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VOLUME XI.
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s A'WHISTLING GIRL.
Mlullie McGuire s.it on the window
am whistling “Nancy Lee” and swing
ing her heels. They were pr< ty
French heels, and belonged to a
daintiest pair of slippers imaginable.
Her dress was dark gray, pluiuly made,
yet fitting exqninitelv to her rounded
curves and delicate outline; a jacety
'ittle apron, with scarlet bows on tne
pockets; ecarlet»nt the throat it
nestling amid the waves of her dark
hair completed her costume, nnd out
of this pleasant combination of coior
arose her charming, piquant head.
No one had ever culled Hnllie beau-
t’fnl; her ekin was too pale, her scar
let month too wide, her “tiptilted”
little no*e too at'.ri essive to merit
such an adjective; but she was so
bewitchiug, so origiual, that she pos
sessed greater influence over others
than if she had been nn “orthodox
beauty.” Women, half envious of a
charm they could not analyze, yet
Joved her for her sunny, merry ways;
while men—surrendered uncondition-
, nllv.
Hallie possessed an accomplishment
quite rare in the quiet village where
she lived; loving music with passion
ate fervor, bnt denied by nature »
voice for singing, she could whistle as
sweetly and clearly ns any mocking
bird. Other girls vainly tried to mil
itate her; proper mammas spoke of
the habit as highly indecorous ni.d
unladylike, while Jack, her merry,
teasing brother Jack, gave up in des
pair at beiug excelled by a girl. And
so she sat there, ou high perch, whit
tling, nnd trying to solve the perplex
| ! -ig problem—would,' she make cos
tard or chocolate cake for supper. It
was a golden morning in the last ol
May, the kitchen door stood wide
| open, and through it came sunshine
and vague perfume, and the humming
of bees. Outside, over the window, a
. : .vlet creeper wns grow : ’ig ; its leaves
* und gorgeous blossoms forming a
gleaming frame for the unconscious
picture ivitbin.
Sauntering down the Bidewalk came
three youug men in earnest converse
—Jack, Hall'e’s loving, teasing
brother; Fred Evaus and a Mr. Ham-
j'tou. Fred was au old college chum
of Jack’s; Mr. Hamilton a stranger
uutd that morning—t >th had come
down to tho quiet little town for a
few weeks’ fishing and’huntlug among
the ferny stieams und woods.
^ Just now they were planuing for a
day’s sport, and discussing tackle,
b>'it- aud otbor necessities. A few
steps farther, and the pretty tableau
came in view; for u background the
" dusky shadows of the quaint oid
kitchen, where, framed in by scarlet
and green, nt the uncouBeibos Hal
lie, s.iucy, with the dear sweet whistle
tinging out on the fragrant air. All
th-ee paused instinctively; then Jack
in his cheery fashion', forgetful of
forms, spoke out: “That'* my sister,
como in nnd be iotrodnceo.”
"ToHiiks, no,” murmured Mr. Ham-
"lon so etifl.v that Jack luoked up
surprised, until Fred, breaking into
a laugb, ‘explained, “You see Hamil
ton’s particular aversion is a woman
who attempts anything in the lehsi
masculine, and whistling, I believe,
\ be considers a tbing unpardonable.
As for myself, I would consider it r
great pleasure, bnt promised to be at
the station to meet a friend at nine,
^and,”—looking nt his watch—“I’ve
just ten minutes to make the run.
Ta-tn, old boy, we’ll see yon further.”
So saying the young men disappeared
n’-ontid a corner, Jack rushed up to
his room, und Hall'e, having decided
in tho Fame breath that “asr'or’s
BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA, SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 21 1885
wife hia stnr should l a” and that
chocolate cake was i'he nicest, dis
mounted from' the window and
plunged into the cookbook.
“Kail'e,” said Jack, at tlm dinner-
table, with his moulh full of potato,
“when does Motberkin gave you your
birthday ptffly?"
“Ou my birthday, of course, Mr.
Brillancy; or, 'o bo exolicit, next
Wednesday evening, from eight to
twelve p. n\ Why ?”
“May I bring up two f.iends that
I met to-day? Sivaugers iu town-
want to do tho handsome thing—
charily begins at home, you kuow,”
tattled on the glib-tongned Jack.
“Of course,” nssente I Hallie, se
renely, “you nre always at liberty to
bring your friends.”
