Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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 Miss Summers, interrupting her- self in the middle of a sentence, ex tended a white hand, from which she had just withdrawn the glove, and gave me a coniial greeting.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.