thing, that we
can't refuse; so we've consented.
She'll feel homesick, no doubt, away.
from us; but we mustn't think OF
that. I try not to, and then the
old lady put her handkerchief to her
eyes.
"She told you tell me- l said.
"Oh, yes, said the old lady.
Ny heart was on fire, my blood was
boiling, but made no sign.
You stay in the city all night,
don't YOU" l asked.
She said she would, and gave me
the number Of her stopping place.
After the shopping was over Went
home and took from my trunk little
parcel of letters, a lock of hair,
ribbon-Heaven knows what trashy
bits of treasure-put them in large
business envelope, and walked over
to the old lady's boarding house with
them.
Tell Dolly that l sent her that,
and wish her all the happiness that
she deserves, said I.
The old lady heard no sarcasm in
my voice.
II will, Tom" she said; "and do
come to see us soon. Well be lonely
without Dolly"
So it was over; and the thing that
was most terrible to dream of had fal-
len on me, and l lived.
Of course I made no confidence,
and I worked as hard as ever. The
work of wholesale woolen house
does not slacken because clerk is
crossed in love. Bales and boxes and
bundles went out and came in all the
same; and what did it matter If l
looked pale and lost my appetite, so
that did my figuring and all the rest
of it correctly?
But one day, as l looked up from a
box l had been marking, l saw a
sight that made me sick with rage.
Holly, and no one else, with his side
whiskers and his glossy hat and mar
velously square shoulders. He was
talking to my uncle, and appeared to
be on intimate terms with him. l
stood still and stared at him. In a
few moments he saw me, and putting
up his eyeglasses, bowed. made
no bow in return. Then he came
across the room.
Il don't think it's q mistake" said
he. II met you atthe depot at Hamil-
ton, with Miss E. isle"
II remember" I said.
'She's very well, and in a little
futter, of course" said he. Il sup.
pose you've had letters!'
Excuse me, I'm needed elsewhere,
I said, and dashed away.
An hour after, my uncle coming
across me, said:
so you know Holly, Tom: Hes
not bad fellow, though bit of a
puppy. He's made a good deal of
money in the theatrical line; man
ager and all that, you know. Married
sort of cousin of my wife's two years
ago."
rs he married man."
''Oh, yes; why not?:'
"Uncle Harold" said I, you
must let me run up to Hamilton to-
night. l must 60.
"What is the matter, Tom" said
my uncle;
Il can't tell you,' said I, but l
must 60"
Then you must" said my uncle );
but if it wasn't you, you'd never
come back. Don't be longer than
you can help, as it is.
I travelled on the night train, and
reached the dear little brown cot
tage when its windows were golden
in the sunrise. The old lady was
getting breakfast. Dolly was milk
ing; her father at work in the garden.
It was sweet picture, and I had come
to turn It's joy into sorrow; but better
that than to let worse sorrow come.
"You, Tom?" cried Mrs. Brusle.
''Why, Tom" cried the old lad );
$50 you thought you'd see our girl
off after all2 You know she starts
tomorrow"
Dolly did not look at me, but | saw
her face flush crimson.
I'm sorry to say that I have come
down to bring bad news" said I.
bad news" said Mr.. Brusle.
I'm sorry for that, my boy. What
is it,"
'sIt affects you, sir" said I; mot
me. I come only because worse
would happen if were silent, and |
beg you to believe that | am actuated
By no spirit of revenge. You may
not credit me, but I wish that any
other man had this to do Mr.. Holly
is, and has been for two years mar
ried man"
I turned my face away from Dolly
as uttered these words, and dropped
it upon the hand that rested on the
vine trellis. I expected to hear her
scream, but my news did not seem
to produce as great an effect as | ex,
! pected. I looked up again; all eyes
were fixed upon me.
"Ah!," said the old man.
''Well2" said the old lady.
go on, Tom" said Dolly.
His wife is cousin of the lady
my uncle married" said I. ''1f you
don't believe me, I can offer proof
of the fact. He is married.
"Of course I knew that said
| Dolly. His wife is quite celebrated
contralto." =,
knew that he was married.? said
II. II don't understand you"
Its great deal nicer for Dolly,
said Mrs. Brusle. Mrs. Holly and
| she will travel together. But, Q, dear
perhaps Mrs. Holly isn't nice. Is
that it:
Istarted from one to the other.
Mrs. Brusle," said l, what did
you tell me when you came down tc
New York? AS l understood you,
that Dolly was engaged to Mr.. Holly
and that you were buying the we'd
ding dresses. "
''Gracious me- cried the old lady.
Nothing of the sort:
Did you think that, Tome" cried
7 -,