It was a warm evening in tbe early
part of June; indoors all was light
and motion nnd music, es became
Hallie’B birthday, and among tbe gay
groups of friends she moved a de
mure and graceful little hostess.
Presently she was confronted by two
new faces, und beard Jack’s cheery
voice—“My sister—Mr. Evans—Mr.
Hamilson.”
Both men were iu eveuiDg dress,
and both fin: looking, but in Fred
Evnos she sa,w, oven iu that passing
glance, a man of intellect nnd strong
will, genial yet reticent, keeping buck
his best. The other seemed to he:
superficial, and yet a man of immen:.’
couceit, who considered himself ns be
longing to a superior order of beings.
The evening passed, as nil such
evenings do, with music and gay,
sweet laughter, nnd at rririti’gbt the
company divided.
Hallie, tired little queen, last her
self in slumber the moment her head
touched tho p : How. Fred Evuns sat
loug on the balcony smoking his fra
grant Havana, musing over the frank
brown eyes that hud looked into bis
own, but eMeut, ns was his wont,
while Mr. Hamilton had made a new
discove.y—that a girl who whistles
.»nd probably does oilier unladylike
things, can yet be cultured, charming,
refined.
This was a small village, aud ac
quaintances were thrown much to
gether. Every few days the young
meu found :be!r way to the McGniie
cottage, Fred more frequently, as he
vvr > Jack’s chum.
As the summer wore on Fred be
came almost indipensnble, ho was so
versatile in talent and so fu'l of pleas-
nut plans for enjoyment. He was a
tiuo peformer ou tbe piano, playing
often dainty little ails of his own
composition. One of theso in par
ticular atlrac.eil Hullio’s quicK ear,
und »' e soon w.i bled it with her own
clear note; hot as she was rather shy
of her accomplishment Fred was none
the wiser for many a day. Once,
though, he accidentally heard her
rendering of his owu favorite air, aud
softly whistled a harmonious nil'',
muki g ns lovely » combination as
you ..oid I w -II 11 cone.
Jach, from uu unseen corner, loud
ly encored, aii l "The Duet” became
from that day a family institution.
One or twice, at different times, Hal
to- met F.oil's o>es fastened on her,
with a look that made tier heart H.ruh.
A strong yearning shone out of them,
only kept down by pride and a reso
lute will. I-nt mute *laogn r o m r
foonn outivl ut his lips; his ..miner
to her was as frank nnd iiiiemhar-
inssed as that of Jack himself.
As tho weeks glided by Mr. Hamil
ton came more frequently, an ' there
wns n certain impressiveness in look
and tone and a grand consciousnei-i*
of being iriemslibln t iftt ntten set
Httl'le in', i gales of laugh er. The
two genllemen were sitting fogetb«r
on .he balcony of tho hotel one ra
diant night in September. Tbe next
week they were to separate for tbeir
wiuter homes. Both were smoking
—Evans more silent even than Usual;
Hamilton ino’ined to be confident.
“The fact is, Evans," he ssid, father
pompously, "I ,-hnlI offer myself to
Miss McGuire before my departure;
I may, in fact, have opportunity to
morrow. With my wealth ami ac
knowledged position, she cm hardly
refuse. She is a charming gill, and
though slio bos some glaring faults, I
mu convinced that ones my. wife I
shall bo able to correct them.’’;
Fred replied ouly in monosyllables,
nuJ finally leaving tho plticid Hamil
ton to his complacent reveries, strode
away moodily to his rooiijj. Once
aloue, be buried bis face ill bjs bauds,
and gave up to bitter thought. “So
to-morrow is the end of it nil, and I
must quietly stand aside aud see an
other obtain what I would be.so proud
to win. This cursed poverty f Were
I rich I wou'd make one struggle for
her love; but wbat could I offer, sive
the humblest home, tbe simplest
pleasures? Hamilton is right—she
is made for fair surroundings. The
least I can do is lo keep out of the
way.” Then, speaking huskily, be
added: “God bless yon, my darling,
even though yon mo noi for me.’’
And rising, he look down his hooks
for an hour’s bard study.
Two squares away, iu a dusky
room, lay H"!'io. She had been tos-
siug wearily for nu honr or more,
tkiukiug sadly lo herself: “To-mor
row it will nil be over—iny happy
summer:” Then teailiug her own
beir-t, and finding shu had given its
love un°ougtil, crushed back her tears,
ami proudly resolved to hide her se
cret from all piyiug eyes.
The next day dawned clear aud
bright —the perfection of picnic
weather. Eve.y one was early at the
‘'Cliff,” und none more charming than
Jiallie, who with truo philosophy r -
solved lo extract every possible drop
of bouev from this her last sweet day.
Bat what was tbe matter with
Fred ? Sileut, absent-minded, al
most morose he had no gay oauter
for any one. Hallie full her heart
g jw heavy u3 lead under this unex
pected change; but, womanlike, to
shield herself seemed lo be in her
wildest, gayest mood.
“Hallie, denV," called out n pretty
blonde, “won’t yon please braid some
oak-leaf cups lo hold these lovely
raspberries—one for each plate?—
nobody can make them as pretty ns
you.”
Aud so Hallie, tho others being
busy, slrayi 1 off by berself, got her
overskirt full of i .ik-leaves, sat down
in a mossy corner, while with deft
fingers she wove the p.eity trifles, ks
she had done ofleo before for tbe tea
table at home.
As she worked her eyes filled slow
ly with tears, bnt determined that
she would not be . o foolish, she be
gan to whistle a rollicking little jig;
>md became so oecnpie 1 that sbe did
not hear the step behind her. It was
Mr. Hamilton.
“That odious habit again,” lie
thought in displeasure, which made
him appear st ffer tlmn ever, ns he
stinted himself by llallio's side.
“TV-dim my in rnsion, Miss Mc-
Gniie, but oppprlnuities sre few to
day, aud I wish to speak to you on h
mailer of impoitance.*
H dii<t made round eyes of astonish
ment at him. Clearing his throat he
continued:
“i.efo.e leaving for the winter I
wish I > rn-ke you n formal offering of
my heart and hand. I can giva yon
wealth and position such as yon have
never before enjoyed. Yon please ins,
and I think that under my careful
guidance your impulsive, and perhaps
too pronounc-d, nature will be molded
into a r!;fined womanhood.”
Hal I in's face was a study; increduli
ty, a struggling desire to Inngb, and
vexation at such free criticism, suc
ceeded ennb other. Bnt (hen, remem
bering that the man wild evidently in
earnest, she rose, saying with penile
dignity:
. “Yon do me much honor, sir, bnt I
cau never bo what you wish,” and was
leaving, when Hamilton, aslouuded by
her answer, forgot, his usual good
breeding, aud confronting her, said
angrily:
“Ah, I eee Mr. Evaus has forestall
ed me.”
And then how Miss Hnllie blazed 1
Stamping her small foot she bangbiily
replied:
“Yon have no right to make such a
statement 1 You are'V—high and
clear through the wot Is rang a gay
young voice.
“Where are yon, Hallie McGuire;
you promised b attend to.the fire;”
and hastily obeying the whimsical
summons, H- 'lie fled, leaving the dis
comfited Mr. Hamilton to cousole
himself ns best he could.
At sundown there wns gather ng
up of wraps and baskets, and n saun
tering homewards.
“Where is Halite?” queried two or
three. Some one answers! that she
had gone home with a near neighbor,
and nothing further was said. Jr-
slr mI of this the young Jjirl, restless
after tlm conflicting experience of the
day, had wandered away by herself
for two reason—lo tbiuk it all over,
and to get n clomp of maideul' h
fern for her Wnrdaiu case at borne.
She saw a tantalizing bunch growing
far out over the edge of a swampy
pool, and iu reaching for the treasure
slippled nnd fell forward. Poor little
girl! Thouindi.nd water wns deep,
reaching ."'oiosl to her waist; bat,
worso than all, a sharp pain through
one slender ankle and nn ugly cut ou
her wrist provo.l all Ico truly that she
vvrs severely borl. She cal'ed again
nnd again, loud nod clear, bnt only a
mocking bluejay answered her; she
tried for the hundredth time to get
out, but the banks were e'ippery.
An hour went ou. Hallie, naii-
rnlly courageous, was getting de
pressed and frightened, and the pain
iu her ankle was sickening. Almost
despairing she was about to (hake
one more effort to free herself, when
ou the crisp twigs sounded a quick
step, and a cheery whis.te out on the
nir. It wns a difficult strain from
“The Duet.” Instantly Hallie took
np the other part, and tbe sleepy
birds above her must have been snz-
prisiul ut such a burst of . melody.
