The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-05-26
; AUNT PHEBES STORY.

q f AM willing to con-
/ ]. j: !. ! ! ! !. / . | / J ! !. !. ! !. J /. ! .
u a5c. fess that would
II w n have married Gus
ali ~ ~ Waters at word.
III He was the sort of
Il young man girl
III instinctively likes
II "a and trusts. Perhaps
this is not the kind
of feeling the story
ey-~C%S books call love, but
@FSa2 @ I fancy it is just as
- II Gus was good
looking, with strongly marked fea-
lures, rather tall, and we'll built, and
when he chose to be'well dressed made
a good appearance, and never looked
i'll, however old his clothes might be,
when about his ordinary work. He
did not depend upon his clothes to
command respect.
He had a calm, confident air, and
could express himself concisely when
he needed to assert authority. That
is what woman likes-to have man
able to deal with men and not be
turned aside from his purpose or make
a mistake. He was good talker with
fine, coy humor, not putting himself
forward to be amusing, but easily
holding his own. Like most strong
men, Gus was hard to provoke to a
quarrel, though in his school days he
had his allowance Of fsticuf encoun-
tefs.
Yes, I will admit would have mar
ried Gus had he asked me, though L
did not think he was in love with mo
nor I with him. 1 did not believe he
would fall desply in love with anyone.
Perhaps was too reserved, or feared
to show decided preference unless it
was shown first, though other girls,
gaid I thfa myself Of his head 6 and
= = IS gFeGtFy c6agrIned when he devoted
himself to Hattie Tinde. I had other
admirers, and if I was not as hand
some as Hattie, mere beauty is. moi
everything. There is no denying that
Hattie was the prettiest girl of our set,
and she was pretty without having to
care for her complexion or wear be-
coming clothes. We girls qll knew
she was intolerably selfish, and won
dered that the young men did notfnd
her out. But beauty :hides O great
many defects of character and if girl
only pretends to be kind and sympa-
thetic she is supposed to possess all
\ the angelic qualities.
Z One day Robert Carpenter asked
me to marry him. He proposed in q
blundering,s roundabout way, 50
clumsily that I did not know at first
what he meant. He made me almost
as confused as himself, and whether
I said yes OF no L do not now recollect,
but he went away smiling, so I con-
cIude he thought himself an accepted
lover, and had ring which I put
away in box, undecided whether to
wear it or give it back.
I don't think I expected that Gus
would hear of this and come forward
as Roberts rival. He did not, at any
rate. When I met him he simply
said:
"Well, little girl, so you are en-
gagged to Carpenter. He is a good fell
low, but you are young. You should
have waited little longer"
can engagement does not mean
marriage" replied, somewhat
sharply.
"No, but I think it ought. It keeps
many young men straight to be en-
gagged, but they ought to feel confident
that the girls heart is fixed upon
them"
perhaps the girls heart has little
to do with the matter nowadays. She
has to consider other things"
eyes, suppose so. But the heart
is not to be ignored. )"
This was about all that was said
nothing to suggest that Gus was jeal-
Gus or likely to enter the list for my
hand. Nor did I expect it, though
gossips reported the contrary.
Robert was impatient to be mar
ried, but was pot. He accused me
of being cold and of not reciprocating
his passion. Possibly all men in love
are apt to act childisGly. found
Roberts attentions wearisome. It
: might be said that he would be cured
of them by marriage, but this is q
painful experience to look forward to.
One evening we had quarrel. He
accused me of secret admiration for
Mr.. Hayes-that held him off hoping
Gus would come formard as suitor,
and added, as final rebuke, that he
and Hattie Trude had been married
the de- before. He showed me pa
per with the marriage notice printed
in it.
was so angry at the accusation
that at first I told him the engagement
between US was broken. Then he began
to plead for himself, expressing such
sorrow at his hasty words that gradu-
) ally I relented. After all, had I
; treated him rightly? Atlast agreed
TO marry him at once. 1t was becom-
ing the fashion to plan half elope-
rnent and save the expensesand pub
licity of regular wedding at home.
I consented to marry him the next
day.