Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-03-26

happiness than to remain here forever.
At least. that is to say, until you go
away"
That was perfectly true.
'I'll leave a little margin for your
politeness. Mr.. SHIPPER, and won't con-
slider you bound by that" she said with
laugh. and then added dryly. what
would the Others-what would Katie
say if you sat here all the afternoon?''
Il don't care what they say. My
present position is the only one to give
me happiness. I would not exchange
it for a throne,'' he said with fervor.
He was getting desperate. Anything
to keep her attention from his boots,
and all these speeches which she took
to mean a sudden desire to get up
Irritation We're no empty compliments,
but terribly true expressions of his
painful position.
Meanwhile Katie was watching him
with great wrath. What did he mean
by this behavior? She was not going
to stand such treatment. He had not
once looked at her, and now to see
him flirting with that mink Maggie Ne
vile was more than flesh and blood
could put up with.
eHcre is your tea" said young Nc
Donald ut this moment; "can l fetch
you anything to eat Miss Gunn:''
Eyes, please: I should like some
cake" She answered. fixing Augustus,
who still held the plate Of cake, with
her eye.
Where the dickens can it be gone
tor he muttered some minutes later,
after hunting high and low. "Well,
I'm blessed il. there isn't Sniper hug
ging it on his knee; I'll go and inter-
rupt him.
And he went in Sniper's direction.
Poor Augustus saw him coming and
hiding his feet under the edge of her
gown, little thinking all this was per-
ceived by Katie. 1.-The wretch" she
said to herself. and when Jack Nc
Donald returned she hirted desperately
With him, keeping one eye OH Angus
! tus, however. well. Mr.. Sniper," said
| Miss Neville in answer TO one Of his
l u
pleasure is in serving me, will you he
| SO kind as to fetch he another cup of
| tea:" ssaTssx
| Poor Augustus.
| 'Of course, my greatest pleasure is
| to serve you. Miss Neville, but-er-
when that servicc-er-necessita my
| leaving you-er-being deprived OF
your society, l cannot fly to accom-
plish your wish as / would otherwise
do" ~ He had the cup in hand an(
was balancing it iGiotically and ht
stammeringly sought an excuse for re
naming where he was.
Just at this critical moment a FRIEND
passed at about the distance Of yart
and half. Here was his chance
'"Ehomson.'' lie said, reaching owe,
i to touch him aud nearly over-balanc
ing as he did so, Miss Neville say'
will you get her a cup Of tea, please?'
Thomson. who had long worshipee
Maggie Neville, flew Off with aIacrit,
on this errand.
Really, Mr.. Sniper, this is goin:
too far said Miss Neville in an of
Tended tone: ''if you did not wish t
get my tea would not have you do i
for worlds, but think you need no
put speeches into my mouth
My dear Miss Nevillc-not wish t
get your tea? / assure you'll
And then q happy idea struck him
'.The thing was, / knew that fellow
wanted to come and join us-and lie
-I-didn't want him. Sees
Just then Thomson returned. care
fully steering his way across the room
, with the desired cup OF tea.
, THANK you Mr.. Thomson she said
, with q gracious smile: lit is luck
you've come, as Mr.. Sniper has dc
clared he can no longer keep AVA
, from Miss Gum, and shall be left al
< alone"
Poor Augustus!'
Thomson beamed.- and there wa
: nothing for it but for him to rise an
!, give up his seat and make his way
, Katie.
t "Oh, that I had skirts"' he sroane(
;. why wasn't born Il woman
: BY this time many Of the guests ha
: departed, and to cross the room was
V matter of still greater difficulty tha
t before. However. by making dart
e when no one was looking, from cove
e to cover, he at length managed to plae
himself behind his beloved Katie
e chair. She. however, took no notice {
t him. but continued chatting gaily wit
r Jack Mcdonald. So there he stoo
: Sitting was out OF the question: in S
d Ience, till the last guest had departed
and when Katie returned from biddin
= them goodbye at the door he advance
!, and said: II am so glad all those bore
& are gone.''
a You have the advantage Of n
there she said, haushtily.
FL Ee igeored this rena...---- and CO..
e tinUed:
i've been waiting to speak to yC
IS all the afternoon. Miss Gunn--kati
e you know what I've come for-I wal
to tell you--'
v ''Please tell me nothing. Mr.. Snipe
le after your disgraceful behavior tn
afternoon nothing you can say W