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Mrs. Furgerson’s Curls. !
BY C. WILLI AN.
I wanted particularly to see Fred
Bailey, and fate seemed to have de
cided that I should not have that
pleasure.
Having him safe, not more than
ten paces in advance, a lady sailed up
from a side street, and my friend, with
ji hearty greeting, joined her.
At first I felt vexed, liut soon for
got that, while watching the lair in
truder. .She was hut medium sized,
but the inajesty of her step gave an
impfcsftoi^of superior hight, at the
same time that it allowed a perfect
elastic grace. Besides, she was well
di •eased; and one forgives a good deal
in a woman who is graceful apd well-
dressed.
*. 1 •.
Presently they stopped at a stately
door way, and the lady, in taking
leave, tupiod a face that I knew.
Miss Summers had been a belle at
Washington the winter before, and I
had met her a few times there.
It had been several months since
my last meeting with her, $ud I stood
wailing to see if she would recognise
me. Miss Summers, interrupting her-
self in the middle of a sentence, ex
tended a white hand, from which she
had just withdrawn the glove, and
gave me a coniial greeting. i
“A»d you jg;e done with the Pat
ent Office ?’’ she said.
“ Yesj the object for wluch I staid
there is accomplished. I shall now
sit down under my own vine and fig-
tree.’’
“ I passed your place last week,’’
she sai<l. “ It is a perfect nest. I
wanted to go in.”
“ You would have set all the birds
singing with delight, if you had.
Can I hope that you will some time
do me the honor ?”
41 We’il make a party out there,’»
said Fred, eagerly.
“ Well, come up'foon, and we will
talk it over. Bring Mr. Moran in
some time with you^ Fred.” And
Miss Summers gave utj' a smile, and
disappeared.
The next evening I went up to Mrs.
Furgerson’s with^rid, and was pass
ably ro«^eived/by tiadam, who gra
ciously penicmbercdS having met me
several times iii society at Washing
ton, ignoring the fact that I was at
that time merely a salaried clerk in
the Patent Office. She also compli
mented me on my writings.
“ I hav<i just finished reading from
* Gl* aning^» and find it charming, of
course,” she said, patronizingly, smil
ing as she arranged the cameos on
her still fair arm. “ You should write
«s a hook every month.” And she
turned to greet a new comer, a com*
mon-plac* looking man whom she re
ceived with marked cordiality.
Well, gold does gild, and.Mr. Sel-
wyn could count his thousands by
hundreds. Besides, the man was not
odious, he was simply inferior. Had
he been poor he would have made
Mrs. Furgerson a very good groom;
hut I doubt it she would have made
him her coachman, her horses being
of a temper that required a firm hand
and some self-possession in the driver.
The gentleman approached Rose,
who stood near me, and presented a
superb bouquet all of pink flowers, a
fragrant floral blush.
“O, thank you!” she said, with
perfect coolness. “They are very
beautiful. See, mamma, Mr. Selwyn
lias brought us some flowers.’’
Mr. Selwyn became the color of
his offering, and immediately made a
succession of protesting bows. Mrs.
Furgerson pretended not to hear, but
gave her stepdaughter a flashing
glance.
Here Rose introduced Mr. Selwyn
tome, and Fred and Eva joined us,
and wo had a merry time for half an
hour. I don’t know whose fault it
■was—perhaps mine, for I always liked
absurdities—but atlera while we found
ourselves playing Muggins, laming
ourselves with laughter, unscared by
the superb frescoes that soared over
our heads. Well, we scared etiquette
out of those parlors for once, and
whou Fred and I went out, blessed
by an im itation from Mrs. Furgerson
to come soon again, the girls followed
ua to the door.
There stood my pflttr horse wet
with dew, champing the bit and paw
ing impatiently.
“ I wish we were all going out into
the country with you,” said Rose, her
beautiful face shining in the moon
light. “The night is/so fine.? %
“ If iiot to-night, jprill you not g«
some other time, Miss Summers ?’’ I
asked eagerly.
“ I should like it. Wouldn’t it be
pleasant, Eva?’’
“ Let us, ‘ we four, no more,’ ride
out there next moon,’’ proposed Fred.
“It would be capital to go out in the.
afternoon, have tea with Moran, and
come hack by moonlight. Only don’t
let anybody else know, for any addi
tion would sooil the/un.’’ , ,
It was so decided hv acclamation
junt as Mji| F*rgefsofi’b 'rilfoJHp call
came from the door, “ Girls, you will
take cold.’’ .
••iii iii iiyr«| mi it I /«>«.»
One Wcdnestjay morning, some
weeks after we all went to see the
“ Icebergs,’’ then just opened for ex
hibition. The ’rtestt afftfrnddd Was
appointed for our ride, which we had
tacitly agreed shortld appear'' to be
impromptu. It was in the best of
spirits and was paying all possible at
tention to madam, when Fred said to
me in a loud whimper:
“AH right aUottf. the horses, Mo
ran. We will start at three o’clock.”
