The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-08-11

! dcllIS.
81 will see herr cried Malcolm, "and
wiring the truth from her. The meaning
OF this scand;tlous note. in justice to my
self, must be explained before leave Nal.
vern ~
He rang the bell, and again the servant
made her appearance.
"Tel Miss Rangton that I must have q
few minutes conversation with her.
The servant departed to deliver the mes,
sage, and quickly came back with an an
swcr.
"Miss RlnGton desires me to inform you
that it is impossible for her to grant your
request, and wishes you to cease annoying
her with such solicitations, and to leave
this house inmrliatcly.'
But she shall speak with me-" cried the
now infurhstel Malcolm.
81 was instructed not to admit you, and
with that she shut the door in his face, and
locked it also.
"She is afraid III force my way into the
Gbonse-as if I were some cowardly rutfian
Eand not a gentleman. l will go, for
should ,despise @sseR fl were = again .,. to
| beg fof that explanation which it IS my
| rirht is have granted me. Itis hard, very
hard though, not knowing the cause TO
part in this;wsy from the woman you love-
Perhaps may judgeher wrongly-perhaps
some persons have s)andercd me in my ab-
scnce, and she has believed them. 1t is
possible, and yet she has not acted like
woman who has been injured, but like one
who commits an injury. Well, she won't
see me, nor shall 1 try to force her again,
go I'll 90 from here, and, in time, may
learn to forget her.
He walked slowly, the pisture of griet-
stricken man, down the graveled walk, but
rs he reached the gate, lady approached
! it from the other side.
"My dear Ma!col:n," she cried, "what Is
the matter? You look as if some great mis-
fortune had bef.lrn you
"And so there has, Mrs. Rangton. Read
this and Judge for yourself. and then ex-
plain it if you can," he replied, handing
her Minnie's note.
Il really can't conjecture what has caus
ed her to write you in this fashion,, said
Mrs. Rangtoo, when she had perused the
missiye. "'rhis morning" she added.
"Minnle was looking joyfully forward to
your coming"
"And you don't doubt that my affection
for her is as great as it ever was, Mrs.
R;nrton ?' he asked, interrupting her.
Il have had no cause for doubt, Malcolm,
nor will I till have full and sufficient
! rroos lam convinced that there is some
rraat mistake, but what it is, l can neither
say nor think.
"I hope it my prove nothing worse, ne
.eplied, sally. Il sought an explanation OF
her. strange conduct. but she would not
rant me an interview. Goodbye, Mrs.
RaDytoa, for must 60, else l shall miss
he next train. You may tell her that 1
| fcr-"
"N,lcolm, you shall do nothing of the
kind. l have known you since you We're o
,hild. and I'm sure you would not do any
thing wronr or ummanly. l have always
Dlaced as much faith il you us have IN
! Minnie, Malcolm; therefore as you say you
cannot explain what has caused her to take
.his sudden dislike to you, she herself must
DO 50, for your ..satisyactionand miae. Come
r;+b mo into the house; We have already
delayed too long. The sooner this matter
is cleared up, the better Tor all parties con-
ccrncd."
"My pride, Mrs. Rng:on, will not per-
NIT me to enter until Minnie summons me,
and I doubt if she ever will. Twice to-day
The door has been slammed i'll my face, as
if I were some low character, and, unqucs-
tionablv, by your daughters orders"
~ did not think she could act in such an
pnlaIvlkc manner. She shall beg your
n,rl,on for so doing Said Mrs. Rangton,
in her decided way. "Wcll, as you're re-
solved to stand upon your dignity, like all
YOU foolish lovers and you're all well
| mat, he'd in that respect, or there would be
more r.conciliations and fewer broken en-
racements-just remain where you are till
return. III find out the why and the
; wherefore of this matter. and be back again
| in five minutes.
The stated time had scarcely elapsed be-
fore Jolly, resolute Mrs. Ranyton appeared.
"Why Malcolm. she's inhcr room sobbins
| IS if her heart were breaking. The silly
,reature says that she saw woman KISS
md embrace you at the depot to-day. |
saess she fell asleep in the carriage and
dreamed it.
Dlalcvi,ns gravity changed quite sudden
ly to merrimcnt, aud it WAS with difficulty
that he managed to say, "The woman call
cd me George, and, as I resembled Aer
lover, thought I was he. but she quickly
discovered her mistake"
Mrs. Rangton had keen appreciation
| for the ludicrous, and she joined In NAL
colm's laughter.
whats all this fuss about" said the
cabman to himself. eff I didn't know it
was MIR. Rangton's place, should say it
was mad-house."
"Weu," said Mrs. Rangton, "you'd bet
ter pay and dismiss the hackman, and then
80 in and forgive Minnie for acting 50 fool
ishly."
Malcolm put his hand in his pocket, but
found that his wallet was gone; and soon
made the discovery that he was also minus
his watch and chain.
"Mrs. Rangton, I've been robbed"
eyes, Malcolm, and it was that very low