The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-11-22
A brown golf suit. his light check
A. L; IL

A brown golf suit. his light check
trousers, his tennis hannels, his old
and new covert coat, his driving coat,
two pairs OF light striped trousers.
his riding breeches and two suits of
tweed, imported from England, fol-
lowed III rapid succession to the vsts.
They wero sacrificed on the altar OF
his love, he said gayly to himself.
His man George was sghast at the de-
vaststion. and vainly demonstrated.
He was promptly rebufed, and re-
ceived no explanation of the strange
havoc his master was making in his
wardrobe. He would have reported
the young mans unaccountable con-
duct with his own suspicion that he
was mentally unbalanced to Mrs. Van
Swellum, but she had gone to the
country month back. Van Swellum
had promised to follow her in a week,
but instead kept staying on in town
until Now the summer was we'll ad-
vanced.
May hew by; June came and went;
July opened. At length one day Van
Swellum stood in the middle of his
dressing room gazing about him ut the
sartorial derelicts which George had
laid out for his inspection. He smiled.
II guess he said aloud, "I'll have
to bring this business to close. Peo.
pleIl think I'm in mourning, if this
keeps on. Only one dyeabie garment
left. That delightful brown and red
plaid that Cutem just sent over last
month. I'll try to-day, and perhaps
1 can save it, if she says Yes. On,
my! What howdee it'll make! ]
guess we'll go abroad for q while" he
chuckled softly.
"And my friend. the grining idio!
that handles cases. Well, guess he'll
outgrow his grief"
He folded the last dyeabie garment
in the bag and started away on his cr.
rand There was no one in the store,
for it was late in the afternoon. She
greeted him cordially as usual, as b.
laid his burden on the counter and
slowly opened it.
81 have something 7 want to tell
you," she said with little blush and
little gush.
"And l." he said firmly, leaning his
elbows on the counter, resting his
chin in his hands and gazing Mt her.
'havc something 1 want to tell you.
s'But," sac began, naively, you
have been SO good to us this summer;
you have brought us so much trade
business, you know, was very dull be.
fore YOU came, and you have helped
US"
"Helped you ?" exclaimed Van Swell
lum. Nothing has delighted me more,
al no
did not know her hame.
"Well, you have" she replied, her
eyes lighting with gratitude. "And
Jim and me are very thankful. You
see, you were our first customer, and
I tell you we didn't take In much
money when we started the Ruination
Dycing Company after our marriage"
"Married!" gasped Van Swellum,
Strengthening up.
"Why, didn't you know Jim and me
were marriedp" she cried. "Oh, J
Van sweiium turned in time to see
the thin little young man enter the
store from the rear room.
"Have 'em dyed black!" he cried,
tumolinS the contents OF his bag on
the counter. "I'll send for EN-"
With that he rushed wildly from the
shop.
Not long after he stood again in the
middle of his room, the wrecks of his
wardrobe about him.
"BlacE," he said slowly, putting at
his pipe. "EvcrythinS black-mourn'
ing-tittting emblem-the Grinrina
idiot-confouud him. Did he know
did she know? Confourd it! It's
good they don't know my name. To
think that such beauty would tako
to such whipper of spec
men!"
Van Swel'um laughed ironically.
"George!' he cried.
The man appcaccd at the door.
George" said Vnn Sweilum, SOL
emnly, "I'm an ass. Don't you thint
I'm nn ass?"
81 don't know, sir" replied
George, stammering confuseily.
"Well. [ am said Van Swcllum,
emphatically.
eff you insist, SIR" replied George
stolldlv.
Van Swc!lum was lost IN thought for
n moment.
George" he said, suddenly, "tho
Paris salts tomorrow. Go quick.
row, aad telephone crv passages FOR
YOU a@i :ngseIi"
The man h2si.ajcA. "irou. c.o:hcs,
sir, he sa.:.
"Iil 90 ovo- in mourning" said
Van Swc.'un, smiling. And when
George mad Withdrawn he added sud
Tr,i,.. 60, IN. ,,.Iii,-, IVA in Iy0r-