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

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She creeps who must go softly all her days
MRS. GREEN'S S0k.IN-LAW.
"Well, Sarepta, I've found out al
about them"
Mrs. Green sat herself down in front
of the fire, took off her bonnet, and shed
upon her daughter a smile OF great
satisfaction.
"Found out all about whom, nam
ma 2" Sarepta questioned, with sweet
occurrences.
WELL, upon my word, you are the
most obtuse girl of my acquaintance.
When you saw me- come in just now,
you understood that I'd been out walk
ing, I suppose2 Yes2 Well, I'm glad
YOU did. You know I don't often go
out walking without an object, 1 sup
pose /! I'm encouraged to find that you
Understand that, too. And you remem,
Der those two young men we met twice
Yesterday, when we went to your Aunt
Jane2 OF course you do /; you needn't
answer that. Well, now, knowing that
l have been out, and with an object,
does it occur to you that I went to find
out all I could about those two young
men 2"
It will be seen that Mrs. Green had
the gift Of speech in addition to her
many other attainments. Her daughter,
too, was a fair practitioner, in her ma
tive tongue, but on this occasion she
merely said /:
"But I don't see why you should
want to find out anything about them"
cot course not" responded the ma
tron. "But if I were your daughter,
and you were my mother, you would
understand it well enough"
"Why, what in the world has that got
to do with it, mamma 7"
But the young lady still kept her eyes
rather too persistently fixed upon her
little bit of embroidery, and it is to be
feared hat she was fencing with her
parent,
"You know we'll enough that it has
everything to do with it" responded
Mrs. Green. "When two handsome
yonng men meet us together in the
street, and then put themselves out Of
the way to run against US again, you
don't suppose they take such pains to
get another look at me, do youg"
"They might. I'm sure you're worth
looking at twice." responded the daugh-
ter, very prettily. =,
"That's nonsense, and YOU know it.
They wanted to see you. You're young
and rather good looking, although you
are not altogether my style; and there
are not so many young and pretty girls
in this village that strange young men
are going to neglect any Of them."
ooh, mamma How you talk"
81 talk like a prudent woman, and
act like one; so I went out to find out all
about those two young men. Cne of
them will do very we'll indeed"
(which one is it who will do 2" in
CURED Sarepta, laughing, and beginning
now to show a little shy interest in the
subject.
"That one with an Ulster overcoat
on" replied the elder lady, shooting a
very sharp glance at the young one.
"Why, they both wore Uisters," put
in Sarepta, falling into the trap with
great simplicity.
"Aha !! I thought So" cAuckled the
astute Mrs. Green. "You noticed
them a little, while they noticed you a
good deal. Well, it's the tallest one, I
mean; the n with the dark complexion
and black mustache. Charles Edgerton
his name is"
"The other one is much the best
looking and the most ~gentlemanly,
think" said the daughter.
"George Merton. Oh, yes; but he
won't do at all. He is handsome, and
has plenty of talent, too ; but he has
neither money nor position. Mr.. Ed.
gerton has plenty of both, so he's the
one that will do.
"Why, I thought and then Sa,
repta stopped and bit her lip.
"Thought WHAT"
"Nothing; only that We we're doing
q rather queer thing, discussing these
two gentlemen as if they belonged to
u.s."
"Queer, maybe, but prudent" and
the prudent mother withdrew to medi'
tate upon the advantages Of q son-in.
law with Doth money and position.
The fact goes without saying that
there is more or less wickedness in this
world. If there were not, good Mrs.
Green would have been spared the sur
prise, mingled with humiliation, that
fell upon her that same evening.
Mother and daughter had set them
selves down beside the evening lamp to
chat and sew, and to have en- altogethe,
cozy evening, when the bell rung, and
Mr.. Charles Edgerton and Mr.. George
Merton were shown into the room.
Mrs. Green was almost astonished out
of all courtesy in contemplating the i'm
pertinence of the young men OF our
day, who 20 calling without waiting for
introductions. Her surprise was by no
can lessened, but the course of her
contemplation was turned when her
daughter showed what the girls of our
day are capable of, by welcoming the
two gentlemen very serenely, and intro
ducing them in q very matter-of-fact
way to her mother.
The explanation Of it wa that these
young persons had met in the merry
summer time in an out Of the way
country nook, where Sarepta was 80.
iourning with a city cousin, friend of
the Messrs. Edgerton and Merton.
Mrs. Green accepted the situation
gracefully, and was pleasantly courteous
as became so polite a lady. But when
the call had ended, and mother and
daughter were left again to each others
companionship, Sarepta listenedto some
animated remarks.
GA nice trick you played me |" said
Mrs. Green. "Let me 60 out asking
questions about those two men, and
you knew all about them all the while !
Why didn't you tell mel"
why, mamma, I didn't know that
you wanted to learn anything about
them. The first I knew you had found
out all I had to tell, and more too ; 30
what was the use2"
"Well, you might have told me be-
fore. And how was it you didn't recog-
nize them when We met on the street,"
81 did ; I bowed and they lifted their