The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-12-06

that he aimed to become the n who
would do.
He came often with his friend, but
more often by himself, and one day he
called not on Sarepta, but upon Mrs.
Green herself. The nature of his er-
rand may be gathered from a remark
of that lady's during the conversation.
81 am very sorry matters have gone
so far" the said, "and I tried in every
way to prevent it. All I can do now Is
to say that I will never give my consent
to your marriage with my daughter. I
esteem. you very greatly, but I long
since made up my mind that my son:in-
law must have fortune ana position"
"But, my dear madam -
81 have had my say, Mr.. Merton, and
nothing will ever make me say different.
ly. don't mind saying to you that the
same question from your friend would
receive a very different answer"
George Merton went away then, and
Sarepta received a little lecture from
her mother. The girl was a little pale,
but very quiet, and her mother thought
she was going to be very sensible. She
felt a little discouraged, however, when
Sarepta said, quite in her natural voice :
81 know he is poor, and without po-
sition, as you call it, but 1 will never
marry any other man as long as 1 live"
and that ended the conversation.
Alter this matters went IN much the
same as usual, except that George Mer-
ton came no more to Mrs. Green's house.
Sarepta was a little quieter than OF old,
but altogether acted in a practical man.
ner, that gave her mother very great
encouragement.
One afternoon the young lady dressed
to 20 out for q walk, and stood for q
time with one foot on the fender bar,
listening to her mothers talk, which ran
pretty much in this strain toward the
close :
ct haven't seen Mr.. Edgerton for
two or three days, have you2 And
his friend seems to have disappeared
altogether. must say it wa very pro-
per Of him not to come here after I gave
him so decided an answer. Why, bless
my soull Here he is now!"
And there, sure enough, he was, step
ping leisurely in through the open door
of the room. He had evidently screwed
his courage up, and was keeping it up
by a little bit Of bravado not quite ma
tural to him. His hat was pulled tight
upon his head, his step had the least
suggestion of a swagger in it, and he car
ried his hands in the pockets OF the
short, odd looking jacket which he wore
for the apparent purpose Of making him
look unnecessarily independent.
His manner put Mrs. Green on the
offensive, as if it were a challenge. Her
face took on its hard, set look, her
hands folded themselves together under
her apron, and she stood looking at him
very frigidly, and failed to notice that
her daughter was not 80 much surprised
as she ought to have been.
"Good afternoon, Mr.. Merton" said
Mrs. Green, very much as If he had
been a sewing machine agent. "We
were Just speaking of-your friend"
"Ah, Charlie! Yes, poor fellow, he
has gone back to the city. he really
needed a longer rest, but he couldn't
take it without losing his situation, and
he cannot afford to do that"
ellis situation2 Why
eyes, you know he is a bookkeeper.
But, no; I remember now, my friend
Mrs. Garwood got our names mixed in
telling you about u.s."
"I see," said Mrs. Green, in a tone
that implied many things.
"But come, dear, if you are ready
we will go for our walk now" said
George, in q queer, hurried way. II
just dropped in, Mrs. Green, to take my
wife out for O walk"
"Your wife7 What3". and Mrs.
Green sat down and waited for more
breath.
Mamma, you will forgive us, won't
you9" pleaded Sarepta. "Perhaps it
was wrong, but you were 10 firm, 30 we
we're married yesterday"
"Of curse I forgive you, now that
there is nothing else for me to do"
said the politic lady. "And If you
will wait a minute I'll 60 with you. It
will close peoples mouths"
AS they all started out together, Mrs.
Merton said
"George, you ought to have told me
about this ridiculous mistake"
"I know I ought, but you see, my
dear, T couldn't resist the temptation
of giving your mother q son-in-law with
{ fortune and position, in spite Of her
SELF" he replied.