The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-12-02

| 80 disgusted that he wants to escape
| the entire SEX" And with shade Of
| suppressed annoyance she rose, formu-
lating an intention 20 keep Tessie az
| far as possible from MIR. StauntOn for
| the rest of the evening.
1t seemed, therefore, almost too un-
| fortunate that the two should happen
| to meet again ut her house late one
| afternoon of the following week, hav-
| ing been moved to make their bread
! and butter call Mt the same hour Of the
| same day.
Tessie was Mt her best-or worst
and ratified away in the patois Of So
ciety in a manner that would have
been appalling had it been less pic
turesque. Billy's face was a study, but
| whatever his thoughts were his atten-
| ton was unmistakable. Not one OF
| Tessie's glances-sometimes merry,
| sometimes coquettish and sometimes
| brimming with a babyish sweetness
| intended to make him feel how big
and strong and different he was-failed
| Of its mark. Tessie did not know
| much, but that what she knew she
knew remarkably well was slowly
| borne in upon Mrs. Jack during that
half hour.
When the distant thud Of the front
door at last proclaimed her departure
from the premises Billy, who had out
stayed her, burst into an uncomfortable
| guffaw, in which his hostess joined
him somewhat ruefully. But the out
burst was not followed by any Of the
caustic remarks that might have been
| expected from bachelor Of his views
and standing. On the contrary, gen.
ial, amused gleam fingered In his eyes,
the amusement Of grownup with
dainty, foolish, attractive child.
"Tessie is such a silly little thing"
observed Mrs. Jack apologetically,
"you mustn't mind her."
"Mind her" calculated her visitor
warmly. II should say not! She's
kreatw And he chuckled reminiscent
ly.
But on the subject Of Miss Blair
Mrs. Jack found him unresponsive.
"Do you suppose he's interested and
doesn't want to show it?" she demand
ed Of Jack, that fountain Of wisdom,
mt the dinner table. because Virgin
las precisely the sort of girl he pre-
tends to admire. Now that I've found
his ideal for him he doesn't seem to
appreciate lar."
Her husband laughed ut the chagrin
In her voice.
"If he doesn't fall in love with the
lady we've provided
According to his plans and specifi-
cations" giggled his wife.
According to his own plans and
specifications-why. I'll punch his
head"
But in spite of his opportunities Billy
remained cold to the charms of the
sensible Miss Blair. In time Mrs. Jack
noticed that it became increasingly diff
ficult to throw them together. Billy
simply would not be thrown.
Provide q man with what he pre-
tends to like and he Immediately finds
out that he doesn't want It" she re-
fected, with justifable cynicism. "He
says he likes sensible girls, but he
won't look at Virginia, though he Wal
hover about that little idiot, Tessia
Loring, like a moth about a fame"
And indeed there was plenty Of foun-
dation for her statement. Far from
causing Billy to take to the woods. as
Mrs. Jack had feared she might, Tes.
DIG Sechicu " cAcEClSc SOhc buUtlc
fluence over him. The two were for
ever meeting, both at Mrs. Jacks and
elsewhere, by the merest chance. of
course. And it was noticeable as time
went on that, though they arrived sep
arately. they invariably left together.
A month later he came to tell her
Of their engagement.
"a good many persons misJudge Tes-
sie," he began, rs II he felt that she
might be one of the number. but In
reality she is one Of the most sensible
little girls in the world"
He said much more, and Mrs. Jack
swallowing hard, accepted 1t all, agree
ing with him at every point. But when
she was alone again she laughed until
the tears streamed down her cheeks
and thus her husband found her.
what under the heavensT he in
qulred, but he got no further.
"Billy's going to marry Tessie Lor
ing" she announced breathlessly. "Hs
says she Is SO sensiblew
Jack gave a low, incredulous whis
tle
Talk about love being blindv' b,
blurted out at last. "Why, love hat
an Y ray eye! Nothing short Of al
X ray could see anything sensible II
Tessie."
And he thrust his hands In his pock
cts and roared with her.