The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-10-27
ro11 than any nna else. -

y
Thank you very much!' said ]
gratefully, seizing his hand and
wringing it hard.
"Just so," said he, removing it
from my grasp and looking anx-
iously at it.
l"But why this fe1vorl'
T put Witch's precious epistle in
front of him. He read it twice
through attentively, put it down
and, looking calmly at me, said:
..'Very interesting, but scarcely to
be regarded as prelude tc very
speedy matrimony, I should think. y
"Ah, but it is, sir. A girl doesn' t
write a note like that and have done
with it. No, she continues to write
them. I shall probably get a SINH
lar note once month now, and that
will be very firing. T give you my
word that I did not sleep wink all
last night. The practice won't stand
that sort of thing long, you know, .
said earnestly.
"You seem to have an accurate
knowledge of women and their
ways, he remarked dryly.
Iallowed thatspeech to pass with
out comment. Comment seemed
superhuous.
"If I might ask, should like to
know whom you consider in fault
in this little misunderstanding" he
asked.
"I am, sir. IT stands to reason. i
should not be so anxious if she were
in fault. y And then I explained
the whole matter, finishing up with,
"I can't remember exactly what l.
called her; but, whatever it was, I
didn't mean it.
"I am not able to refresh your
memory as to what you said on that
occasion, but lean tell you what I
have heard you call her myself, !"
said Mr.. Druitt quietly, and then he
told me.
His tone vas a revelation to me.
Not that I'd soall Witch anything
worse than ''''little fool" but I real
lied what it must have sounded Like
to the hearers and to him, her ia
ther. Idon't know how ] looked,
but ] felt mean, cheap, worthless
utterly so. I began to stumble out
apologies. He waved his hand.
.sAli right, he said, "but you see
your language is at times forcible. !"
He is a wise man, go he said no
more. He showed his wisdom
therein, for I went at once to SEQ
Witch in a very contrite frame Of
mind. was ready to make a mat
of myself and let my darling tram
pie on mel it should so please her,
or to do any other extravagant
thing, such was the depth of my
humility. Still, as I journeyed Putt
neyward I pondered as to who could
have stirred up the strife sbetween
us. Suddenly it, flashed across my
mind that Witch had seated herself
beside Aunt Betsy Jane and that
Aunt Betsy Jane was her godmoth-,
or, and therefore licensed to inter-
fere: am not going to explain
how Aunt Betsy Jane came to be
'Witch's godmother. I am not a
lady novelist, and therefore don't
think it necessary to explain every
thing. It has nothing to do with
this story. Besides was only 6
years old when she was chri5tened
and wasn't consulted as to her spon-
sors. To besure, it must have been
Aunt Betsy. Jane who suggested the
letter..
When arrived at the Cedars, it
was about, 10 o'clock. IF all went
well, peace would reign between
Witch and myself in an hour, and,
.if'so, I would take her off TO Rich
mond, get a boat from Messum's,
row up the river, come to anchor in
al ,backweter I knew of between
Richmond and Hampton and then
make her name the day. But things
didnt 60 well. They went exceed
ingly badly instead. When Amelia
GAmelia is the Druitts housemaid)
opened the door and I inquired for
Witch, she said gravely:
"Miss Druitt is not we'll, sir, but
I'll tell her you're here. F"
Then she showed me into the din
ing room. This was ominous. In
the Druitt's menage it is customary
to see people who come on business
--dressmakers, laundresses, serv-
ants seeking places Sin the dining
room before lunch. Amelia left me
and went up stairs. Irapidiy dag
nosed the situation. I took out my
pocketbook and wrote, MY dar-
ling, ! shall wait in the old BOAT at
the end of the lawn till you can see
me, " and then I signed it John -
Amelia came back. EFF you
please, sir, Miss Druitt does not ieel
equal to seeing you today, but will
write to Won tOnioht -