The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17

Mother, can't you guess: I have seen
him again-I love him!
The bright head was bowed and not
tears splashing down.
"Read this, mother. He wishes me
to meet him teday in the park, and ne
saws he has some great news to tell me.
Heis better off, .
.But what is he now, Marjorie"'
"He is in the guards, r1other. .
''In the guards!'' said the poor lady
bewildered. "Then he must be very
we'll off indeed. . -
.sNo, mother, no. He enlisted. He is
only corporal. "
"Only a corporaln' cried Mrs Beau
champ, clasping her hands 'In a dread
full red coati You have been seen out
with him { Good heavens, Marjorie!'' -
ooh, mother, don T be SO horrihed! l
call him my pillar box, and he says l
was TIE bravest girl he knew to meet
him, and after did he said he would
come and see you and explain. And l
am to marry him. And, after alp
winding up her incoherent speech ORA
matically-''it isn't the coat that makes
the mani And, mother. may I go and
meet him and bring him back?''
stOh, Marioriep' cried her poor moth
er, 'swhat would your aunt say? 1 sup
pose must consent to seeing him. He
certainly writes charming letter.
.sIn the face of everybody, not
ashamed?" said Ferguson little quiz
zically, as he and his sweetheart got up
from their chairs in Rotten row. She
looked up half shyiy at the tall, hand
some guardsman.
"And now that you know everything,
Marjorie, will you forgive my putting
you to such test:?''
.'I love you,'' she whispered, blush
ing hotly. 'But, oh, how glad mother
will be!''
They were walking along gayly, see
the perfection of dainty prettiness, trip
ping along at his side, many curious
and even inqrisitive glances following
the pair.
ssLook, Charlie, % cried Marjorie, her
face dimpling into mischievous laugh
ter; ''there's auntie just passed us, driv-
ing. Look; she's turning back to look
at Us. Oh, her face! Isn't it a picture:'
Lady Hamilton alighted from her
carriage simply trembling with indig-
nation. She swept into her sisters S
room, her silk dress knocking down a
table, vase and some books, the plumes
in her bonnet nodding formidably.
'sHelena," she cried, something too
terrible has occurred. Your daughter
my niece-is out walking with COM
mon soldier. 5 81 -
"My.dear Eliza, can explain" " fall
tered Mrs. Beauchamp. "Don't-don't
be angry. The young man is on his way
here now
"On his way now!" almost shrieked
Lady Hamilton. ''You are going to let
a man in red coat and white belt en-
ter. this house! Helena, you should en-
ter a lunatic asylum. This-this is ap-
palling.''
They heard a joyous little laugh.
! And Lady Hamilton rose to face them.
Mrs. Beauchamp felt faint from emo
ton. What coald be wrong when Mar
jorie wore-sueh lovely look? And a
gleam of mitth in her eyes too. And
the mother saw one Of the finest looking
fellows she had seen in her life fill up
the doorway with his tall figure.
& sMother-auntie-let me introduce
you to my lover, the guardsman, and
SOON to- be my husband-the Earl OF
Desart.
.sPiease forgive me, Mrs Beau
champ he said in winning way. 81
claimed my discharge today, only to
take orders, though, III another service. "
And here Marjorie's hand was clasped
in his.
Lady Hamilton a year later presented
the son and heir with Il silver mug and