( Clumsy Ered^not to see the lady
at ,his elbow, , r
“ What aroj j \g»u plotting now,
Fred ?” asked M |a& . F.fergej-son, giving
him a tap with her fan.
j He started guiltily. ,
“ Fred and the young ladies are
.going to ride out to my place to-mor
row,” I said, tranquilly, but full of
rage. /“ They have,promised to take
tpa with me.” .
I saw her eyes flash. She knew
instantly that wo had not Intended
for her to know, hut she controlled
herself to say with smiliug reproach :
“ Are you not going to invite me ?”
As I was choking almost, and could
not speak, I gained time by bowing
profoundly. , ;
r “ Pardon me* madam,’’ I Ycjdied
iousU*, “ any time after to-mor-
I shall be, most happy to have
yol make up sy party to visit me, but
it iratow too late to-mske-any change
in nty arrangements.”
c gave a smiling uod ami turned
away.
“ Never mind,’’ whispered Eva to
me as I left them. “ I will try to ad
minister a surreptitious does of senna
to Mrs. Furgerson jfefore to-morrow
afternoon, or to upset the toa-pot on
her hand, or in some .,way to disable
her.” . .
For me, I went..to Fred’s office,
shut myself into his sanctum to the
exclusion of the proper owner, and
proceeded to heat my brains. The
idea came like a flash, and as it came
I saw Flinny, Airs. Furgerson’s wait -
ing-inaid, coming up street by the
office. I threw a folded newspaper
down into the street, and when she
looked up I called her.
While she comes up stairs let me
explain that this Fanny is the daugh
ter of Jane, my housekeeper.
Fanny came in blushing suid smil
ing, all a flutter of delight at seeing
“Mr. Albert,’’as she always caljed
me. She was now a plump, rosy
Irish maiden of eighteen, and I was
the nearest to a brother that the gill
had ever known.
I assumed a solemn and) mournful
countenance. “ Fanuy, haven’t I al
ways been a friend to you ?y>I- asked,
pathetically.
“Sure you have, Mr. Albert,” she
said. “ You’ve lieen the best friend
my mother and lever knew. May I
make bold to ask what is the matter?
I am certain that some ill has come
to you.’’
“ Well, Fanny, fpr certain reasons
which I cannot explain now, but will
at some future time, it is of impor
tance to me that Mrs. Furgerson
should not be able to leave the house
to-morrow.”
“ Yes, sir.”
“Well, Fanny?”
“ Gracious, sir, how can I prevent
it ? She doesn’t ask mo if she may
go, and I darent speak unless I’m
spoken to.’’ »
*’ Fanny, Mrs. Furgerson wears a
wig.” I said, majestically, looking her
full in the face.
“ O, V
blushing.
.thinking to listen .
when ” ' X—-
“ Now, Fanny,” I said, coming to
the point and speaking in my most
persuasive tones, “ if a sp^sk or a bit
of lighted paper were to fall on that
wig after she is well in bed, and can
not save it ” j,
“ O, Mr. Albert,” she said, wring
ing her hands, “ I’ll do anything else,
but this, I dare not. I'-dPas soon set
the house on fire. Why, she’d kill
ilie entirely !’’ ^
There w:us but one way'for me. I
let my head drop into my hands and
groaned. There was silence for a
moment, then I heard a stifled sigh.
Presently I drew a long heavy sigh,
and finished off with a very well exe
cuted sob.
“Don’t, Mr. AlbertT^fon’t! I’ll—
I’ll do it! I’ll do anything you bid
me, and may I be forgiven my sins.
If you. bid me, I’ll pull the wig off her
old 'head and put it on the kitchen
fire beforfcushe can catch me. Only
don’t take on so!” A,nd_I felt her
little red hand on my coat sleeve, and
heard her solw close to my ear.
When I into Mrs. Furgerson’s
parlor the next day, the trio there
were scarce able to stop their laugh
ter.* Airs. Furgerson was ’’unwell and
could nbt join us, they’said, trying
to look grave.
The girl appeared t<\me in a new
charr.pljd^ that (Hy./ State aiid dig
nity were left in the city, and a gay,
gracethl girl fctWlet out with us. She
ran little races, she sang snatches of
song, she took her horse out of the
road to jump ovfcr sticks and stones.
My place was small enough, a stone
cottage with toijr acres of laud, hut
it was old am) well cultivated.
They seemed well pleased, and
presently Fred apd Eva wandered off
down the garden. Rose leaned hack
in a garden chair and looked up into
the thick maple that threw its flicker
ing shades over her beautiful face, in
which the gayety had given plaed to
an expression^of drrt^Ay softness.
“Rose,’’’ l(said eaJufy,*going to
} her, “ who knows t\(hen Tlhay’liave
the chance to speaw to you alone
again? Forgive me if f am prema
ture and presumptuous. I do not
need to know you longer to be sure
that I love you. If I had a palace I
would gladly offer it to you. I have
nothing but myself and this cottage.
Will you take ns?”
She looked at me, pale with aston
ishment.
