The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-02-15
no one guessed rne truth.

hurried to the door at the sound OF the
knock and opened it just wide enough
to discern the identity of the caller.
The latter thought ne detected e,nbar-
rassment in Fixes manner. When he
caught an unintended glimpse of the
supper table, he was astonished beyond
measure There were two cups of coffee
and two plates, containing pork and po-
tatoes One cup and one plate had been
partially emptied. The other cup ard
plate looked as if they had not been
touched.
"Got company he blurted out be-
fore he thought what he was saying.
Pike had never been known TO invite a
guest to supper or any other meal.
The bachelors face flushed a deep
crimson. For moment he appeared to
be unable to reply. Finally he suffered
out:
"Well, no-er. yes; I'm kinder ex-
pectin some one. -
His neighbor observed his confusion
and hastened to state the business that
prompted his visit. Pike did not ask
him in, and he departed without OBJ
tanning further light on the cause Of
the presence of the extra cup and plate.
The neighborhood now had genuine
mystery All sorts of vague rumors
were circulated Eut the bachelor kept
his secret.
s.S'pose Brown II tell what he seen
and folks Will talk some, but nobody'll
guess what it's all about, he chuclzled.
It went much against the grain with
him to cook twice as much at each meal
as he would have prepared for himself
alone. But he consoled his economical
spirit by feeding what was left over to
the hogs.
Z. Tain lost, after all, he thought.
The end of the month arrived. He
had awaited the day with impatience.
That evening he ate supper earlier than
usual. He helped the extra plate and
filed the extra cup, representing the
amount he would allow a wife-if he
had one-for the last time. And as he
did it he pictured to himself the brown
eyed Mabel gayly chatting with him
across the table.
When he had finished the meal, he
took the old slate on which he had done
his figuring since childhood and in a
few minutes had ascertained to cent
the cost Of the extra portion.
s'Four dollars and nineteen cents,
four dollars and nineteen cents he re-
peated to himself, over and over again.
His brows were knit. The chill of
avarice was creeping into his heart.
s'And that DON include clothes. But
I reckon she'd have enough duds to do
he- for awhile
It was the first rule Of the bachelors
life to deny himself everything except
absolute necessities. For the first time
he was dangerously near deciding to
break the law which had become almost
second nature with him. Few men
there be indeed who would hesitate to
invest $40 month in the keep Of a
wife who supplied in al respects their
ideal. But Pike had courted the yellow
gold so long that lis love was not TO be
changed easily.
Three days the battle endured within
his breast. It was the most miserable
period of his existence. Even after ne
had made up his mind to seek the hand
of the witching Mabel he found himself
wondering at his own recklessness. But
he was man of stern resolve. Once
determined, it required more than hu-
man power to turn him from his course.
On the morning of the fourth day lie
finished up the work about the place
earlier than was his custom and hitched
Esarl to the spring wagon.
''It's purty nigh time was buyin a
store suit, and reckon this is a proper
occasion for sich purchase, !" he solilo-
quized as he mended break in the
mules bride with piece of twine.
An hour later he was examining the
assortment of clothing in Smiths gen
eral store at Hill Top.
"What sort of suit ort feller buy
to git married in?" he asked the pro-
prietor with an effort at smile.
The storekeeper received the inquiry
as joke The idea of Pike desiring in
formation Of such character to guide
him in the selection of suit did not
enter his brain.
"Same sort you'd want if you was
expectin to be buried" replied Smith.
"Pants, coat and vest. -
Then both laughed at the homely
witticism.
The bachelor drew it out of the store
keeper without exciting suspicion that
the young man who had participated in
the most recent marriage in the neigh
borhood had worn frock suit.
81 amt never had no tail coa5 yit, /"
he remarked in q careless way. believe
Ill just git one to surprise the neigh
bors.
He found cutaway suit that pleased
him in every respect except price. Four
teen dollars was more than he was ac
customed TO pay. But he again con-
uuered his economical disposition.
cpl be back this way in couple of
hours and you can have the bundle
ready for me- :" he said to the storekeep-
er and added. "When git it. I'll pay
you.
The drug store was his next objective
point. The apothecary was dumfounded
when the bachelor asked for a dimes
worth of peppermint drops.
"Got cold?" inquired the sallow
faced druggist.
Pike hesitated moment.
ssNo Int NAV off one - he reDlied, |