There was u moment’s astonished
pause, aud then itn anxious voice
called: “Hallie, where are you ?" and
guided by b"r cry of joy, Fred came
springing over logs and bn.-bes till be
stood by the swampy pool. It vftis
the work of but a few momenta for
him lo rescue ber f‘ aui her diingsv-
o.is position. /s she fell the li.'iu
ground under ber once uioie, the
relief, the reaction, tbe p .in, 'ogetln r
proved too lunch, aod she sink io a
utile quivetlog heap at Fred’s feet —
no! iu a faint —it N only heroin • in
mm is who f : ot so eas ty—Im: while,
siek, and unable to stand. Fred,
though, uot knowing the ex'eot
of her i;'"iee, was frightened at what I
seemed to him a deathly swoon. In
an iustant he waa on the ground be- j
side ber, chafing the limp, wot fingers, j
NUMBER 23.
and resting tbe tired little head on
hia shoulder. As lie gathered her so
close to bis heart all the weary long
ing of the snmmer, all the sternly-re
pressed passion of bis soul, found u' —
terance at bis lips: •
“Oh, Hallie, my darling, speak to
me!”
A faint, piuk flush crept into the
•vbite cheeks, and tbe brown eyes met
bis with sbr, sweet morning in theft*
depths.
******
There was a wedding at the mer.y
Cbristmnetide.
Mr. Hamilton so far recovered from
his defeat as to send Hallie for a wed
ding present a lovelv little escritoire,
inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Iu one
of its small compartments, wrapped in
tissue paper, nnd small euongb for a
charm (o a lady’s watch-chain, was a
t'av silver whistle. Tbe full signifi
cance of this Hallie hardly under
stood, until Fred laughingly ex
plained.
They were standing by the spark
ling fire iu their cosy parlor; sudden
ly Hallie faced him gravel}:
“Now Hint I am n married woman,
Fred, do yon want me to 'give np
whistling?” •
•Why, of course not, If it’s any con-
tolalion to yon.” Then drawing tbe
ca ly head close to bis heart, he add
ed: “Ob, blessed little talent! except
for that I might never bnve found
you.”
FRIENDSHIP.
Friendship is not bongbt nt a fair
or sold at anclioc. It is something
that springs np spontaneously in life’s
pul.away nnd entwines its tendn's
around us wbe *, perchance, we are
not expecting it. Men dissimilar in
taste, talents and education oftentimes
before life Bate friends, for tbe reason
that each sees in tbe other some
prominent or redeeming traits that be
himself does not possess. Trae fiiend-
sbip like ti ne love is blind. It exoa
ses much, it condones all. So-called
friendships are as nnmerons as tbe
pebles upon tbe shore. The true ar-
licul is as scarce as tbe glittering dia
mond in tbe vast sand deserts of Afri-
0 ’. Life withoat a friend is not worth
living The person who in bis direst
need caunot eall in tbe sacred name
of friendship upon a single hnman be
ing is a wretch indeed.
Citjr Bed-Boom*.
I M ——— ft
Sumo people suppose that in large
citii < free * , eut ! Uation' would intro-
dn-e nothing bfit atmospheric pois
ons; yet the difference between tho
air of a atoby conrtry bonse and a .well
a! ed town home wonld be decidedly
iu favor 'of the city. In tbe city of
Naples half theatres’: are io a con
dition .that would * 1 sham* the rats of
oar slam alleys. Oil'd id ibevileet
kind is permitted to accumulate till it
•iierally blockades tbe way, and bri
' > bo removed in* 1 I'he iole, t of Iocc-
motiou, while tboidest from the coil
hills ride tbe atmosphere day aod
iii >b:. Yet experience has convincr I
Hie inhabitants that the ('racing in*
iWu 'e of tbe open mr is tbe best pri-
r-.i!ive of countless diseases, and the
Web nre envied chiefly for tbe privi
lege of sleeping on tbe tnraces of
their flat roofs. In the fnsbio'Jable-
q iurlsr every bouso bas a roof pla’ -
fitrmr separatel Irotu neighboring
cuts by a wire screen, often clothed
wiib a thick vuilol veidore. On tbe r e
platforms young and old pr - nearly
every dog night of tbe yc y, either
1 with tbe sky for tbeir only cvno^y, or
! i pder tbe shelter of Hie t.irne awning
lb.it si-reene tbe u r nn tbe glure ol
' '(O SUll.