The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-09-20


her not to glance, talk or think anything
more of Mr.. Frank Williams.
Mr.. Frank Williams, the victim of
these Vaccinations, was one Of those
universally popular and happily con-
stituted characters who take everywhere,
with young and old, grave and gay.
His peculiarly fascinating exterior had,
of course, something to do with this,
but, more than all, never ending flow
of good spirits and amiability, or suavi-
tiveness, rs phrenologists would term it,
which possesses an irresistible attrao-
ton. This much vaunted quality made
him play, romp and make himself as RI
diculous as they could desire with chill
dren, just as he could listen with the
most deferentid and interested atten-
tion to the long, dull harangues of their
papas and mammas.
His bow to his lady love, Miss Ger
trnde Vernon, was the perfection. OF
courtesy and grace, so it was to poor
old Mr.. Anderson, who sold books and
pamphlets at the little shop on the cor
ner OF the street. The very attendants
at the large house where he boarded
had wings when he was to be served.
Yes, Mr.. Frank Williams was, or rather
had been, universal favorite. But,
10 wondrous change. The pleasur'
able Hutter, agitation and smiles, which
were wont to mark his approach at par
ties, all had disappeared, and in their
place he beheld. q sullen and ominouH
gravity and shrinking. Young ladies
instead Of being "most happy" were
"engaged," or fatigued," or "just
going home, when he asked them to
dance. Miss Oornelia W sndall no long
erjdeclared she could not think of sing
ing without an accompaniment, and
glanced q pair of most coquettishly
beautiful eyes, significantly as she spoke.
mol she did not accept them when he
rendered his services. The pretty
widow, Mrs. Harcourt, no longer seized
his arm and carried him off captive,
rolens volens, by way of shielding her
self, as she protested, from the attacks
of that insufferable bore, her sexagena-
rian adorsr, Mr.. Mills. