The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-07-24

Social
center. Whoever had his good word
ana countenunce was welcome any
where roundabout
Naturally Bcrnice, sole daughter and
heircss to the Elton thousands. who
h"u grown up mothcrless. was n trific
spoiicd-notwithstanding n fine young
creature. honestcr with herself than Is
the wont of womankind Therefore
even before Ensley went away she had
begun TO ask herself If it was wholly
pleasant Ia have him sensible rather
than foolishIy Altering. He had not
been gone two days before she had an
sWercd her own question with Il dccid-
Cd No. and, further, had made up.
her mind that when he cane again
she would not flout his lovcmaking, 10
matter how earnest it might be- She
could not of course admit even to her
image in the lxfror low impossible
she found 1t to. get him out of mind,
nor how long and dull the short winter
days were now that he I'D longer
claimed much more than half OF them.
Somehow she had q fancy that he
would surely come back for Christmas.
Her father, she knew, had pressed him,
and she herself had smiled invitation,
though she had said nothing outright.
But it took her all aback to have Peggy
Glenn run in and say: "Only think. Ber-
ry! All of us wasted our sweetness on
an engaged man. Frank Ensley is q
wretch of the first water! Brother Jack
has letter from him saving. Il cxpcct
to be married early in the new year. so
VIII gladly let Ashcroft delights beguilc
my impaticnce for the happy day
Now, what do you think of that?"
"Oh, that il is-charactCriStic' BCr.
nice said, the least possible break in
her voice. Peggy stared hard. "Jack
must he right after ALL" she said. -
was dead sure Enslcy was counting you
hard, hut that brother Of mine said aIl
along YOU were only chums"
Jack is a good fellow and disci.imi-
uating, Bcrnice said, smiling. although
She saw things through Il mist and felt
1er pulses beat all over Somehow she
held herself steady until Peggy went
oif to spread the news. How she fought
through the next hour only the soul of
infinite compa assion will ever know.
The news came in mid-Dcccmbcr.
"-hsitS NsiS " lOllON IL. lie U;lN De-
tore Christmas Bernicc had herself we'll
in hand. She loved him, faced the
knowledge of it as became Il thorough
bred and was resolved to break her
heart, If 1t needs must break. with
laughing lips. She would wish him
JOY, clear eyed, clear voiced. She would
even affect to have d!scerncd his estate
of bondage and claim to have saved
him from farce comedy pcrfidy. Not
withstanding, twilight of the winter
solstice found her very low and mser-
able. The day had been lowering and
soddcn, full of Gusty rains and shrek
ing elfin blasts. BY way of orrsetting
the gloom Squire Elton had heapcd
logs on the big andirons and lighted all
the candles in the big silver sconccs
while ii was still but murk outside
Then he had hustled off to see after
some of his poor neighbors. Bcrnice
was alone except for the servants,
who had been there ever since she was
born. She sat, wan and dropping, star.
Ing into the heart of the fire rs Ensley
came noiselessly through the door.
Il will not offor penny for your
thoughts. | know exactly what they
are he said, stepping to her side, but
not offering his hand. You are con-
ming the pretty speech you mean to
make me. That is wrong. You should
not felicitate me until you hear whom
am going to marry"
rs there more against her than hav-
Ing accepted you?" Bernice asked, with
flash of her old spirit. He stopped
and half lifted her TO her feet before
answering. ''She Is that impossible
she, the sum of all perfections in wo.
man"
Indeed! How did you prevail? Was
1t the attraction of oppostes?" Bernice
asked, trying to speak sauclly, though
her heart beat like q triphammer. "And,
further what's her name, and where's
her homer
"IIer home is here" Ensley said,
drawing her close to his breast GAS
for her name, 1t is the very sweetest in
the world. but | believe she likes best
to be called the beauty Of Ashcroft.H