“ Air. Aloran, I have been told that
you are to be married this Fall.”
“ So I am, if you will have me*
Believe nothing but that I love you,
Rose.”
“O, hush ! I must not listen. I
am sorry you said anything.” She
seemed agitated, almost frightened.
“ Call Eva,” she said. “ It is time to
go home.”
I cal lei the others, ordered our
horses, and we started for home.
Rose immed atelv called Fred to her
side, and I rode by Eva, too nine,
d*-pressed and too much occupied
with my own thoughts to perceive
that we rode in utter silence.
“ Why, how dark it grows!” cried
Eva. “ And there’s a drop of rain.”
Presently I felt something touch
my arm, a light hand slid within it,
and Rose was beside me.
“You are angry with me,” she
whispered, when there was an instant’s
hush in the storm.
I covered the small ha:.d with
mine.
“No, Rose, I am not angry, only
more bitterly disappointed than I can
tell you. You were right to speak
sincerely. I do not complain of you.
Go in notv; you will gel wet.”
She did not stir, only stood there
leaning on my arm.
“ It is too late to say that I will be
free,” she said, presently. “And I
did not speak from my heart. I was
surprised, and so did not know what
to do.. I had not thought, I had not
hoped ” She stopped.
The storm passed as quickly :is it
came, the clouds broke rosily, and a
glimmer of a rainbow was hung out
on the last trail of darkness.
[continued on 7tii page.]
WORKING ON A CASj
UEAOqUARTKBS POh
GRAIN, MEAT AND
S'
FLOUR DEPOT.
Competition Invited From all Quarters.
• Regular Bulldozers Against High Prices.
Cash Against Time!
AND CASH ALWAYS WINS.
COME AND SEE HOW WE CAN SELL GOODS.
Talmadge, Hodgson & Co.
PLANTERS’ HPT EL,
AUGUSTA, UEORCiLA. y
NEW ARB.ANOEMEiNrT.
nates Reduced to^j$3 8er,pajf.
HAYING LEASED THIS WELL KNOWN HOTEL, I enter
upou its management by Reducing Rates, and asking of the Travel
ing Public, especially my friends of Carolina and Georgia, a continu
ance of that liberal support they have always given it.
B. F. BROWN,
juu2S-5m FORMERLY OF CHARLESTON, PROPRIETOR.
—FOR—
STANDARD FERTILIZERS!
THE EARTH MADE T0_G1VE FORTH ITS RICHES
Experiments liave demonstrated tlmt of the ten Mincrul Elements winch constitute the ashes
of plants, the presence of each and every one is essential to their perfect growth and detclop-
meut; hud, ns crops extract them annually, no land can be permanently fertile
UNLESS THEY BE RESTORED TO THE SOIL-
Thia fact is now so patent to our farmers tlmt thousands of tons are annually sold in this mar
ket. Recognizing the importance of this interest to our section ot country, I have secured the
Agency of the following old and Standard Fertilizers, which the farmers arc mwted to call, in*
sped and price before buying elsewhere:
OLD CAROLINA STONO SOLUBLE CUANO,
SAM AN A GUANO, CHESAPEAKE G UANO,
PALMETTO ACID, STONO £CID PHOSPHATE,
CHESAPEAKE AMMONIATED AfcHAI,IN0*|Pl*iSPHATE^, 1
COTTON OPTION FIFTEB& CENTS. > ^
St. M. Hunter, Agent.
fob 13-o m
THE ATHENS OFFICE FOR THE SALE OF
Singer Sewing Machine
Removed February 1st, 1877, to
Lester’s Building, (Upstairs) Over TaTmatlge, H. & (Jo.,
2,000,000 in Use—Sales in Excess of all Others,
TIIK SINGER MANUFACTURING COX PANT, G. II. UOPE, AGENT, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.
Ask your neighbors which Machine is the best; then buy the Singci.
J. B. Toomer, Agent for Singer Sewing Machines,
Lester’s Building, (Upstairs,) Athens, Georgia.
jniy.4.ly.:
IN t.
Having Secured the Services of
A. FIRST-CLASS
!
:
JOB PRINTER,
i
We are enabled to turn out as good j
i
work as can be done
!
IN TEE STATE.
We call the attention of all onr citi
zens to the following
Price List:
Bill Heads, per Thousand,
Assorted, $5. ,
Canary Colored Envelops,
Furnished to Merchants and
Business Men, with their
cards printed on them,
At $3 PER THOUSAND
LETTER HEADS,
$4 50 to $5 Per Thousand.
CARDS,
Common 75cper Hundred.
—AND-
$4 50 to $5 per Thousand.
Fancy Work Proportionately Higher.
VISITING GAUDS,
BLANKS, NOTES,
Pate, Circulars,
Handbills, Pamphlets, etc., '
Printed In any color desired, and
cheap as can be done in the State.
GJVJ US-YOUR ORDERS,
SAVE MONEY,
And get good work, and sustain •>
homo institution. Call at the Alb
ENS GEORGIAN office, Broa<>
Btrcot, Athens,Ga.