The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-08

drously ardent wooing. Throughout
fortnight Miss Lucindy Tom waited hope
fully for the wooing to begin. Then she
took the bit in her teeth.
John is so desperately shy, shall have
to speak to you for him, Sarah, she said
one morning at the breakfast table,
beaming upon the pair. Sarah blushed and
bridled but smiled amiably. John got
| fiery red, but since he was a gentleman
| tried to save the situation.
THAT is mighty kind of you, Tanty,
| he said as airily as he could. Il didn
think you knew, but l see there is no
use trying to fool YOU am glad to
| have Miss Sarah the very first to con-
| graduate me on my engagement. She
has seen Marcia-she knows how lucky
| I am
"Marcia.''
Tanty Tom almost shreked the name.
John nodded. and murmured:
| ct is little unlucqy--our fancying
| each other. Miss Marticia is certain to
| object
is she % Tanty Tom interrupted grim
| ~. wait and see! Marticia Ewing
never did a sensible thing in her life. 1t
is most too late, now for her to be-
gin.
John waited to hear no more. In an
hour he had asked Miss Marticia, plumply,
| for her niece's hand. She had looked at
| him more sternly than he had believed
| eyes so kind could look, and said:
Il must speak with Marcia-and l
| shant do that until after ! think over
| everything"
| think-a night nearly sleepless. She was
| just but not judicial. She wanted moth
ing SO much as to insure Marcia's happi-
ness Marcia could not be deeply in love
she was too well used to John for that.
| She was so young, too-and other beaux
| so plenty. She might take her pick of
the county. Decidedly it would be wicked
| to let her waste herself and her youth
| upon John Warfield. Of course John
| would not think of leaving his aunt.
| Equally of course Miss Marticia would
not think of letting Marcia be subject to
Miss Lucindy- Toms restrictions.
| She had led up to the subject with art
| less art, as she sat by her snug freside
| toward il o'clock in the morning. Logs
| still burned in the sitting room-the fur
| mace to the contrary Notwithstanding.
| What with the fire, thick carpet, the easy
| well-worn chairs, the flowers in the sun
ny south-looking windows. the room was
a CHEEKY place, fit exponent of its CHEEKY
| mistress. She glanced about it. and sat
| up very straight as she answered Marcia.
go there indeed. | should think not
But that ought to settle the matter for
good and all Ewing is a better name
than Warfield anywhere you speak it. If
| you have any pride in your blood, any
| love for me, you'll tell John Warfield, you
| will marry into no family where you are
| not only welcome, but felt to do it cred
| it."
II can't do that aunty," Marcia said,
| growing pale. "You-you have brought
| me up always to speak the truth-and |
am going to marry John as soon as you
| will let me-
Then you'll wait forever" Miss Mar
ticia said, her eyes swapping. Il am
ashamed Of you'll am. 1t almost makes
me hate my own blood--and / have been
so proud of it always John Warfield too
| good for you, indeed, I'm going right
over there and tell Lucindy-Tom what
think of such impertinence.
| She flung out Of the house, in spite of
| Marcia's pleading, and marched down
| the lawn with her nose in air. At the
| gate she stopped short. Miss Lucindy
Tom was just outside her gate, and evil
IDENTIFY bound for the Ewing house, since
she was on foot, and it was the only
| dwelling within walking range.
| 'H-m-m, Coming to see me?" Miss
| Lucindy- Tom called making as though
she would re-enter her own portal
'Yes--but you were coming to see me!
M HinVinp
| wide open her gate, and motioning the
other woman to cross the road
moi We had better say our say here
| the big road belongs to everybody,
Miss Lucndy-Tom said, grimly.
I'm not hunting quarrel" Miss
Marticia said, her nose higher than ever
Nor L." said Miss Lucindy-Tom, with
| sniff; Il just want to tell you, my
nephew John"
"And / just want to tell you, my niece
Marcia" Miss Marticia broke in
has got just two hundred dollars to
| his name-and that's Christmas and
| birthday money l made him save" Miss
Lucindy- Tom went on II came to say
| too, he never will have another penny
of mine if he throws himself away on
that doll baby you've been dressing UP
for him all these years"
won't be allowed to throw herself
away on a Warfield," Miss Martlcla
spluttered on: She can marry whom
she pleases, or not marry if she pleases
She'll have all that is mine-it amt sc
very much, but enough to keep her q
lady as long as she lives"
so, that's the way you tole young
men Inlet 'em know they can just hane
up their hats and be at home Miss
Lucindy-Tom said with whitening scorn
Miss Marticia shook her head.
We've no need to do it, she said
Every beau Marcia ever had but one,
| double emphasis on the word, had his
g.
N