The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-08-31
An Adventure of Lovers.

Charlotte CrapO, aged fifteen, were
cansing their respective parents somc
uneasincss. They were constant CON-
panions, and it was feared that COM
panionship would ripen into love. In
dead it had repened into love, though
none but the young couple knew it.
One thing they were forbidden and
that on the ground that Charlotte was
but Il schoolgirl. Asa wished to take
her to places of amusement. That
which was mattainable openly was
undertaken by stealth. One evening
they stole away and visited theater
together. When the play was over
and they had started home it suddenly
began to rain. Charlotte was fright
cncd, and Asa was. to say the least.
worried. BY the story htey
had concocted they were sup
posed to pass the evening
near Charlotte house under cover.
IF she, went home drenched the story
must come out. Something must be
done to prevent wetting.
Standin" before Il house was q car
ria"c. the driver apparently asleep on
the box. No street lamp was near, and
the location was quite III the dark.
Asa put his fingers to his lips and,
leaving Charlotte. tiptocd to it, caut-
iously opened the door and beckoned
to her. She came. got into the car
ra"c. and Asa followed. softly closing
the door behind him. They were be-
yond the reach Of a drop of rain.
The situation to the childrcn-they
were little morc---waS delightful First.
they were pluckin" forbidden fruit in
bcn" there at all: second. they were
Savin" themselves from discovery by
occupying Il carriage in which they
had no right. The rain pattered mer-
rily. but no more merrily than they
chuckled. But suddenly their salts
faction was changed to fright. The
from, door of the house before which
the team stood opened. a man came
out and, after hasty glance up and
down the street, came toward them. !
The window of the coach was down,
and he threw in a bundle, which fell |
in Charlotte lap. The man whis-
pcrcd something to the driver and
away went horses. carriage, driver and
children.
Their CONSERVATION was great. They |
did not dare call to the driver to stop,
and they were in an agony as to where
he would take them. The consequence
was that they did what they had
never done bcfore-clasped each other
tightly and waited as if they expected
to be driven over precipice. They
were taken they knew not whittier for
half an hour; then the carriage stop
ped. 1t had hardly done so before
man, who must have been waiting
for il, opened the door. Charlotte
gave a bit of shrek. The man, who
had extended his hand apparently to
grasp something, suddenly withdrew i!
with an exclamation took to his heels.
The driver jumped from the box and
followed him at full speed.
Asa got out through the open loor,
followed by Charlotte, and they were
about to hurry away when a bit of
curiosity supposed to pertain especi
ally to the softe: sex stopped them.
81 wonder what's in the bundlc.'
said Charlotte.
"Nevcr mind.'
"It may be something nice, Are
You going to leave it?'
"Yes-no.' he darted back, seizcdit
and the two walked rapidly away.
Asa soon recognized the street they
were on and knew that they were not
far from Charlottc's home. The time
which. if it accorded with their story,
they were /" have been at home, was
passed. and they were at loss what
to do. After discussion they decided
that Charlotte should go into the
house openly and make full confess
sion. Her parents were waiting in
much trepidation and before she went
to bed she had made her confession,
was forgiven, and, leaving the bundle
with her father, went up to her room
to sleep as TRANQUILITY as if nothing had
happened.
But the next morning at breakfas,
,, Charlotte ventured to ask timidIy:
"Papa, what was in the bundle %
"Paper, my dear; nothing but pa.
per-" And, taking his morning pa,
t per, he left the table.
, ftnr tho on,s,1, en- and IN rl,,I T.,