Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-04-19
HE SAW A LIGHT.
But for His Eagle Eye There Might Hav'
Been Serious Hitch In tho Courtship.

ON-
usual greeting, Byronia!'' said the
Young man, with something like a
cloud on his brow. SIS anything the
matterP"
"Haven'tI, Gerald?" moodily re-
piled the young woman, drumming
absently on the table with her fingers.
"You know you have not. And you
haven't answered my question, either.
"What question:"
CT asked you if anything was the
matter. %
''No-yes, everything is the matter.
It's nothing new, though. Gerald,
aren't you getting tired OF this?"
'sTired of this" lie echoed, feeling
BIS hair beginning to rise on end.
'Tired of what?"
''The whole business See here,
Gerald. Your people have always
wanted us to marry, haven't they?"
eyes"
$50 have mine. We haven't any
relatives on either side that have op.
posed the match, have we9"
"No."
'No. They've ali done the best
they could to throw us together.
"Well, what Of"
"And when you proposed to Inc ]
fell right into your arms, didn't II"
"Well, you did come pretty near it
THAT'S a fact" admitted Gerald.
"I haven't any small brothers,
either, to play tricks on US or make
foo! speeches to you while you are
waiting for me in the parlor, have I?'
'No."
"No. And mamma never listens at
the keyhole or calls down the stairway
to ask If chat young manis here yet,
does she9"
Surely not.
"Surely not. And papa has never
asked you if you could support me in
the style to which I have been accus-
toned, has he?"
"Not he. He knows
eyes. He knows. And we've never
quarrelled, either, have we ?"
"No. But, Byronia, dear
"You've never been the least bit
jealous of anybody else, have you ?"
"No. But
"No. Neither have I. Doesn't all
that show, Gerald, that we really don't
care for each other? No-stop-hold
on! Let me finish. How do we know
that we are not making dreadfl!
mistake? Think how terrible it would
be if we found out when it was too
late that we were never intended for
each other !''
Gerald had been doing some rapid
thinking.
He sat with his head in his hands
for two or three minutes without
speaking.
Then he said with deep, deep
sigh:
'I don't know but you are right,
Byronia.
"You know Miss Harkalong I am
forcibly reminded of something she
said to me the other evening. l had
called there''-
"What were you doing at the Hark.
alqngs' ?"
"Simply making call. She said td
me-the eldest one, you know-tall,
rather striking girl in appearance"--
"Girl She's 81 if she's day!"
'I think not. She made some re,
mark about the course of true love
never running smooth and then she
said: Mr.. Higginside, I have been ex,
pecting every day to hear that it's al
off between you and Byronla Blllls;
wink. There hasn't been enough op'
position, and''' :. IS S 3;
ssshe said that, did she? 81
eyes, and I laughed o little and
said I shouldn't won"
ssShe'd been expecting to hear that
it was all over between us, had she?'
eyes. I only mention it to show
that the same idea had occurred to
others, and"
"Liz Harkalong had the assurance
to say to you that there hadn't been
enough opposition to our marrying,
had she?'
Eyes. I suppose She"
"The dried-up old maid! What
business was it of hers should like
to know!"
''she may have heard the same
thing from others, you know
"I don't believe It'll The malicious
old cat! Gerald -dear--"
"Well?"
"We'll marry now to spite her,
won't we?"
"Yes, if you-look out, dear.
You'll scratch your face against my
scarfpin. :" =.