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

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Priscilla groaned. We'll. auntic,
you've done it this time. Mr.. -'owner
is the one man in all the world l would
have avoided. can't tell you the
story-it's secret-but it's about the
girl he Is engaged to, and 1t is going ia
be very embarrassing to me-"
Dear me. Priscilla. how do wish
you had only told NE before" 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 lie is going to. In.
deed. he rather suggested it. SO we
Will have to see him all the time"
Never mind. auntic; 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 cheerful
resolution he set himself to overcome
Miss Barlon's open dislike. His tact,
his gaycty, his avoidance Of all diff.
cult subjects and. above all. tho utter
absence Of questions from his conver
sation gradually thlwed the chill OF
the girls manner, and by the next day
she was almost her own bright, easy
self once more
" light rain now set In, and Mrs
Hunter was kept IN the cabin for sew
ernl days by fear Of rheumatism Pris-
ella, however. and Towncr sat in their
cozy nook on deck and enjoyed it after
youths reckless fashion. Suddenly the
moment came SO dreaded by the girl.
Mrs. Hunter tells me you are from
Vassar, Miss Barton, and want to ask
you about Miss North AS she is In
your class you must know her and, as
your aunt has probably told you, am
engaged to her."
I'm that case, Mr.. Towncr, 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 50 kind to me and have
such a-wcll, almost sistcrly 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.. Towncr, that
you would much better not tell me.
You see, am stranger to you, and in
4 week we shall separate and probably
never meet again, and then you would
regret having confided III me. Oh, l
am quite sure you would better not.
Il know it would seem foolish under
other circumstances, Miss Barton. but
when l tell you the story you will un-
<1or Il
mc|'
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. had tutor AMI never Went
to school until l came north to col
lege, and you can imagine 1t was ra:A
er an ordeal to be thrown suddenly
among so many men. kept rather to
There was one man there, however.
who was very good to me. His name
was Hal Somers."
Priscilla turned her head still further
away and picked nervously Mt the
fringe Of her steamer rug.
"One day." continued Towner, "he
brought me the photograph of pret-
ty girl. It was one OF those soft. rath-
er indistinct pictures, like composite,
you know, only 1t wasn't one. It had
such deep, beautiful eyes and such q
way of seeming to look fellow right
through that it made a strange i'm
preston on me. 1t was Of Halls cousin,
a girl at Vassar. Priscilla North. Well,
before knew where was he got me
into a correspondence with her by
sending messages first and then notes.
Enever wrote to girl before, but If
all girls write as she does they are q
bright set. Why, Miss Barton, her let
ters fairly scintillated! And no two
We're alike. There was the charm of it.
They were from grave to gay, from
lively to severe only all were simply
exquisite. No wonder, I fell. in love
with. her! Wel.sto make long story
short, we became engaged. ens. then,
naturally. wanted. to see her. And
here the strange part begins. / 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-
qusintances by her grandfather, with
whom she lives, 40 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 I am In the ridiculous posi-
ton Of being engaged to girl I've new
er seen. Now, Miss Barton, beg you
to tell me oil about her. You know
,aer, Of course"
Towner leaned his head on his Land
and gazed earnestly ut the girl. She
slowly turned her eyes from the hori-
Zon and bent them ON him with trou-
bled expression. How handsome he
looked with that eager face; how his
hair curied in the little damp rings
about his temples! She turned away
again. "AIr. Towner," she began after
pause. 81 cannot say that I do
know Miss North. II would rather
not Talk about it," she ended abruptly.