The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-06-26

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Colonel lngleshy, straig ighteuing him
self back in his chair.
IL thonght | noticed q great commc
ton Of house-cleaninS over there tc
day." said Mrs. Ing in her MIL
way; "but it really did not occur t.
mo that Philip Devereux had al
rived Dear me, colonel, you mus
call on'him ut once. We were sucl
good friends with old Mr. Dcvcreux
and you remember how he used t.
come sociaJly through the garden O
al evening to play whist with us ?"
Il shouldn't be surprised, if Mr
Philip DevercuX learned to be sociu
bic in the same way-to play some
thing besides whist, perhaps" salt
Mr.. Brent, with Il laugh and glance
at Rose, both of which Rose treatee
with silent disdain.
"Odious old wretch II she though
to herself; but she would not CRAFTY
him by dcigning to resent the poin
Of his feeble little joke.
"Of course he has como to take
possession Of the property" said Mr..
[nglesby, after a minute. "But vii
hc-a young man and a bachelor
live in that rambling old house, Mr.
Brcnt?"
"Hc needn't always be a bachelor
you know, my dear madam" an
swercd Mr.. Brent, with another
"odious" chuckIc. "Therc'll be cap:
enough pulled for him among tn.
girls of Northorpe, you may be sure
:hat is. if he stays long enough tc
give them fair chance"
"IIe may sell the real estate" haz
arded the colonel. "Unlcss ho doc
mean TO- marry. and settle down
such o young man would scarcely
care for that kind of property"
THAT is more than [ can tell you,
said Mr.. Brent. "Nobody knows
doubt even if he knows nimself--hi:
final intentions about tho property
A very fine property pursued he
and very fine young man to inner
it it. No comparison between him
and reckless advcnturer like Ker.
non, ch?"
Before the colonel could give tho
assent which was plainly expected
down came . music-book on the piano
keys with a crash, and Miss Inglesby
rose to address the company.
"That is tho way Of tho world +
she cried, with ring Of genuine in.
dignation in her voice. "Everybody
is always against the unfortunate.
and and always ready to call them
names. don't suppose Mr.. kcnnon
is any more of an adventurer than
all poor men are obliged to bc; and,
if he had obtained tho fortune, Mr.
Brent, you would say Of him exactly
what you now say Of Mr.. Devereux! !!
There was quite pause after this
Nobody answered the impetuous
girl. The three old people looked u,
each other, while Rose looked at
them; and. if anybody had glanced
aside at Mrs. Henry Inglcsby, they
would have seen that she was smiling
i peculiar sort Of smile to herself as
she bent her face down over 4. photo
loyraph-album which she had taken
up.
1t was Mr.. Brent who spoke first,
indulgently and kindly, as one might
speak to child.
''That's hardly a fair conclusion.
Rose. when [ say of KcnDon only
what everybody said long before his
grandfalhor's death, and before the
suit about the property was decided.
Everybody knows too, that he has
onl y himself to thank that lis cousin
inherits the estate. Mr.. Devcreux
would never have disinherilcd his
grandson for his nephew if he bad
not had good reason for it"
"His mind was poisoned against
Mr.. Kcnnon," said Rose, with the
promptncsS of one who has learned q
lesson and knows it by heart.
"Nobody who Fnew him IS likely to
credit that" answered the old gentle.
man, with q shrug. There never
was q juster man, or q man less likely
to be deceived. 1t must. have gone
hard with him when hc was obliged
tv leave tho bulk of bis fortune away
from his own grandson; but I doubt
if anybod y who knows anything
about Laurens Kennon could blame
him." ...... .....@y
lie spoke the last words gravcly
then, before Rose could roply, turned
to the Colonel and proposed q game
of whist.
::.Wc are four" he said, "cven il
Mrs. 1nglesby"- glancing at the
stately young widow-''dces mol
play"
AS it chanced, however, Mrs. In
glcsby did play, and with willingness:
agreed to take hand.
So the card-table was brought for
ward and the quartet sat down-Col
In glesby claiming his dauyhter.in
law rs partner, and bidding Rose givt
them some music as au accompani
ment.
Tho girl obeyed, playing waltzcs
galops, and the like for some time
butat last the gay Strains ceased, and
and when her father looked up ;
the close of hard fought game, th'
piano stool was vacant, aud the musi
clan gone. 90. 49,
Several days went by, and the tide
of Nortlorpe society flowed in agail
upon tho lnslcsby family, reccivins
indeed, an unusnal impetus from
Northorpe curiosity to SEQ tho beau
tifui young widow, concerning whom
many good judges of beauty had al
ready begun to rave.
"4ow dose Rose like a rival so nca
tho throne?" people asked each other