The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-09-01

awaiting u.s."
Thank Heaven for that! Ny most
ardent wish is accomplished. There"
continued my young lady, reading the
faintest possible reproach In my eyes,
don't look at me like that. welcome
you with my whole heart, and will
commit my life and Ill that is mine
in your keeping, as I promised you
I would; but oh, Ernie, 1 can never
think so well Of men, or OF women
either, as once l did"
Dear Connie, that is only another
way of saying that your experience
| is wider than it was-the reason why
old people are so skeptical. But bad
as the world is, there are always 4
faithful few; and hope you will be-
/ lieve me one of them Until you find
that I am not"
Here my innocent, artless lover threw
her arms around my neck. Il will be-
lieve you, my own dear Ernie" she
cried, though to do so were to haz-
ard all. You bring good news, greatly
more welcome to me than the discovery
of any number of treasure chests"
81 am as rejoiced to bring the good
news as you are to receive it; but at
the same time 1 confess I am much
disappointed In the other matter.
There are now only two things which
prevent my perfect happiness-but in
the heaven of your companionship 1
shall forget them both. would have
liked my fortune to have been some
thing greater than L can carry in my
pocket, and 1 regret my estrangement
from my father"
1.-The first Is not worth thinking Of.
There are not r;ony New York girls
witL more dollars than my father left
to me. We shall not want for any
thing. Th. second can DE removed.
I have never seen your father: but IL
were to go to him after We are aar-
rled and ask him If he would like to
see my fusl and all his love for his
son would return-that Is to say, If 1t
has ever left Elm, which I much
doubt
Connie. you ale jewel. Vas ever
man so happy as ["
"Many a one, and gone out Ct his
way to terminate his happiness. l
have just hr..n reading-no, will not
tell you what it is have been read
Ing"
Please let ne see tic book fer
moment" 7 pleaded.
Not for the worldr' exclaimed cay
wilfm charmer, breaking from my
embrace. And hastily picking up the
volume from the floor, where few
moments before she had allowed 1t to
fall, with merry laugh Connie
tripped lightly from the room.
l could not pursue her. for being un-
acquainted with the geography Of the
house, l knew not into what t-espass
1 might be tempted.
Not many minutes elapsed before
Miss Marsh reappeared with her maid,
both dressed for walking, Comics
pretty face, almost hidden beneath a
wide brimmed straw hat, appearing
like a beautiful miniature in large
frame.
Now, Ernest. dear, 1 all reaGy to
accompany you"
1 drew close to Connie and spoke
softly to her.
Valerie" said Miss Marsh, turning
to her maid, this gentleman has been
so rude as to say that he would pre-
fer to be without your company. You
will please start for New York in about
an hour"
The French girl smiled and graceful
ly disappeared. murmur,ng something
which sounded like "Rien nest beau
cue lie vrai."
The journey from Orange to New
York I still remember as one OF my
most tel.shttal experiences, surpass-
ing even that TRIP OF my uncle's yacht
when Constance first promised to be
mine. / could not fail to remember
that upon that, to me, happy OCCASION
nv dear one was distressed by an al
fair the termination Of which now re-
joiced her. Indeed, 1 now began to
doubt If there could be found within
the borders of the American Union
any lighter-hearted lovers than we two;
and I congratulated myself on my
prospect of q charming wife. the for
tunate possessor of every esteemed at
tribute of that character.
On reaching my uncle's house we
were welcomed by aunt Gertrude. IN
whom, Notwithstanding her more than
usual reserve. I thought I could de-
tect a sense of satisfaction, not to say
of suppressed jubilancy. Uncle Sam
not being present, inquired where he
was.
"On the roof enjoying q cigar" re-
piled aunt Gertrude; "he wishes you
to 60 up to him as soon as you con-
veniently can"
GO now, Ernie. dear whispered
Constance; II would like to talk to