Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-01-30

-ss..;' face of her forty year old
| spinster relative with delighted expec-
iation and maiden curiosity. Miss Abb
gail Pendasset laughed rather aw:i-
warily.
+, We'll. | suppose IL must be. Dotty.
because. you see. here is the diamond
ring on the forefinger of my left hand
and there are the dressmakers hard TO
work in the little back parlor. II Il.
wasn't for those Two things l might
think the whole affair moonshine''
And does he love you. Cousin Abb
gail. very. very much:"
He says so:''
oh" sighed Dorothy. lit must he
so nice To have a real lover all Of ones
own
Have yOu one Do:ty:'
Dorothy colored raiiantiy. and her
| eyes invoiuntarily fell.
II don't know. Cousin Abigail
Then I'd make IL my business to
find out If We're YOU" said Miss Pen
dasset. rather tartly. Don't let any
OF the fellows play fast and loose with
you. Dotty. I didn't
But. Abigail. you are so different
Different: lin woman. | suppose
and quite as liable io be made Il fool
of rs any other of my sex. We're all
fools. Dotty. 40 a certain extent. And
now mind what say TO you. and don;
stand any flirting
But Won haven't told me his name
yet. Cousin Abigail" interposed Dor
Othy. evidently rather anxious to
change the subject. lis i; Squire Peci-
ham,
squire Peckham: No. indeed: what
nonsense is the ciii,,i talking: 1t is
Captain Summerson.'
Captain Summerson..'
Yes: isn't it a pretty name" said
Miss Abigail. with more of ma;Ienly
consciousness than Dorothy had ever
before seen her exhibit Hes as
handsome as picture. too: is i'm the
regular army. and. 10 say the truth. a
few years younger than | AIN. He'll be
here this evening. ard You shall be in
troduced. Dotty. You'll like him-ev-
erybody likes him
Dorothy Wallace sat with downeaSt
eyes. and round pink spot on each
eheek. while Miss Abigail. the frost
work of her reserve now fairly broken
through. chatted on and told her all
the incidents. past and present. of her
engagement to this .Ad0nis of the reg
1lar army.
Now l said to him. the very night
ae proposed" wound up Miss Abigail.
that had the prettiest little cousin
II the world. whom should write TO
At once. TO come and oe my bridesmaid.
So here you are. Dotty. and you must
.ome i'm and see iii" pink silk I have
selected for your bridesmaids dress"
did you tell him my Nance"
ayes. OF course. Why
'Oh. It's snch funny. old-fash-
oned name" laughed Dorothy. rather
.ons;rainediy. Come. let's go and
ook at the silk
| Captain Alfred Summe-son called MS
Usual that night. He was tail. hand
ZONE. sentimental young fellow. ten
rood years the junior of his br;de-elect.
with no end OF poetical quotations on
lis lips. and the most seductive way
imaginable OF lowering his voice to
whisper when he came near n pretty
woman. He was dressed in suit OF
iove-color. which was unusually he
coming TO his dark. rich beauty, and
vas formally introduced TO Miss Pen
lassets cousin.
You needn't color up so. Dotty" said
Mss Abigail. laughing: alfred won't
at You up
us it necessary for my fair fiancee to
20 bail for my harmless disposition.
Hiss Wallace:" sighed the captain. in
his mos. honeyed tones.
Dorothy did not answer She only
stitched on at he work with increased
diligence.
The days went by. the wedding day
4 the old Pendasset manor house drew
iearer and nearer. Miss Abigail was.
use her own expression. more forci-
lie than eloquent. over head and ears
the manifold preparations for the
oming event. Little Dorothy Wallace
lelped her with zeal enough for ha,: a
loZen. and nobody. in the hurry of the
occasion. noticed how pLle and thin
he child was getting.
Mercy upon MS" said Miss Abigail.
Cith little sigh. 81 shall be glad when
is all over
80 shall L." echoed Dorothy. almost
naudibly
II was just week before the DAY
appointed for the wedding. n halmy
september twilight. and Captain sum
nerSon. later than usual. arrived on his
Usual visit.
rs your mistress at hOTa:" he asked
II Hester Brya. the head factotum
Miss Abby is 10 hum ierked ont
Tester who besides heartily dislik,ng
he captain. was too republican Il New
Highlander to recognize any created
emale rs her mistress"
Where is she:'
''In The settin room.
And Miss Dorothy"
''She'S in the little south room. where
he plants is
Very well. my good woman. that
will do: Won needn't bring lights al
present" said the captain. gay,y tiptoc.
ne of. down the broad. matted pas
,age
Good woman. indeed muttered
Hester. turning her head: Il amt his
GOOD woman. and I'm thankful ia
Providence there amt no chance of my