Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-11-05
Tie Girl From Gold Gulch
How She Outvvitted an Arrogant British Matron.
know it is highly improper for d cir
=BY w. w. RELBATS.-s

| tulHSS III GOlu tsulcl.
"Can it be that there is no attempt
to preserve decorum of any kind in
these western wilds?" asked Mrs.
Warde, incredulously.
yep, course" answered Miss Nc
Ginnis, Indignantly. IF things go
wrong, much, somebody gets shot.
See?'
'Then, for your own good" the wom-
an continued, finding the Gold Gulch
code inadequate to the occasion, and
still looking over the girls head, ~
shall tell you that every one on board
is Mortified by the way you are carry
ing on, and the rest of the voyage you
must either mend your ways OF stay
below, Or"
"Or what?" the girl interrupted rest
ing her eyes calmly on the heated face
Of the older woman, with a look Of
deep interest.
''Or let Algie Alone" commanded his
mother, surprised OFF her dignity by
the girls cool question.
"Oh. I'm not doing a thing to Algie,"
the girl answered, innocently. And it
was owing to the matrons ignorance
Of American colloquialism that she
was made no wiser by this frank con-
fession.
ut would do you no good to try to
win his esteem, you know, for it is ar
ranged that he IS to marry his cousin
in England"
81 did not try to win his-esteem,"
the girl interrupted, hotly. "He just
up and"
"He what?" the British matron al.
most screamed.
"He just up and sa;i 'how-d'y-doT
when we met on deck" the girl ex-
planned. "And now you'll have to ex.
cuse me while 1 go and dress for din
ner." And with sweeping bow the
girl sprang up and was gone.
At dinner the terrible girl" as she
was designated by the elect, changed
her plan Of campaign. Instead of con-
vulsing her listeners with her amusing
prattle, she sat silently listening to AL.
gle, hanging with Dreathless attention
upon his every word. until he began
to feel like a great hero. The stern
British matron sat glaring at them, not
knowing whether she had been routed
or not, but gathering her forces for q
| furious and final attack. AS the girl
noticed these signs her spirits seemed
to rise beyond all precedent, and she
telegraphed messages across the table
that said unutterable things, appar.
emily quite unconscious that others
had been there before and understood
her cipher.
The elect gathered at the rail as they
reached the deck and waited apprehen-
sively to see what the outcome would
be. The girls skirmishing, they pro-
phcsied, would have to go down be-
fore the heavy raking fire of the Eng
lishwoman's wrath, and they watched
her approach with q feeling akin to
pity. They certainly were not pre-
pared to see her walk up to Mrs.
Whitewall-Warde and say coolly: "Wil
you walk little with me? I have
| something to say to you"
And neither was Mrs. Warde herself
prepared to hear the girl, with a WON
anly dignity quite new to her: II think
it only fair to explain to you. Mrs.
Warde, before this feeling goes any
farther, that 1 am going to he married
rs soon as the steamer lands. so your
mind will be relieved of any unjust
suspicion that have been flirting with
your son."
sob" The woman's gasp of relief
came like an explosion. $50 you are
going to be married as soon as we
land?" she asked, as soon as she could
command herself to say anything.
"Well. as you have no one to look af-
ter you it is quite the best thing you
could do. I hope he is good young
man. You must let me be present"
She was determined to see this was no
ruse on the part of the girl to make
her relax her vigilance.
."Oh, will you, really?" asked the
girl, eagerly, 'will you promise to
come? I have no parents, you know,
AMI I should be so grateful" This,
with slight break in her voice that
could be attributed to nothing but sad
ness.
| During the remainder Of the voyage
the prophesy anent the lion and the
lamb was fulfilled. Mrs. Warde seemed
to look upon the girl as sort OF deliv-
erer. and she was taken to the bosom
Of the elect as protegee of their ring
leader. For all of which the girl
showed her gratitude by having her
trunks brought up and her trousseau
exploited for Mrs. Warde's approval.
But are they not much too elabor-
ate for the place you are going?' she
ventured.
"Yep," the girl answered, inuocent1y,
"but they were made for the road.
You see, was going out with the
Gaiety Company to do soubrette parts
this season before decided to be mar
ried."
"Oh. it is true, then, you are an ac-
tress" said Mrs. Wardc, with horri-
fed gasp.
Nope, not now" Miss McGinnis eX-
planned, shifting her Quid of gum
gracefully into her cheek. "I'm going
to jump my contract, and Mr.. =,
ahem! he is going to square it up with
the old man." She always avoided
mentioning the name Of her fiancee
which the elect thought commenda
BILE show of reticence.
The girl seemed to grow 4 little ner
vous as the Senator neared port. and
to avoid the for-ard circle. "Yu5 will
not fail to come to my wedding, will
you" she again pleaded, earnestly.
"No," answered Mrs. Warde, thank
full this disagreeable business was Sc
soon to be taken off her hands. and
deeply mortified that circumstances