The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-08-19
sponded IIilderarde.

sponded Hildegarde
II begin to be afraid he don't care
for me.
Hes a brute" asserted her friend;
'and it will serve him right if you
never look at him again
SO the glowing midsummer swept by
and Mr. Dewey held aloof, huggiag
himself to think how he was outwitting
the conspirators, though an occasional
twinge Of jealousy now and then
passed through his mind.
Presently there was q sore outcry
among the allied forces. An order had
come from the memorable war depart
meut and the captain must go some
where on the frontier straightway.
The matter was beginning to get a
little serious" he thought, and just
as soon as that confounded puppy gets
away I'll make little Fanny a happy
woman Maybe, though, it would be
well to punish her for few days
longer"
"Oh, Fanny, Fanny, aren't you
sorry?" sobbed Hildegarde, clinging
around her tall brother, whose face
was unwontedly grave.
Yes, Hildegarde,' said Fanny, Il
am very sorry"
Capt. Aymer looked penetratingly
into her face. There were real tears
quivering and sparkling on her eye
lashes and the roses had all paled from
her cheeks.
Fanny he said, impetuously. sis it
from your hearth
Fanny-silly little creature that she
was-began to cry, and Hildegarde
rushed forward.
'Oh, Kent! You promised that"
"a man isn't responsible for his fate,
and have fallen in love with her." ex-
claimed the young officer. Fanny,
am to love you in vain?"
Fanny tried to laugh Historically
'O1-oI course; ali TINS is only a part
Of the programme, she faltered.
by Jove, but it's not" cried Aymer.
What was jest has become earnest.
love you, Fanny; l cannot leave you
here to become the bride of that
self-conceited puppy. Tellcme that l
may hope!'
Hildegarde seized both her friends
hands.
She loves you, Kent-she loves you.
can see it in her eyes," she cried eX-
ultantly.
"Stand aside, Hildegarde," said
Aymer. 81 have the first right here.
She is mine now" And he took her
tenderly to his breast.
Yes-it was true that the little NOR
sci Of acting had become strong, life
long reality. Kent and Fanny had
played at lovers until love, the shy
rogue, crept into both their hearts
with almost unperceived footsteps.
"Are you happy, Fanny?" demanded
the exigent army officer when all was
settled and Hildegarde had gone to
tell Mary Bell as great secret" how
the little stratagem had ended.
..Oh, Kent" whispered Fanny, Il
never knew what true happiness was
before"
And Capt. Aymer must have been
unreasonable indeed not to be satisfied
with the answer.
He departed, carrying in his keeping
the loving little heart of Fanny White.
Ralph Dewey contemplated the de-
parture of Hildegarde's brother with
no small degree of satisfaction.
"Now's my chance" he thought. 81
guess, on the whole, I'll not keep her
in suspense any longer, poor child.
only wanted to let 'em see that ]
wasn't to be coerced."
Mr.. Dewey proposed accordingly in
due form that very day.
81 am very sorry, Mr.. Dewey" said
Fanny, looking provokingly lovely,
"but-but I'm engaged"
"Engaged?"
"Yes-to Capt. Aymer."
"Now, Fanny" said Ralph, argu-
mentatively, where's the use of carry
ing on this pretense any longer? OF
course know it's all a stratagem.
"But it isn't a stratagem, said Fan
ny, Indignantly; Il love him and he
loves me-and there's my ring"
She held up a pretty finger as she
spoke, whereon glittered solitaire
diamond.
So Mr.. Dewey found himself outma-
neuvered after all, and accordingly re-
treated in as good order as possible,
while Pierce Trevor, Miss Bell, Hide
garde and all the rest returned uuan-
imous verdict of Just exactly what
he deseryed."-N. Y. News.