The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-11-30
A PROPHECY.

There are only eight members of
the Comet Cycling club, but they
were out in full force on that deli
oious May Sunday for the run down
to the south shore, and, pulling up
Just before noon at Sandy Cove for
q sandwich, a pipe and rest. they
took possession of the piazza of one
of the yet unopened cottages on the
beach.
The day was fit for the gcds, the
skies blue, the sea as smiling as if it
were midsummer, and the sunlight
en- the sails of large schooner
standing steadily across the bay on
a long tack, the gentle washing of
the water among the rocks on the
shore, the light wind cooling and
grateful as it blew over heated
brows-were all influences which,
combined with the fragrance of good
pe1Tique, moved one to introspection
and thence to- confidence.
The little group fell gradually into
silence that among so many won-
en would have been as ominous as
the hush preceding thunderstorm.
Here it meant, first. o profound AMI
NAL content, and following on the
heels of that long look into the fu-
ture after the manner of their kind,
for themeditative man thinks about
what is to come as inStinotively as
the meditative woman of what is
past.
Dick Whitney was the first to
speak. Removing his meerschaum
from his mouth-it was a splendidly
oolored lion s head-and gazing fond
lyat its tawny richness, he said:
"Our days are numbered, boys.
We shall have few moro times like
this
why not?" demanded Morris
from his perch on the piazza rail.
Because summer S coming .
What of that?" rose the chorus.
They were all listening now.
Girls p said the sage darkly and
sententiously, and forthwith a gloom
settled on those happy snuls-no,
not on all, for little Louis, = the
corner, who had been softly whis-
Ting 1.-The Sunshine Of Paradise
Alley" under his breath. turned
scarlet through his tan 81 if deseobed
in treaoherous thought and won-
dered if anybody noticed tho tinge
Of pleasure that pervaded him at the
mere mention Of suoh delightful pos
sibilitiee.
Louis was nearly 15 and wax in
the hands Of anything feminine, for
at that age, as some astute French
philosopher-Balzao, isn't it?-ob-
serves ION maine pas une femme
mais le sexe, +" but the others were
hardened veterans, primed with the
bitter wisdom of experience, and
Dick. the Nestor Of the club. at 80
had made for himself quite neat
reputation IS cynic.
Bracing himself with a Whit of
his pipe and blowing out the smoke
in delicate rings. he pursued his re-
marks:
Last season was the first for
years when man had the ghost of
chance to escape from their
clutches. They couldn't all ride
wheels. But this sumer they've got
them, Lord bless you-yes, to pet
ticoat-and / can hear their assur-
ance rising up over the land. With
OF thou goest, I will go. -
Its leap year, too, said still,
small voice tinged with desponden-
oy. Fellows. you won't believe it,
but I have had three proposals al
ready since January. and"- A great
burst of laughter interrupted the
speaker, who paused and stared pen
siyoly at his golf stockings, import
ed at untold expense and ohastely
designed in the blue and green Sun
derland plaid. An Adonis of middle
class society, 6 feet 2 in those very
stockings, as finely proportioned rs
a Greek athlete, and further en-
dowed with close cropped chestnut
curls and sleepy blue eyes. 10 felt it
would be unreasonable to expect
even q new woman to contemplate
such charms unmoved and put un
good natuycdly with ordinary ado
ration. These later aggressive atten-
eions had been too much. Why was
tits amusement at the turning OF
tho worm?
What's the iohe?" he asked,
sulking.
You don't mean that?' cried
Louis incredulousl,~.
It's gospel truth. Why. what if
4 told you that M We'll, | can t
mention names, but if only limited
at girl who has as good as asked
sne to marry her within q month
nobody would believe me, and ono
" you would knock mo down If he
seuld. l."
"The beginning Of tho end a
pIenn note crept into Dicks tono.
"Reggie Is right; there's no joke