The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-12-21

IN ltltls.
yes. I am" said Met;
drSham. saucily. why shouldn't J.:
Its very unfemininc TO spend al
ones time running after the gentle
men," snapped Miss Georgiana.
But it's just the other way in m.
case. Cousin Georgiana.' said Meta
demurcly. THE gentlemen run afte
me-"
"Pshaw."
"AIr. Elleslie asked me to wall
through the cemetery with him thi:
afternoon" added Meta. commandin:
her temper with admirable eQuanimity
IL did not ask him.
And away tripped the little lassie
humming popular air, in the saucies
and most fascinating manner possible.
Georgiana Tripton was seven-and
thirty. and Meta Graham was seven
teen. consequently it can easily be com
pretended that there was no Srea
sympathy between the two cousins
Georgiana was bilious and yellow, eX
acting and irritable-AIeta fresh ant
rosy as Aurora's self. with a temper
sweet as a May morning. and a score
of lovers at her feet. Love was as YET
only Meta's plaything, but matrimon!
in the eyes of GeorGiana Tripton was
the one serious business Of life.
She had made up her mind to marry
Frank Elleslie. albeit that young law
yer was ten good years younger than
herself. and as both happened to be
sojourning at the same hotel, fate for
once seemed inclined to favor her
But when Meta Graham came down
from the city in all the glitterins
armor of her golden-haired beauty
rose-and-sDow complexion and dimpled
smiles. Miss Georgiana saw at once
that her cause was lost.
Frank Elleslie deserted basely to the
enemy at the very first fiutter of those
Irresistible banners of youth and beau.
ty: but Georgiana secretly resolved
that if size could not marry the young
lawyer, Meta Graham should not
either.
I'll keep my eye on 'em at al
cvenis," thought Miss Georciana, vic
iousiy. The cemetery is as free for
me to walk in as it is for them"
SO Miss Triptcn hurriedly invested
herself in outdoor attire and took the
orOSscut over the fields toward the
beautiful rural cemetery. which was
The pride and ornament o. all the
neieLborhood for miles around.
Il shall. get there first thought
Scorciana: for. of course, They'll!
Gawtile along under The shade Of the
trees and be twice as long as they need
to. I've no patience with such senti-
mentalism. But I'll be- even with that
pert little inertia yet. I'll listen to AL
their nonsense, and I'll write such an
account OF it TO my Uncle Graham thai
my young lady will find herself recalled
home the very first she knows. Oi
course, they'll 20 to the LivinSdaie
monument-there is a green bench
there and an arbor Of sweet honey
suckle. and I can hide just beyond
Miss Tripton smiled grimly to her
self as she mentally surveyed this pro
gram of battle against true love, and
pretty little Meta Graham. whose only
tangible offehse was youth and beauty
But when was the dragon in the fairy
tales ever known to spare the bright
eyed princess just because her eyes
were bright and her face pure oval?
|" The sprays of white and buff-blOs
somel honeysuckle were waving softly
about in the delicious summer air as
Miss Tripton stole into the green glade
where the exquisitely carved statue
that surmounted the Livingdaie monu
ment kept its still watch in the liquid
4 gold and odorous sweetness of the
sunshine. 1t was marble tribute tc
the memory of girl who had died
young. and whose features were sup
posed to be perpetuated in the grace
full lines Of the statue. But just now
Miss Georgiana TrlptoE had neithe'
time nor attention to waste on Siealn
\ luS tAuulSitc
Just beyond, a grim old granite
vault seemed to hide itself in the side
slope Of hill, with its iron gate swing
ing idly to and fro at the will OF the
wind. Georgiana stole into this vault
shrinking beneath its damp, sepulchra
shadows, rs the sound Of footsteps OF
the green turf beyond, and the ringing
sound Of Meta Graham's laughter, be
tokened the near approach Of The
young lovers.
"A cankered old, maid" pronounced
Mr.. Frank Ellesiie, not without en-
phasis. 80 she thinks it very wron:
of you to walk with me, does she
I'll wager nobody troubles themselve!
much to walk with her"
But she isn't to blame for being 81
old and so yellow, and so disagree
able, Frank. She can't help it, plead
ed Meta, with an innocent liberation
which made Gaorgi0na Tripton's fin
gers quiyer TO box her pretty little pin!
ears.
She cannot help being so il!-ten!
pcred and venomous, | suppose: En-
come. Meta dear, don't let us waste oil
precious time talking about such al
old vinegar cruet as she is. Sit dow
here in the shade of those fragran
honeysuckles. and let us enjoy tn
4 sweet air and the bird-sonss."