The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-10-19


pleasant change from the other young
men. He was just bashful enough to
give him an individuality. That is, be
could talk we'll enough to the entire lot
Of ladies, but with one alone he was
tongue tied, and he would rather that
Alfred turned Macs music for her.
Before two weeks passed Mae said to
me, 81 think young men from the west
are far more interesting than those one
meets here" In the excess of my JOY
put both hands on her shoulders and
looked right into her eyes. "Do you
really mean that, dear?' and she pushed
me away in playfully vexed manner.
but admitted that of course she did.
My path was clear. l must help that
inexperienced youth to draw in the
prize be had hooked. 1t was two days
before i got chance to do it. 1 noticed
in the meantime that in his bashfulness
be dared not attach himself to any Of
the ladies except Constance. This had
escaped my attention before, but she
could no doubt draw out the best there
was in him and surely she was very
patient with him, allowing him to
usurp Alfred on several occasions,
which felt to be self denial on her
part.
"Are you going to drive to the vii
Iage with Constance?" l hailed that
worthy Oh his way to the stables
"Guess not" he replied shortly.
"Sbe and Charlie are going on their
wheels. He's gonein now to put on ais
suit
Up to Charles room I rushed, catch
ing sight of his coattails as / turned the
stairs. Calling him to wait moment
I hurried into his room before he had
time to repress me.
"There, now, 1 have never chance
to see yru a moment unless scheme
for it. 1 want to talk to you. You don't
want to change your suit anyway. I've
something better Oh hand for you this
evening than cycling with Miss Mer-
rick. -
Couldn't possibly have anything
better, coz, he said, diving into the
closet and bringing out his suit.
eyes I have too. Now put those
things down and don't hurry me-"
"But Miss Merirck will be waiting"
"Oh, no, Constance won't care. She
would muca rather ride with Alfred,
and have something lovely to tell you
about Mae"
Bother Mae! What do I want to
know about herr"
"Why, Charlie, I am surprised at
you.
Il don't know why you should be,
when I have an engagement with an-
other young lady. / don't care any
thing about Mae, anyway"
"You don't?"
Certainly not if there is chance
for spending an hour with Miss Mer-
rick" and Charlie actually kicked off
his shoes and went into the closet again
after his tans.
cousin Charles" I said in alarm,
what do you mean? Constance Merrick
is older than I am, good ten years
older than you
Charlie dropped his shoes. "This is
the first time ever heard you allUde
to your age in such way. Mate, I
supposed you were about two years
younger than myself. T"
"You are making fun, of course. She
is, though"
eff she were one of Noah s daugh-
tiers, 1 must still say I prefer bicycle
ride in her company to anything that
you may hatch up for this evening, and
you really must excuse me while get
ready"
81 will not go one step until you tell
me. Are you in love with Constance
Merrick?" He bent down and tied his
shcestring and looked up with bushes
enough for girl and said gently:
'sDon't ask so many questions, Mat
tie And then he went into the closet
and shut the door. I knew if I didn't
want him to smother in there I must
give up and go down stairs again.
Late that night took Alfred to task
in words full of meaning: "Why
haven't you kept Constance out of Char
lies way? The young greenhorn is in
love with her,
"Good enough. Suppose it'll make a
match?' cannot bear Alfred when he
talks like that.
GAS if Constance would marry the
king and all his courtiersv'
II should hope not" said that pro-
voking man, "though I doubt not she
sings better in chorus choir than a
duet"
There is nothing to do with such a
stupid man but let him go to sleep, but
in the morning my mind was made up.
I would send for Laurance Radmore. 1t
was the only way out of the difficulty.
Mr.. Radmore was the one man that it
was thought possible Constance might
marry. The two were just made for
each other. Every one realized it. He
was the grandest looking man I ever
saw, although his features were posi-
lively ugly, with that great Roman
nose and sharp gray eyes. 1t was his
shoulders and the way he carried his
head that made you think he was some
great parsonage, and when you listened
to him talk you knew at once that his
was greater intellect than any other
in the assembly, no matter of whom it
was composed. Mr.. Radmore and Con-
stance had a profound admiration for