The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-08-30
HIS DEAR LITTLE GIRL.


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DY HAT was what Terence Daw-
nay had always called her,
ever since they had met and
loved each other. lie was in
Ireland now with his regiment, but be
wrote very regularly to his dear little
girl. and though there was no Ques-
ton Of any formal engagement be
tween them, he had assured her that
their understanding was as sacred n
bond to him as any public betrothal,
and Of course she believed him-for
she was young, and she loved him.
She was thinking of him as she
walked down the path to meet the
postman; this was her letter day, and
Irish letters always came by the mid
day man to the Devonshire village
where she lived within sight and sound
of the moaning sea
1t was late IN June, and the summer
wind tossed her pretty hair against
the cheeks, which were soft and
flushed Ikea peach The postman was
coming up the hill; a smile crossed his
weather-beaten face as he caught sight
of the waiting figure.
1.-Two letters, Missy, this morning"
he said, as he sorted them from his
bundle; that's all, Miss"
Two letters!
She went out on the cliff side with
them; one was, Of course, from Ter
ence; how wen she knew his dear, I'M
tidy writing! She smiled as she put
it in her pocket; that must be kept as
a bonnie bouche.
The other one was in quite strange
handwriting, and she tore 1t open, look
ing at its contents with bewilderment.
A blank sheet Of paper inclosing a
small newspaper cutting met her eyes.
What could it mean? The color faded
from her cheeks.
I'VE understand that an interesting
engagement win be announced before
the end of the summer, and we may
safely offer our good wishes to the
beauty Of the year, Miss Sergeant, at
the same time congratulating the gal
liant fiancee on his luck. Mr.. DaWnay
is well known in Dublin, where his
regiment lis at present quartered."
The little bit Of paper fell to the
ground Of course it was not true! 1t
could not be true. Someone was try
ing to make mischief between them.
That was all. Why, he was hers-he
had been hers from the very first day
that they had met! The newspaper
did not know what 1t was talking
about; she eyed the envelope with
disgust; who had done this thing?
And who was Miss Sergeant? Terence
had never mentioned her.
She pulled his letter out of her pock-
ct and opened 1t, reading 1t with a
sudden chill which quenched the hap
piness in her pretty eyes.
my Dear Little Grill have hardly
moment for letter, so 1 am afraid
this will be very short, but there is so
much to be done here just now, what
with polo and goodness knows what
else besides, that have enough to do
to get everything done in the day. I'm
going down to stay near Cork next
week with some people called Sar-
geant-jolly house and no end of gay
cites, Of course; l wish" (here some
thing had been scratched OUT II could
have managed to run over to you,
DEAR but it's quite impossible. You
see, there are our maneuvers coming
on, and must be within easy reach of
headquarters. / don't know that there
is anything Of interest to tell you. /
have been thinking lately that it's a
bit rough on you to be kept hanging on
for such an interminable time-not
that I've altered, you know that-but
you see, things are not looking very
bright for us, are they? It's awfully
date, I must stop. Goodnight, dear
little girl. Ever yours,
Terence"
TIE sun was hidden by a thick cloud
the sea moaned on the rocks below
and a light wind ruffled the waves
1t looked like a change In the wealth
err But the girl did not notice the
signs of change. Her eyes were fixed
unseeingly on the letter in her hand
She stopped and picked up the little
paper, which she had allowed to fiut
ter to the ground unheeded. No neet
to read 1t again. 1t was imprinted OF
her memory for all time She won
dered what there was for her to do
-,
That was a question to be answered
at once, and before she turned he
steps homeward she had made her re
solve.