Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-09-03
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A SOCIAL IHBROGIIO.
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certainly breezy compared to the soma
frigidity Of the classic Hub, albeit
looked upon by the city proper as pro-
verbally slow. Maud being one OF
the Endicotts, and related to the Hon.
Mrs. Joseph Chamberlain of "Lun-
num-" felt. it incumbent upon her to
keep up the traditions Of old lady
Boston as to the correct spelling and
pronunciation of words embodied in lit
erarys phrasing, and delivered with an
accent that cold chisels them into a
perfect mosaic of language.
Her aunt,s Mrs. Mason, was duly
awed and impressed by her nieces
culture, but was more interested In
having her marry western man she
had met and conquered, prosperous
and popular young doctor who had
won her favor, and who, although born
in Kalamazoo instead of Boston, could
speak the language of love more
flunetly than any eastern admirer she
had ever known. And just when she
was ready to utter that final yes"
which would make the three of them
happy, a word that was not Bostonese
desperately offended Miss Endicott.
The season of the church fair was
at its height and Mrs. Mason, being an
active member of a popular church
society, had prevailed on Maud to
take a table. and sell fancY articles
for the benefit of the guild. On the
close ofthe second evening the young
woman parted from her lover with
frigid politeness and refusing to en-
tighten him as to the cause of his Of
Tending, went home with her aunt, to
whom she would not deign an eXplana-
ton that night. The next morning,
however, when her aunt, who looked
as if she had not slept, asked her what
was the trouble, the young woman an
swered with more energy of speech
than she had yet employed.
81 will never forgive him, never!
His words were so rude-so unkind!
And l believed him gentleman?
Auntie, what is-is-oh, the horrid
word-how can I speak it-what is
'fim-fam?'"
cit means getting something for
nothing-no, not that exactly, either
Anyway, it's trick by which you
keep what you've bought, and the
money you should have paid for the
purchase, too. I know that it is a
form of cu,;r IJ;npn
Eyes, and your elegant DR.. Horton
accused me-me-a Boston Endicott
of playing a game of 'flim-fam'-that
was the very word, so coarse and un,,
gentlemanly! presume the word is
: discoverable in his ldxicon-thank
goodness, it has no place in mine
"But my dear Maud" said her aunt
in distress, what made his say it.
I think 1 have heard the word-it is
quite harmless-but the meaning is
is rather questionable. What had you
done?"
"Oh, he expected, some of his smiser-
able money back in change when there
was not a copperscoming to him. And
then herlaughed. and said it was
clear case Of fiim-ham.s Oh, how glad
II am that he has revealed his inner
nature before tits too 7late. My life
would have-been wrecked in the keep
ing of such man"
In spite of her philippics it was evi-
dent that angdFwas controlling the
young woman, and the morning sun
streaming in through the window
made a charming picture of vixenish
young saint with an aureole of gol-
den brown hair. For Miss Endicott Of
Boston was rather beauty.
: did you tell the rector?" asked her
aunt; 'Tsheard you talking to him af-
ter you turned your back on DR.. Hor-
tom
eyes, told him what I thought
about church fairs-that they were
primitive and provincial, and just a
religious form of gambling, and that
We rever-naadd ad q them any more in Bos-
ton. Oh. expect to be tried for
heresy and schism at once"
ooh, no. dear" said her aunt with
smile fitting. over her troubled counte-
nance, I'VE are not in Boston. And I
think you took DR.. Horizons joke in
serious earnest. We call people dense
out here when they can't see a joke
Your uncle was western man, Maud.
and he used many expressions I had
never heard when I met him-a young
girl like you. And I grew to like that
freedom of speech just as you will"
Never" retorted Maud. 81 am 60
ing to write to DR.. Horton this morn
ing and settle any doubts he may have
pn tEesubiectp
Tram locking for an apple cart"
said Mrs. Mason, char ging the conver-
sation; II will send up a plate of ap-
pies if they are good"
"Please do not" implored her niece
tragically, "they would be apples of
Sodom to me-"
Mrs. Mason took silver half-dollar
from the mantel and sat by the win
dow to watch for an apple peddler
passing to the city. She had no idea
that Maud's providence was coming in
the guise of an apple peddler, and
she felt very much disappointed over
yhe trend events had taken. To have
this.fav6rite niece settled near her had
long been the wish of her heart, and
DR.. Horton was positively one of the
most eligible3men in the state, coming
of as good family as Maud and gifted
with-a staying quality of goodness by
divine right. That the girl should
wreck her own happiness for such a
slight provocation-she felt sure it
had not been ntentional-worried her
greatly.
Two hours later Maud came down
stairs with a letter in her hand, and
found her aunt walking up and down
the little. sitting-room in a feeble,