The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-07-17
He answered as briefly: "To ask
Miss Inglesby to marry me-"

y
eyes, 1 am fool. 1 have asked
you"
"Well, I will not be a fool and take
you at your word. We are old friends
that is all. On the strength of
that friendship let me wish you sue
cess in yonr wooing. Only promise
me one thing-that you will be kind
to her."
She would thank you for such con-
sideration," he said, bittorly-adding,
with sudden passionate vehcmence,
"and I thank you for proving to me,
oncc for all, that ten years ago or to-
day I am equally nothing to you'll"
Laurence" she said, startled in
spite Of herself. But she spoke too
late. He had already flung himself
from the reck and was gone.
Poor Rose! 1t was hard on her
when she heard-as she did hear be-
fore long-that Kennon had come to
the falls with Mrs. Reynolds; that he
stayed but short time; that he saw
Mrs. Inglesby and that ho had gone
back to Northorpe without seeing her.
"No doubt it was on account Of Mr..
Dcyereux that he went," people said
to each other, as they ate their lun-
cheon, scattered about in picturesque
groups over the rocks. But Rose
knew better. A sudden instinct, an
intuition of the truth, enlightened
her; and, when she was told that he
had met her sister-in-law, nothing
more was needed for it's confirmation.
$50 she has got him, too," thought
the girl, looking with gloomy eyes at
Alice, as she sat in all her brilliant
beauty not far off. Itwas very bitter
1t was surely very hard. Was it
not enough that Devercux, who had
been predestined her own captive,
should. fall into the strangers tolls,
but Kennon, too, must be victim :?
Could not Alice be content with the
prize, the desirable cousin, but must
she lay hands also on the one whom
everybody cried out upon as undesi-
rable, and for whom she could have
no possible use? OF course it will be
seen that Miss Inglesby was taking a
great deal for granted but that was
her way, as it is the way of most i'm
aginative people. And her instinct
certainly pointed very shrcwdly TO
the truth.
1t would be difficult to say whether
her fears were most relieved or real
lied when, as she sat silent and dis
trait in the drawing ng-room that even
ing, Kennon made his appearance.
She knew his step in the hall, and
animation flashed instantly into her
langu;d face. Alice know 1T, too, and
her eyes Immediately sought Roso
with strange, intent gazo, of which
the girl was wholly unaware. Her
own color did not vary by shade,
nor did her manner change in tho
least, even when Kcnnon entered, and
when she was obliged to explain their
former acquaintance to Mrs. Inglesby.
Rose heard the explanation, and, when
Kcnnon came over to her, she was too
much disturbed to notice his bearing
as closely as she had wished TO do.
Instead. be was able to notice and TO
set his own Interpretation upon the
flushed checks and wistful eyes up
lifted to him. But, in truth, this
prcoccupation mattered very little.
Ii Rose had been able to judge, she
would havo found that be was entirely
the same in manner rs when she had
seen him last. lie had been quito
unnerved that morning; quite thrown
out of the artificial self which years
and much experience Of life had fash
ioned but with such a man such u
state Of feeling is only temporary.
Tonight he was himself again and
all The more steeled in his purpose by
a fierce contempt for his own scnti-
ment and folly. When he saw Roses
emotion, he thought, "Tho game is
won )" and when he sat down by her
sido, it was with tho detcrmiped
resolve to make good uso cf
his time.
Good use of his timo ho certainly
made for, though he did not abso.
lutely ask her to marry him-M"s.
Inglcsby's watchful caro- and the lack
of opportunity prevented that-he
did everything else which it is pTac-
ticable to do in room full of people.
When he went away at last, he left
Rose in o fever Of excitement, tri-
umph, and indecision. He had asked
her, at parting, if she meant to walk
the next morning, and sho had told
him yes-feeling confident that he
would meet her, and ask the question
he had not been able to ask that night.
Yet, strange to cay with regard to her
answer, she was by no means clear.
1t is one thing to like a man and ilirt
with him to the very verge of love-
making, and quite another to promise
or inteud to marry him. Rose had
long since taken the first step, but,
whom it came to the second, sho had
still sense enough left to pause. She
know what storm of opposition she
must expect from her parents; what
an outcry from tho world; but these
things counted littlo with her. In
ignorant boldncss Of youth, she was
roady to defy them. The fear that
tugged at her heart-strings, tho fear
that made her hold back, was tho
fear of Kennon himself. Not the.
fear of what his life had been and
might be yet-for there, again, her
ignorance made her bold tho