Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-03-18

had proposed aad WAS accepted.
Aud the ast"nished Mrs. Gatferly
received an account of tine situation
which greatly surprised ner.
Old Mr.. DovUhilI was rather
more obstinate than even Mr.. KOlt
had been. He asserted his rights.
and insisted upon the open wear
ing of the engagement ring.
There was no more Irritation for
Mss MIikin, and every one knew
what mad occurred. She wore a
diamond ring of value on her
finger, and was guarded by her
old beau from morning z until night.
lie even wrote her several notes
BET ween their parting at midnight
and meeting al nlne in the morn.
lug and in one of them he referred
to her Irritation with young Kolt.
Miss uiIkin was one of those
unIucky victims TO love letter
writing who can never resist putt
ing things down In black and
white. She wrote this sentence
in her reply: You naughty, naugh
/ ty goose, How could | care for a
striplinDg like thati Poor fellow,
he was very nice; but only a boy,
YOU know And when she had
written it she thought how much
| iDIier it was to run ab0It With
him than to SIT in corner with
old Mr.. DOwnhill, who was alsal s
airaid of catching cold, and who
would not let her dance because
he could nor. Still he was rich,
and she was engaged at last, afttr
all.
One evening she walked the
piazza with her berrotbed, leaning
on his ara in the most cOniniJg
manner. The evening train was
m, aud people were waiting for
the stages to bring the new cOmers
As they ratified up to the door
some one was seen Saviug white
handkerchief. A Young man With
very red cheeks and then some
one called out: why IT'S KOlt,
alive and well. For there had been
much lamentatiOn over The poor
fellow. AS he sprang ont of The
crowded vehicle they rushed to-
ward him to shake hands and te II
him that he had been supposed
dead.
Death in the papaw, you know,
old fellab,' said one exquisite
! Nv call, yewy cnyons how death
could he IN the papAw when Sou
wasn't dead, you know
1T was poor grandfather. was
named after him, yOu know. |
never thought what people wOnlC
think. Il Then he turn9d pale
aud hurried iuto the bonse, fearing
that the awful news had Killed hi
poor Perllna.
Miss Mlkin was IN the parlOr
She had aed on his approach an(
was really quite faint, and Mr.
DOwnblll had gone for glass o
water. Every one else was out o
doors, and the young fellow rush
ed to ward her.
my dearest love, he whispered
my darling, you did not think
r was deadp
'Yes-I-did,' gasped Perlina.
He bent over her and caugh
her hands aud pressed them to hi
lips.
'Oh, l couldn't die and leav'
you he said. 81
But here hand came down upo
his shoulder and a thin yoic
j breatbed III his ear.
I Young man, | am very glad
q see you restored an it were froI
the grave, bur | can't allow sue
liberties with the lady who Is g
ing to marry me-
4 Mr.. DJwnhlIi had returned wit
a the glass of water.
PeThna, not knowing what TO q
: had refuge IN tears and sllenc
J. The gentlemen grew tnrioOs an
' finally walked away with eac
d other, with pistols for two an
Il coffee for tour in their faces. BI
:. this was eighteen Hundred an
d ninety seven, aud much is thougl
of documentary evidence. In
d retired spot; where they could nc
be overheard, the haples
n Perllna's letters were produce'
4 Poor little Kolt read with I'll
n agony of youth the woman's DEM
o. OF her love for and engagemeI
- with him, written a week after h
supposed death, and old DownhI
" gave a groau over another barie
q hope as he read the lines in Whit
g. he was set down as a superannua
q ed creature only taken notice