The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-10-01
HISS KUE.
BY ESTHER sERLE KENNETH.

We were sitting on the upper pi-
azza-father, Nemour, and 1.-The
river flowing broadly before us, the
fresh air coming up, salt and strong,
from Hampton Roads. The New
York steamer went by, going into
Norfolk, and then the great swells
made by her paddles began press
ing in-shore aud breaking upon the
sand. I watched them through the
haze Of Nemour's cigar-listened
to them through the sound Of faith
er's discussion on Southern politics.
"Papa,' said l, irreverently,
"when do you think she'll Gomez
Papa stopped at the word Gre
construction"
"Who, Pussy?"
"Miss Rue"
"You may expect her any time,
Slippers. She may come tonight.
You'd better have supper late. AS
I was saying, Nemour' the Southern
people :"
Islipped away. I went into the
kitchen and told Queen Victoria
(our cook that we would not have
supper served until possible tray
eler had had time to come from the
city; to make some fresh tea and
slice some cold chicken.
For once in the world things hap
pened as they were expected to. A
carriage rolled into the yard-a
lady stepped to the ground.
Well, papa's deceased pakner's S
daughter, Miss Rue, was a beauty.
With her mass of golden hair, s her
rosc-and-lily face, her gorgeous
figure, she was atluontly love ~ !
was quite awed by her appealAlce,
but she seemed source OF inspira-
ton to the gentlemen. L never
saw them half so epsertaiaAgt
1t was kind ofan enchanted even
ing as she sat among us upon the
piazza, the evening dress ottpale
blue silk she had donned simmer
ing in the warm twilight, a magno-
liza rose she had placed among the
Iaces at the throat surrounding her
with its sweetness. She was ami
mated, entertaining, full Of fresh
gossip. and we had been very quiet
50 long. Why, I had .Anite forgot
ten how delightful Nemour could
laugh!
10 be sure we had found our
Southern life no laughing mattel,
The market had beelk o!ercrowded
by more extensive fruit-Yowers,
though tons OF our grages purple d
upon their poles, and he had acres
of strawberries and orchards of
pears. We were counted out-one
at least too, too many; and it was
a bitter disappointment to father,
and to my future husband-Ne-
mour st. Jean.
We, the Amberleys, Jwere dis
family connected with the''St. Jean
family, and three years before.
Nemour and / had become engaged.
But I was very youbg, konly eigh-
teen, and papa bad }aNised us ito
wait a little, Nerho4 ind he being
in business together, and consider
ing how unfortunately fatal was
the move to the South. But the
disappointment had grown an old
story, and now11now Miss Rue had
come.
She descended to breakfast in a
white linen wrapper, a bunch oi
pink and white beach-howers at the
belt-her eyes, refreshed by rest, as
blue as mpis MzuH. Again the ami.
nation broke forth; SHE praised
Queen Victoria's cooking, and papa
related my culinary struggles before
the family had consented to the
advent Of negro cook ard resign
ed themselves to hoecake and ba.
con and cabbage as staple articles
Of food Though it wasn't as bad
as that, for 1 could, and did, make
Dream biscuits beautifully, and pre-
pared deviled crab to perfection
papa cofirmed.