The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-08-06
opened Shakespeare and selected "uamlet,' y
for tho mornings reading.

Will a. CicitI, IlcilliluouS VOICE, LI;lL mace
his reading deeply interesting least in
the eyes of ono Of his listncrs and tho
needle, which, showed half its lcnth through
tho rent i'll tho stocking, paused and pro-
cceded no further, seemed TO speak as much,
and when dinner was announced, all three
were astonishcd at the rapidity with which
time had flown.
In the pleasant chat which followed in
the afternoon, Mrs. Linton turned to Kate,
a,ul said-
"I think my dear it is but just dealing,
that as Mr.. Melville has added SO much to
our enjoyment, VIC should contribute to. his,
and if he will bring your f;,voritc, Mrs.
browning, from the book lease, will prom
isc him that lie shall be us much delighted
with your reading rs We lave been with his"
,"You will crafty me, will you not:"
said Arthur, 81 should like nothing so
much"
Kate took the volume without any alice
tation Of dill!cncc or hesitation, and after
turning over few leaves, she commenced
the poem, "Bcrllla i'll the Lane"
S" thank you, thousand times, for the
pleasure you have given me-" said Arthur,
as she finished, and ho received the bool,
from her hands az expected 10 Lc graft
lied, but am cliarmct'amd astonisllct."
She gave him q quick flash Of the eyes
and slight curl Of the lip, rs she re-
piled
I" You arc pleased to nattcr me-"
81 beg your PARDON" said Arthur q little
coidly, 81 Should have remembered that
you had been ilattcrcd SO much, rs to make
it impossible to distinguish between the
ring of the true coin Of sincere compliment
and the llalow sound Of the base metal,
ilattcry."
The indifference with Which Arthur had
treated their guest had been sufficiently
marked to excuse the knowing look which
Mr.. Linton bestowed on lis wife, when, the
next morning, our hero appeared ut the
breakfast table with the request that lie
might join Kate and the children in their
usual morning ramLlc.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Linton judged it must
have been spent, pleasantly. for from that
time, Arthur always managed 10 be inclu-
dcd i'll all the walks, drives, and fishing en-
cursions, which Cousin Katc's genius was
so fertile i'll planning and arranging.
Half unconsciously, Arthur found HIM
self captivatcd by the strange medley of
destinations that made Kate tho charming
creature she was. And what different
being slo was from tho frivolous, coqucttish
'girlhis Imagination had painted her. IIo
found her a warmlcartcd, impulsivc woman,
faulty in many respects, it is true--buts still
n woman with cultivated taste, expanded
intellect, and a light and gay manner be-
meath Which lurked wealth of generous
and good impulses.
One morning rs he sat in a dreamy, de-
hcious reyerie, into which he had been
sootlied by tlc'murmur Of voices in an ad-
joining apartment, his fancies ,pcoplcd with
tho image that Of late had haunted his
sleeping and waking moments, he was star
tied from his dreams by Mrs. Linton's ex-
.olamalion Of
4 With Arthur Melville, Kate You are
incorrigible. wonder when your flirting
days wilr"be over. What an account Of
Sbrokon hearts YOU will lave to answer for
some d.y?"
g "Don't trouble. your kind heart" rel in
ed Kate, in gaytpne tho hearts of my
victims arc not easily broken; they arc
elastic, like India rubber, and fall back into
their original size and Shape without any
difficulty. As for your protcgo, Mr.. Mel
vile, there nccd be no cause for anxiety on
his account; lie is, think, as invunorablc
as Achilles, and even if hc wcrc not, you
could not object to my relieving tho tcdi-
ousness of a summon in tho country by n
Harmless little Irritation"
:slfArthur had seen how the deep blush on
'Kate's countenance contradictcd the levity of
her manner, he might have pardoned the
heartlessness oftho words: as it was, lie star
ted from the chair on which he was sitting
made t@os OF three hasty turns across tho
room, and then pushed open tho door of
tho porlor in which ;Katc sat, engaged in
sowing. Mrs. Einton had just passed from
Tho room, and Kate looked up with smile
Of welcome, which faded into a stare of as
tonishhient at Artliurs.pale faceand excl
ted manner.
4 como of your victims begs pardon for
acoideatally oyorhearing your designs on
Iris peace Of mind" ho said, bitterly. 30.
KataI I,despise myself for eysksdsrng to
lclieyosthat d afrivilous ostoriols osHceaIed a
:waEl thure heart. And yet, let mo assure
seu, tha. sea sIlayc over gathered .lfopo
from my mapner thatI help 10 swell
the. number, Of yousa lovers, you