Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-03-25
The Privilege of the Day.
ny HELEN FORREST GRAVES.


any man could have said more than
thatr'
So that, when she heard of Amabel
Archer's invitation,a very natural jeal.
ousy stirred her heart.
THAT MINK" said she, "shall stay
home and mind her business, or I'll
know the reason whyl Sleigh riding,
indeed! BY moonlight! Not if l
know it!"
"No, Miss Archer" she said, firmly;
III have promised Miss Waterson that
she shall have her plum-colored silk
tomorrow morning."
''Can't Barbara Dayton finish it?''
Amabel asked with wistful eyes. 'I'll
do rs much for her some time"
'I'll do it." said cheerful Barbara.
'T'd as soon stay after hours as not. "
excuse mo-" said the dressmaker,
with awful stiffness OF demeanor, "but
/ prefer to manage my business for
myself. Amabel Archer must finish
the dress as she has begun it. Two
or three different hands on job are
sure TO ruin it, and L don't desire to
lose Miss Waterson's custom"
''But," cried Amabel, piteously, 81
promised Captain Juniper Il must
got"
IF you CO." said Miss Daffodil,
"you don't come back into my employ
ment again.
And poor Amabel thought of her in.
valid mother and the three apple
checked little sisters who were clothed
and kept at school by her toll, and she
dared not demonstrate further.
"But / shall hear the sleigh BELLS"
she comforted herself; "and can just
run out moment and beg him to be-
lieve that it was not my fault
And she sat down by the window.
after the other hands were gone-she
was the only one who boarded with
Miss Daffodil-to sew and sigh and
listen.
But she heard no silyer-chiming
sleigh bells. How should she. when
Miss Daffodil had quietly crept down
the lane and intercepted the cap.
tain's gay little equipage just where
the old tinger-post raised its skeleton
form in the air?
"Oh," said the captain, a frank,
handsome young fellow, with laughing
blue eyes and golden beard, rs it
you, Miss Datlodil? l thought per-
haps---"
eyes, it's me-" said Miss Daffodil,
sweetly. 81 just came to tell you
that Miss Archer is very sorry, but
she can't so cutter riding with you
this evening. She's got bad sore
throat; besides, she's dreadful hurried
with her work.
Captain jumpers couutonGnce fell.
He played with the handle of his whip,
while the horse paved the ground and
! tlecked his lefty breast with specks of
foam, all iplpatience to be gone.
81 am SO sorry!" he said, with such
genuine disappointment that Miss DAT
folil could have boxed his ears. "But,
Miss Da!fodil, may conide in you?"
"Oh. certainly" said the dress
maker, gracicusly.
'Do you believe in st. Vslentine!"
he asked?
Dear me" giggled Miss Daffodil-
"what very strange question! He's
supposed to he the patron saint of
lovers, isn't hep
That's the reason 1 asked you,"
said Captain Juniper, leaning his
head still closer toward the spinster's
worsted hood. ''Do you believe in
him?'
"Of course do" smiled the lady,
with curious tiutter in the region OF
her heart.
Then am sure / may trust you, ;"
said he, fervently. IL shall be under
the easement at daybreak on st. Val
entine's day to claim Miss Archer as
my valentine for the year. Tell her
SO, from me, Beg ner not TO disap-
point me again"
YES" said Miss Datfodil, turning
4 dull yellow with rage and vexation
-"yes, captain, | will"
al SHALL be so much obliged to you"
said the unsuspecting lover.
"Oh, not at ALL" said Miss Datfodil.
you're quite sure she didn't send
me any message!" said Captain Juni-
per, wistiully.
"No message" said Miss Daffodil,
smoothly.
Poor Amabel could hardly see to
finish Miss Waterson's dress, through
her tears, and it was midnight when