The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-11-22

Priscilla groaned. "Well. auntie,
you've done it this time. Mr.. Towner
is the one man in all the world I would
have avoided. / can't tell yo;' the
story-it's q secret-but it's about the
girl he is engaged to, and it is going to
be very embarrassing to me-"
"Dear me, Priscilla, how I do wish
you had only told me beforew said her
aunt complainingly. Your habit OF
reticence is most annoying. I've asked
him to change his seat to the one next
you at table, and he is going to. In
deed, he rather suggested it. So we
will have to see him all the time"
''Neyer mind, auntie; it's Nemesis.
that's ALL" said her niece. with calm
despair.
That Towner felt the frigidity of the
atmosphere as they met at luncheon
was inevitable. But with a cheerful
resolution he set himself to overcome
Miss Barton's open dislike. His tact,
his gaycty, his avoidance Of all diff
cult subjects and above all, the utter
absence Of questions from his CONVEX
sation gradually thawed the chill of
the girls manner, and by the next day
she was almost her own bright, easy
self once more.
A light rain now set in, and Mrs.
Hunter was kept in the cabin for sew
eral days by fear Of rheumatism. Pris-
ella, however, and Towner sat in their
cozy nook on deck and enjoyed it after
youths reckless fashion, Suddenly the
moment came 50 dreaded by the girl.
"Mrs. Hunter tells me you are from
Vassar, Miss Barton, and want to ask
you aDout Miss North. AS she is In
your class you must know her, and, as
your aunt has probably told you, am
engaged to her."
'In that case, Mr.. Towner, you must
know her far better than l." replied
Priscilla, smiling constrainedly.
Miss Barton, please don't think it
queer, but want to tell you q secret.
You have been so kind ~ me and have
such a-well, almost q sisterly way Of
treating fellow, if you will excuse
my saying SO, that know you will adj
wise me what to do. Indeed, it seems
as if my meeting you were really prov
idential."
Don't you think, Mr.. Towner, that
you would much better not tell me.
You see, am stranger to YOU, and in
. week we shall separate and probably
never meet again, and then you would
regret having confded in me. Oh, |
am quite sure you would better not!
u know it would seem foolish under
other circumstances, Miss Barton, but
when tell you the story you will un-
derstand my anxiety, if you will allow
me"
He leaned eagerly forward, and Pris-
ella dropped her eyes in confusion.
Taking her silence for consent, he be-
gan:
"You see, it was this way: I'm an
only child, and I've seen little of young
people. l had tutor and never Went
to school until came north to col
lege, and you can imagine it was l:lt!l-
er an ordeal to be thrown suddenly
among so many men. | kept rather to
myself and didn't meet many fellows.
There was one man there, however,
who was very good to me. His maine
was Hal Somers."
Priscilla turned her head still further
away and picked nervously at the
fringe of her steamer rug.
zone day." continued Towner, "he
brought me the photograph Of pref
ty girl. 1t was one Of those soft, rath-
er indistinct pictures, like composite,
you know, only it wasn't one. 1t had
such deep, beautiful eyes and such q
way Of seeming to look fellow right
through that it made strange i'm
preston on me. 1t was Of Halls cousin,
a girl at Vassar. Priscilla North. Well,
before T knew where was he got me
into correspondence with her by
sending messages first and then notes.
+ never wrote to girl before, but If
all girls write as she does they are
bright set. Why, Miss Barton, her let
ters fairly scintillated! And no two
were alike. There was the charm Of 1t.
They were from grave to gay, from
lively to severe only all were simply
exquisite. No wonder. fell in love
with her! Wel1,ssto make long story
short, we became engaged. and then,
naturally, wanted to see her. And
here the strange part begins. I can
not meet her. lam never to see her."
"That is-rather peculiar muir
INJURED Priscilla.
Peculiar? It's unaccountable! She
says she is forbidden to make ac-
quaintances by her grandfather, with
whom she lives, so I can't go to the
college. At the end Of the term she
rushes off west-she lives in Wiscon-
sin. And in vacation she travels!
And here am in the ridiculous posi-
ton Of being engaged to girl I've new
er seen. Now, Miss Barton, beg you
to tell me all about her You know
her, Of course"
Towner leaned his head on his Land
and gazed earnestly at the girl. She
slowly turned her eyes from the hori
ZOn and bent them on him with 4 trOu-
bled expression. How handsome he
looked with that eager face; how his
hair curlcd in the little damp rings
about his temples. She turned away
again "Nlr Towner," she began after
a pause, Il cannot say that I do
know Miss North. IL would rather
not talk about it," she ended abruptly.
Towncr stared at her. "Why, what