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

|
+. again, luggcd to tho front Of CONVEX
sation.
: But Mrs. Inglcsby did not weary of
: it, and seemed to feel as much interest
| us tho rest of Ncrlhorpe in pchetra-
} ting the she'll of reserve which, pro-
: vokingly enough, Mr. Devercux had
seen fit to draw around himself. lie
! mingled freely enough with men, but
to ladies he was an enigma who dclib-
} crateiy avoided their society.
f "Very pleasant fellow, indeed, but
SHY rs Il girl" was the verdict Of all
the gen tIcmeh who had called on him
and been received with courtec us
cordiality; but the invitations which
society showered upon him had so far
: been pcrsistcntly declined. 1t was of
no Use at all to worship the rising sun
when he obstinatcly refused to let his
rays shine upon them.
'LaurcnCo KcnnOn would have
done better than thot," people said,
Indignantly; which vas going very
far indeed, since, as general rule,
Northorpc held Laurence Kennon in
holy horror.
At last, however, relief came to the
afflicted community.
A certain Mrs. Reynolds, who was
the acknowledged leader of fashion
in Northorpc, returned from visit Of
some weeks in neighboring town,
and announced her intention Of storm
ing Mr.. Devcrcux's castle in person.
Ills mother was dear friend of
mine" isaid this lady-who belonged
to that benevolent class who have
dear friends" in every direction
''and I mean to bring her son forward
1t will mover do to let him make d
hermit of hipself like this. Shy men
need to be forced into society. !
shall give dinner next Thursday and
lake no denial with regard TO his ap-
pearancc
This gratifying intelligence spread
like wild-fre through society: and,
when tho invitations to dinner ap.
pearcd in due form, it threw all din.
ner-going Nvrthorrc into twitter Of
excitement, for, knowing their leader,
they knew well that the matter the
Devcreux appearance, that is-was
IN accomplished fact.
1t was during this momcntous time
that Mrs. Henry Inglesby (whom, to
cut troublesome title short, wo shall
hereafter call Alice) was alone one
morning in her room, when there
came slight, hcstating knock at the
door. When she said, "Coms in, the
door slowly opened, and her mother
in-law stood on the threshold.
"Excnso me, my DEAR" she said
hurrlcdly," but here is q note which |
brought for you to read. | should
not have disturbed you, only it must
be answered at once"
She came in, and, closing the door
behind her, extended an open note.
Alice received it, and, gIancing over
the few lines which it contained,
found that it was an invitation, from
Mrs Reynolds, who had called on
herself the preceding day.
"This is for you TO decide" she
said, after q minute. "My decision
will depend entirely on yours. DO
yon mean to go?"
"My dear, that is exactly what I
came to sec you about" said Mrs In
glcsby, solcmul5, whcrcupon she Sat
down and hcavcd q sigh. "Rosc is.
the best girl in the world" she went
on, "but she is very wilful sometimes
so wilful that neither her father nor
myself can do any thing with her
You would scarcely believe that, for
half an hour, l have been trying to
induce her to accept this invitation,
aud that she absolutely declares she
will not do so!'
She paused after this statement;
but AIice's only reply was slight
arch Of the eyebrows. Sho had been
long anohgh in the Inglesby honsc-
hold to find no diffirulcy whatever
about crcdiling the assertion.
1T is quite true" said Mrs. Iugles.
by, in reply to this little token Of at
tcntion. Nov, for particular rca-
son, | am very anxious. that she
should accept it, and aud but, my
dear, l may speak to you in confidence
may 1 not? Wcll"-when Alice had
assured her that she might. -'thc
truth is, that a gentleman whom I de-
sire very much that shonld meet me
at this dinner; and, if she does not
60, she will lose the best opportunity
Of attracting his attention. Other
girls will pe there, you know; and.
though Rose is the belle Of Northorpe,
still my dear, there's nothing like
being first in the. field, especially
when young man is stranger in u
strange place"
IL suppose the gentlemen is Mr..
DevcrcuX ?" said Alice, who had not
listened for nothing to all Northorpe's
stream of conversation.
ayes, it is Mr.. Dcvereux," said Mrs.
Inglesby, blushing u little. "But,"
she went on hurricdly. II must not
let you think that it is only because
he has inherited q fortune that want
Rose to attract him. Hc is q young
man of whom everybody speaks
} WELL" said tho mother, looking pa-
thetically in the eye bent on her.
"11e is steady and well.principlcd,
and he will make good husband
for Rose; while, oh, nv dear. nv
heart aches to think she may be led
away to marry u man who is mono Of
these things!" .
'1Iet us .hopo not" said Alice,
by the tone of these last few words.
Then her voice grew quiet and indif.
: ferent again, as she added: II sup
nose Won mran that she NAV he led