The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-07-03

nc was IOrccQ 10 SnDmlt, ana, Win
what grace he could muster. 20 and
lay his petition before that social
sovereign.
1t was graciously received and
granted. All was grist, in tho social
way, that camo to Mrs. Rcynolds's
mill; and sooa Northorpc rang with
the anticipated 1tte, and the splendor
of tho preparations which were in
progress ut the Devercux honse. For
the space of an entire fortnight every
thing within tho staid old mansion
was turned upside down in the most
complete and cxasperuting manner
SQUADS of bammering rcsounded all
over the. neighborhood. Curtains,
carpets, furniture, all were renovated
and changed. Having obtained en-
trance into the house, Mrs. Reynolds
found it delightful to give her taste
(Which was certainly excellent, though
rather extravagant) full rein for once:
Partitions wero Knocked down, and
partitions were put up-thc quiet old
rooms scarcely knew themselves in
their bright, now guise.
| AS for Dcvereux, having called
down the inhiction rpon his own head,
hc felt that thero was no hope of re.
dress, no refuge but submission. Hc
might, however, havo ignominiously
fed. or ended his existence with prus.
sic acid, if he had not possessed tho
quiet retreat Of the Inglcsby house,
and the Inglesby garden But, COM
ing over in the dowy softncss Of the
summer evening, and pacing by Alice's
side up and down tho green paths,
with the fragrant roses blooming aIl
around. the stars family cleaning in-
to sight, and mocking-bird singing
a sweet love-song in tho jasmine.
hedge, ho could almost forget his
troubles, he could regard carpenters
and upholstcrors without enmity. he
could even cover with tho mantle Of
Christian charity tho whole race of
"society-leaders'"
When at Iast tho day Of trial came,
no girded himself up like soldier
going to battlo. and really acquitted
himself so we'll that he surprised
everybody. Alice. in especial, was
charmed with his bcaring-its quiet
dignity and graceful courtesy.
"You don't know what credit you
havo done yourself" she said TO him
with smile, when he camo to hor
after dinner.
"You don't ki.ow what agonies OF
shyness have endured" he answered.
"And conquered" sho added, with
a glance of appreciation that would
have repaid him for anything.
.You arc very good to say so" hc
replied, gratefully. "But, since duty
is over, pleasure ought to follow.
Will yon let me name my reward, and
give it to mc?"
"You are at.liDerty TO name it.. OF
course; but how can / give it to you ?"
She looked Mt him so kindly Us she
uttered these lust words, that he did
not lapse into the diffidenco with
which cold or Aippant reply would
assurcdly have overwhelmed him.
II have friend who is an artist ut
Dusseldorf" he said sand by my re-
qucs. he sent mo several paintings,
which I have received within tho last
few days. They all have great merit;
but one. in especial, l should like to
show you. 1t is an exquisite bit Of
Thuringian landscape. I have hung
il in the library for the present II
you would como and let me show it
to you-"
"Soit is pleasure you mean to givo
me-" she said. Il thought it was to
be tho other way. But, Of course, I
shall be very glad to come"
BY special stipulation, the library
had not been included in the transfor-
nation which tho rest Of tho bouse
had undergone. About it, therefore,
still hung tho mellow aroma of age.
1t looked very inviting when they
cntercd-with lts books and pictures,
and white busts glcaming in tho
shaded lamplight. Tho windows
wcrc ull act wido open to the soft
summer night, while the fragrance Of
roses, jasmine, and honeysucklc, was
waited in on tho night breeze, and
seemed to fill every corner of tho
room.
Removing tho shade from one Of
tho lamps. Dcvereux hold it up SO
that she could SEQ tho picture Of
which be had spoken. She had no
special prepossession toward art, but
her culture had been TOO thorough
for her not to cordially recognize and
fully appreciate excellence in this re-
spect. She praised the picture
which was truly worth praising-as
much US he could possibly have de.
sired Then she began to look about
the room: Some of its old family
portraits elected her admiration - in
tho very old time. family portraits
were not al,rays dauhs = and then shc
began to examine various French and
German cngravings hung here aud
there in hooks and corners.
$50 this is whcr, you write I" said
she, pausing before table upon which
signs of literary occupation were TO
be sc. n "What o pleasant place f r
authorship-at leisure! You ought
to be a poet, Mr. Dcvereux, sitting in
this charming old library, with u
se-gardcn undor your window, and
view of lovely scenery beyond |!
But what is this hanging over your
tablc2"