The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-10-29

skippod along by his side.
"Oh?" she cried, suddenly, as
they drew near the edge of a steep
raviue, at whose bottom a noisy
stream gurgled over brown, messy
stones, "what a lovely red vine? I
can get some of those leaves, I
know.
"Stop," cried Mr.. Beverly, sud-
denly, as he noted the almost per-
pendicular rock whose gray lodges
the scarlet vine hung in wildly
graceful festoons; but he was too
late. ....
Little Lillian Estcourt had sprung
forward; her foot slipped on the
deceitful green moss; the vine to
which sheindistinctively clung gave
way with a cracking, wrenchipg
sound, and the next instant she
had vanished from Brian Bever-
ley's terrified vision.
Only a little heap Of clothes lay
on the bank of the rivulet below,
with the scarlet hood making a blot
of vivid color not unlike a pool of
blood. lie called, but she did not
stir; and, with set teeth and pale
cheek, he hurried down the steep
winding path that led to the base
of the irvine.
"Good heavens !" he murmured
to himself; eff she should be
deadW
But Lillian Estcourt was not dead
-only crippled for life. Mrs. Est
court, stood with clasped hands
above her darling.
eff she should die !" she gasped,
scarcely above her breath. eff
heaven should take my little one
from mel" ".....
Poverty, trial, suffering, were all
forgotten, and Helen Estcourt only
remembered that she was a mother,
and that the shadow OF the Valley
of Death hung darkly over her
child. -. = 49,. -. ... .~
1t was a long and tedious recove-
ry; but Brian Beverly kept his
post at the side Of the little bed,
tireless in his patience, inexhausti-
bic in his stock OF fairy tales and
elfn legends.
"Oh, Mr.. Beverly, I like you so
much !" said innocent Lillian. 81
wish you would stay here always,
Mamma, don't you?"
And Brian, who had drawn near
the age Of forty without so much
as pet dog or cat to miss him
when he was gone, or even to wei
come him on his return, felt a curl
Gus sensation under the pocket
where he carried his gold chronom-
eter.
BUTT was scarcely in the nature
of things that he could linger for
ever among the autumn woods OF
Dellvale and when the first snow
flakes began to eddy through the
air, he packed his valise resolutely
at the hotel, and walked down the
glen to Mrs. Estcourt's humble
cottage.
"W ell," quoth he striving to
speak unconcernedly, 81 am going
home tomorrow"
"Going!" cried Lily.
"Going!!" family echoed Mrs. Est
court, feeling a deadly pallor creep
over her cheek.
eyes," said Brian Beverley.
"One can't linger on the shores of
fairy-land for ever-can one, Little
Red Riding Hood? But I've a pro-
position to make"
"What is it % cried Lillian eager
ly. ,.,,
III would like to adopt your little
girl, ma'am," said he. ''Pm a lone
y crusty, middle aged sort Of fel-
low, but I've an idea we should get
on nicely together. [ want some
one to love. What do you say to
the plan %
Mrs. Estcourt burst into tears.
"Oh, I could not part with her,
she faltered. "Remember, sir, she
is all 1 have in the world!'
"Well, who asked you to part
with her ?" demonstrated Mr.. Bev-
erley. "I want you to come too.'
"Me ?"
"As my wife. I know it is sud-
den, but I never did anything like
any one else; at least, so they say
added Mr.. Beverley.
ooh, mamma, do be his wife,"
cried Lily; Il like him so much.
and so do you; for you told Mrs.
Hawthorne so yesterday!''
"Hush, childp said Mrs. Est
court, coloring like peony; but it
was too late.
"You do like me, then % said
Brian Beverley.
And something in his eyes
brought color to her cheek and the
eyes" to her lips.
And so the autumn shadows
went out of her heart, and she
wcarcs no more autumn leaves,
only boquets of spring rose-buds.