The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-03-15

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8 would be the most charm
Il + ing emotion , could expert
9Go9 ence."
AFR. Raspberry used often to say this
Ito his valet, and the valet always an
swered:
la, sir, you couldn't do it, sir, you
know; because after folks is expired,
why, they air removed from. this here
ywale of tears, sir. I think-begging
! pardon. sir-that it would be an unhap-
! piness."
"No, no, Perkins," said Mr.. Rasp-
~berry-'no, no; you don't understand
these finer feelings"
To which the valet always replied:
mo. sir-probably not, sir"
This was before Mr.. Raspberry's
wedding, and for a year after this cere-
mony Perkins had heard nothing of the
formerly often-eXpressed wish.
But one winter morning, as MI. Rasp-
barry read the account of q dreadful
railway accident, he said again, as
though he had never left off:
How delightful it would be to see
epe's friends mourn for one"
This time Perkins answered.:
"But uissus would take on So"
1.-THE very thing said Mr.. Rasp-
berry. Perkins, can you keep a Sc
cret:'
.'Inwaluate," said Perkins, who was
prone to the use of words but vaguely
Observation-Disclosures"
"Then, Perkins," said Mr.. Raspberry,
81 am going to meet with a railway
accident. It's ali arranged said Mr..
Raspberry. y
"Gracious." said Perkins.
Dear me, sir; I hope not, SIR. said
Perkins.
I'm to be put at the head of the list
of killed." said Raspberry. "A reporter
Tkpow has promised to do it. On an
average, there's an accident a week
the next one I'm to be in"
beg pardon, sir--won't it be susin-
cider" asked Perkins.
II don't mean to be killed." said
Raspberry-"only reported So"
Lar said Perkins; "but poor young
Emissus."
"The very thing" said Raspberry.
am much older than she is-twenty
! years" He was forty-five. "-And I
should like to see how she would
mourn for me after I was gone, if it
should be my fate to go first. I shall!
bid her adieu as though going upon a
Journey, and then hide myself in these
rooms of mine. When the accident
occurs and she sees the paper, TIL take
care to be atshana. My nephew, Julius,
will grieve, too. I've been i%ndulgent
Eto him, and she will break her little
Eheart."
Eyes. sir: but, sir, won't she be angry
when she finds out it's a hoax" asked
Perkins.
"She shall never find it out" said
Raspberry. never. I'll tell her it was
a false report. That I was on the
train, but escaped "A
Eyes, sir" said Perkins. doubtfully.
! and he brushed his masters hair in
a thoughtful manner.
RemonStrance was in his eye, but
! Afr. Raspberry cared nothing for that.
He had determined Oh his course of
conduct.
That very day he went through q
little drama of his own concoction, re-
AiveGl q letter, declared that urgent
sineSs required his presence in an
Ter city. packed a valise, babe adieu
lis wife, and Jumped into q cab at
NE door.
4 AT midnight he was secretly assisted
1 to re-enter the house by 4 back win
dow, and repaired to his dressing room.
Asecretly provisioncG as for a siege.
with pOted meats. biscuit. canned fruit
and other dei!cacies, by the active Per-
kins.
. There he remained for at least a
week before Perkins, slancing over the
morning paper. saw 4 list Of the killed
\ and wounded in great black letters on
kthc front page, with Mr.. Royal Rasp-
#ber1y's name 1t the head thereof.
Then Perkits' heart quailed.
"It's too bal for miSsus," he n1used.
$HTf she is sorry it may half kill her.
! If she isn't. she'll pay for it. I'll tell
her, and if 1 I'M fired for II, l hope
I'll find q master with more hair TO
4 fix and less anxious to have it done
SSyarious and becoming
Then Perkins took the paper and
smalked into his lady's sitting room.
.P!case'n,' be said. I've got some
3hsng to tell you-Gon't be alacmed-it's
Eafnrt p,ostern
sch, Perkins" cried tie lady. "Oh,