The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-09-25
ABBEy11IE S. c.. WEDNESDAY,. SEPTEMBER %, 1872


wasn't to blame because Miss Hay
came out, looking like Hebe's self,
to gather red currants, and you fol-
lowed like her shadow. Come let's
60 down by the trout stream, and
talk over matters and things in
general. Are you really in earnest
about wanting something to do?"
"Of course [ am. y 50
't'Then suppose you just glance
over this letter that,I received this
morning from my uncle. I have
no idea of. expatriating myself
among the pig-tailed celestials, for
all the fortunes that ever were made
| But for an ambition man-read the
letter, that's ALL
Paul Estcott obeyed, almost daz-
zled for the moment by the bril-
liant prospect it seemed to open to
him.
"You really give me the privi-
|lege of accepting or refusing this
situation p he exclaimed.
II really do; and considering
that I don't want it myself, it is no
very great stretch Of generosity on
my part. Only, you see, you have
to decide at once, and be in the
city to report yourself at my uucle's
counting-house within four and
twenty hours"
Paul sprang up, flushed and ca
ger.
"Tll do it. I'll show Bessy Hay
that I am no do-nothing after all,
when motive really worth my
while presents itself. But" CLAN
cling. at his old-fashioned silver
watch, II have no time to lose."
"Not a second"
"But my trunk ?"
"You can get what you need in
town; my uncle supplies the out
ft."
"And Bessy p
"Write her tonight; my uncle
will forward the letter under cover
to me, and I will see that she gets
it."
Paul Estcott wrung his compan7
ions hand.
"You are very kipd." he said
huskily. 81 had almost grown to
regard you with distrust.'
Van Brugh laughed, showing his
dainty, pearl white teeth, under a
brown moustache.
"Neyer judge by appearances
he said, "take my word for it, Miss
Hay will excuse all lack of cere-
mony when she learns all.
Mr.. Van Brugh accompanied
Paul to the railroad station, and
saw himiaotf with a smilingly-ut-.
tercd profusion of good wishes.
s.The best friend fellow ever
had" thought Paul as the train
moved of.
But he could not see the sardon-
! ic grin into which the curves of the
farewell smile altered when the.
little country station was left once
more to silence and Loneliness.
"Now,," said Morton Van Brugh,
II shall have the field all to- myself.
Strange how fascinated | have al
lowed myself to become with a
mere country girl But there Ger
tainly is something very winning.
in her type Of beauty"
Bessy Hay never answered Paul
Estcott's farewell letter, nor did the
latter once suspect that it was be-
cause Mr.. Van Brugh never had
delivered it.
Paul, firing up under the fevered
impulses of his old enemy, jealousy,
took refuge in silence. Nor did a
long epistle from his Aunt Jemi-
ma. which contained more news
possible, probable, and impossible
than any government bulletin,
serve to cool the flames.
"Folks say" wrote the epistolary
spinster, "tLat Eliza Hay is going
to marry the widower Sinclair, be-
cause he's rich. There was deaf
of talk about her and that young
Van Brugh, but he went away all
of sudden, folks thought it likely
with a flea in his ear. Eliza knows
pretty we'll which side her bread is
buttered on, and Sinclair can't live
long with that cough of his.'
It was no wonder, then, that
when pretty Bessy Hay made an
excuse to come to Aunt Jemima's
and asked wistfully, and with GER
tain quiver in her voice, if PauPs
letter contained no message for her,
the elderly gossip mouger an
swered:
"Dear me, no! You didn't ex-
pcct to hear, did your
Bessy went back home, her little
heart as cold as lead in her bosom.
She has refused Van Brugh; she
said ''No" to Mr.. Sinclair, in spite
of Aunt Jemima's knowing prog
nostications; and people began to
wonder if pretty Bessy Hay was
going to be an old maid, after all.
"Why doesn't he write to me, or
send me at least word to show
that he has not utterly forgotten
me % thought Bessy.
Why doesn't she answer my let