The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-06-17
Mr. Melville glanced 1ucstioninyly

cure him Of something very like Pre-
sumption. Its little Ralph Montacutt
he has just had tho imptrtincncc tc
tell mic that he loved me? Tho idct
of q child like that taking advantage
of tho littlo encouragement l may
thoughtlcssly given him, to imagine
but its too ridiculous"
"But don't SEQ tho ridiculous
side Of it," said Melville stcrnly
"Montacutc is young, but he is man
ly fellow; and pardon mo sovereign
lady Of all hcarts-but YOU did eli
courage him most markedly.
81 never thought Of anything &C.
rious," lispcd Pauline, with an art
lcssncss truly angelic. "It was only
the chance amusement Of IN hour!
Melville shrugged his shoulders.
GA good deal like the story Of the
frogs and the boys" he said. But to
dismiss all less pleasant thoughts
what do you say to row on the sea
by starli i=ht"
II shall be dclightcd!'
And the merry group vanished into
, the cmpurplcd darkness, their voices
ringing into the air, long after their
forms were impcrccptiblc.
Then, and not till then, q tall figure
raised itself from the bamboo scttee,
OF couch, just within the wide open
windows, where tho cool muslin cur
tains waved softly at every breath OF
the soft sumflicr breeze, and Major
Harry Livingstone cody walked out
on the piazza, igniting the cigar as he
did so.
"Thc coquettc," he muttcred be-
tween his set teeth; s'thc hcartlcss
fiirt! Now | can better comprehend
Ralph's varying moods Of late. She
has broken the boys heart, and.earcs
no more for it than if she had crack
cd one of the China cologne bottles
upon her dressing table ! Well this
is strange world! If Pauline had
taken a handkerchief, OF purse. from
Ralph's pocket, the iron hand Of the
law would be down on her Immediate
ly; but she steals his heart right out
Of his bosom, and society looks on
with ~ smiling face and folded hands |!
Why is there no law made and enact
dd, to punish such hcartlcss crimes us
this! For. crimes they. arc-black,
treacherous crimes, even though they
are perpetratcd by such beauties rs
Pauline Scdley, and. her sister CO.
quettes! And this fair innocent boy,
whom I loved like q brother; the
coolest heart might have spared him.
By Cupid and all his attendant deitics
l will be avenged on Pauline Sedley
for this.
| At almost tho same instant, Ralph
Montacute came slowly up the. piazza
steps. The lightncss and elasticity
Of bis step we're gone ho walked
like one who had received q mortal
wound.
"Ralph."
Montacute started at his cousins
voice.
"You here, Harry?"
ayes, all alone; sit down beside me
old fellow; why arc you not with
the boating party ?"
/ did promise to make one of them
this morning; but-but-somehow I
don't feel like it tonight"
Livingstone took his cousins hand
and pressed it with a firm loving
grasp.
II know all about it Ralph" he
said mildly. "Don't be cast down
she isn't worth one pang Of memory.
The world is wide; life is long-you'll
out!ive this blow, if you on'y have
patience to wait"
Montacute's head dropped on his
cousins shoulder
ooh, Harry. I did love her-I
loved her dearly !"
| EtrPo1-o onrro,.o 1roofl>
it,"
And the stalwart soldier, soothing
away his boy-cousin's woe, was as
gentle as woman, even while he
wondered to SEQ that Ralph took it
SO to heart
From that day,.the gay littlo world
at the fashionable watering place
were astonishcd at tho devotion ac-
corded by Major Livingstone to Miss
Sedley.
Pauline was more than. astonished,
she was clatcd and .overjoyed. Major
Livingstone was man who was
sought and courtcd by all the bellies OF
of society,"; Q man whose magac+ic
eyes, as: she herself had termed it,
land tchdcrly modulatcd voice, were
enough TO- set any womans heart on
nre. : -. =, -
! He walked with her; he rode with
4 her; he read poetry to her he sat by
her side during the long, golden Sep
4 tember tWilights until Pauline felt
that life beside him was the. greatest
boon providence could bestow
upon her. She haughtily discarded
oil other suitors; she cared no.'longel
for ball room or picnic-parties-to he,
the whole world held but. one man
and that man was Parry Livingstone
But still he kept outside of the charm
!: cd circle of love-making,. he did mo-
propose. And Pauline, counting the
days that still. remained Of "'the sea
i son" grow almost hcart-sick.. l.
SHE will propose. tosmorrow--per
haps the day after" sho whispered t.
y herself. "Oh, surely it must come
;Esoon." - !, 7..>S's.'.. :.,;.is,,s.; a.
i 1t, was the evening before tho de
4 parture Of the gay party that hat
& enliyened. the sea side hotel oil sum
mer, aud Brilliant ball had been got
ten upsto celebrate the close Of tb,
u brief, happy season. Pauline fSedley
had dressed for the occasion with nm
| ncita1 tsats2s. n,ro,,hnuv ffle faHE L. 1vS,