Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-02-26

/ SPAhctCA ACidt1fC Will uSl1Aulcu eApcC
tation and maiden curiosity Miss Abb
gail Pendasset laughed rather awk
wardly.
well. I suppose it must be, Dotty
because, you see, here is the diamond
ring on the forefinger of my left hand
and there are the dressmakers hard t.
work in the little back parlor. If i
wasn't for those two things l nigh
think the whole affair moonshine."
"And does he love you, Cousin Abb
gail, very, very much?"
'He says so?"
"Oh!' sighed Dorothy, sit must be
so nice to have real lover all of ones
own,''
Have you one. Dotty?'
Dorothy colored radiantly, and hen
eyes involuntarily fell
II don't know. Cousin Abigail"
''Then I'd make it my business tc
find out If were you," said Miss Pen
dasset, rather tartly. Don't let any
of the fellows play fast and loose with
you, Dotty. l didn't"
"But, Abigail, you are SO different"
Different? I'm woman, l suppose
and quite as liable to be made a foo
of as any other of my sex. We're all
fools, Dotty, to a certain extent. And
now mind what l say to you, and don't
stand any flirting"
But you haven't told me his name
yet Cousin Abigail interposed Dor
othy, evidently rather anxious to
change the subject. lis it Squire Peck
ham"
Squire Peckham? No. indeed; what
nonsense is the child talking? 1t is
Captain Summerson.
Captain Summerson.'
''Yes: isn't it a pretty name?" said
Miss Abigail, with more of maidenly
consciousness than Dorothy had ever
before seen her exhibit. Hes as
handsome as picture, too; is in the
regular army, and, to say the truth, a
few years younger than am. He'll be
here this evening, and you shall be in
troduced, Dotty. You'll like him-ev-
erybody likes him."
Dorothy Wallace sat with downcast
eyes, and a round pink spot on each
cheek, 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 Adonis of the reg
ular army.
Now l said to him, the very night
he proposed" wound up Miss Abigail,
that l had the prettieSt little cousin
in the world, whom should write to
at once, to come and be my bridesmaid.
So here you are, Dotty. and you must
come in and see the pink silk I have
selected for your bridesmaids dress.''
did you tell him my name?" :
eyes, Of course Why?''
"Oh, it's such a funny. old-fash-
toned NAME" laughed Dorothy, rather
constrainedly. "Come, let's go and
look at the silkr'
Captain Alfred SummerSon called as
usual that night. He was tall. hand
some, sentimental young fellow, ten
good years the junior of his bride-elect.
with no end of poetical quotations on
his lips, and the most seductive way
imaginable of lowering his voice to a
whisper when he came near a pretty
woman. He was dressed in a suit of
dove-color, which was unusually be-
coming to his dark, rich beauty. and
was formally introduced to Miss Pen
daSSetS cousin.
"You needn't color up so, Dotty'' said
Miss Abigail, laughing; "Alfred won't
eat you upv'
us it necessary for my fair fiancee to
go bail for my harmless disposition,
Miss Wallace?" sighed the captain, in
his most honeyed tones.
Dorothy did not answer. She only
stitched on at her work with increased
diligence.
The days went by. the wedding day
at the old Pendasset manor house drew
nearer and nearer. Miss Abigail was,
to use her own expression, more forci-
bic than eloquent, lover head and ears
in the manifold preparations for the
coming event. Little Dorothy Wallace
helped her with zeal enough for half
dozen. and nobody. in the hurry of the
occasion. noticed how pale and thin
the child was getting.
Mercy upon us.' said Miss Abigail.
with little sigh, II shall be glad when
it is all over.''
$50 shall To- echoed Dorothy, almost
inaudibly.
1t was just a week before the day
appointed for the wedding. a balmy
September twilight, and Captain Sum-.
merson. later than usual, arrived on his
usual visit.
rs your mistress at home?" he asked
of Hester Brya. the head factotum.
Miss Abby is to hum" jerked out
Hester. who, besides heartily disliking
the captain, was too republican New
Englander. to recognize any created
female as her mistress"
Where is she?"
'In the settin' room''
"And Miss Dorothy?"
"She's in the little south room. where
the plants is"
very well, my good woman. that
will do; you needn't bring lights at
present" said the captain, gayly tiptoe-
ing off, down the broad, matted pas
sage.
Good woman. indeed" muttered
Hester, turning her head; 81 amt his
good woman, and I'm thankful to
Providence there amt no chance of my
ever being. I do b'lieve Miss Abigail
eft her common sense behind her when
she promised to marry him. But
there's no fool like an old fool" and
Hester descended into the kitchen,
treading somewhat of her resentment
under her quick, emphatic footsteps as
she came.
And the captain, instead OF proeeed-
ing at once, as liese lord should have
done to the sitting room where he had
been told that his intended bride await
ed him, turned down another corridor
that led to a pretty little south room,
its glazed walls checkered with the
iudiStfncf claflnc of foIio 0o From, fbo