Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-20
Dams PTediCameDt.

"Well, goodbye. You will fall
victim, Ihave not the slightest doubt,
to Emmelines charms"
eyes; but will she allow herself to
be charmed?"
''Not il she's wise. But here is your
train. Goodbye; and II you break
your heart the great remedy for such
complaints is change OF scene, you
know. III I hear of you in Africa I
shall understand what has happened.
The speakers shook hands. He found
q place In the train, aud she made her
way again to the pony carriage in
which she had driven him to the sta
ton, his farewell words not having
been perhaps exactly what they would
have been IL spoken in the hearing OF
q less limited audience.
"What an idiot he is!' she said to
herself, aud then she laughed. The
,epithet would not have wounded the
feelings OF the most sensitive OF NOR
tails had he read Alright the laugh that
followed it. 'Poor George!' was
with sigh her next comment, and a
grave look clouded her bright face.
George was the husband for whom
her mourning had now reached the
lavender and white stage. Poor George
he had never liked her cousin. But
there was no harm in Dan, absolutely
none. The pony took his time through
the hedge-shaded lanes--hedges gar
landed with wild roses and honey
suckle.
Three days afterwards the post
brought a letter, among others, that
was read over more than once by the
recipient. 1t ran after this wise:
DEAN LYpiA-words spokea In Jest. AS you
and the Greeks say. come true. | am en-
gagged to Miss Winterton. Emmeline for
so have right now to call her-made me
the happiest OF men by accepting me this
morning. feel cannot let post so With
out telling you ms news. When think OF
how we made u subject for ridioulo and mer-
riment Of an object TO me now 40 precious,
! indeed come to the conclusion that my fate
Is better than deserve Yours, always affec-
tionately, ID. FORBES.
p. s.-Emmellne sends her best love, and
counts upon your presence at the wedding.
Lydia's red and white grew very
vivid as she read this communication
the first time. On the second perusal,
white predominated; on the third, her
color suddenly returned, and she
laughed.
''He is o silly creature" she told
herself; II will give him good time
in revenge. He deserves it. How
could / be so foolish rs to be taken IMP
Emmelinel Absurd Poor old
Emmeline, with her dust cloak and
bag of keys"
Lydia sat down to her writing-table,
and, looking very much pleased with
herself all the while, wrote rs follows
MY DEAR DAM do no. deny TIA. your
note took me little by surprise, but l am
very, very glad (three underlines to each
very) OF what you tell me. OF course, our
foolish little jokes meant nothing. In fact.
as blind, people often joke about those
they like best. l think Emmelne is most
admirably calculated to make you happy,
and l send my sincerest good wishes for
your future life. Always, dear Dan, with
love to Emmeline,
Your aifectionate cousin,
LYDIA BRACRENBURY.
P.S.-Please give the enclosed note to Mrs.
Winterton. cannot forbear writing just a
line to her to say how much your engage
ment, Of which | have heart from YOU.
pleases me. She will be so glad about It her.
self, know.
Captain Forbes was at breakfast
when Lydia's letter was brought to
him. The Winterton family were
ranged round the table, and without
reading his own document, he handed
at once to Mrs. Winterton the note
enclosed and addressed to her in his
cousins handwriting. Then he read
what she had written to him, and his
usually lively color turned to o posi-
tive gray. This was awful. He had
given to Mrs, Winterton q letter to
say how much pleased Lydia was to
have heard from him of his engage
ment TO her daughter. What fright
full perdicament to DO inl He looked
TO the head Of the table where Mrs.
Winterton, q most grim, stiff and pro-
priety-loving specimen of the British
mother, sat behind the teapot. He
looked across to Emmelino in her
prim. unattractive, old-maidsh, latter
youth. How should he ever get out
of this? OF course the letter was al
nonsense. There hadn't been a word
OF truth in ii. How could there have
been2 Really. Lydia might have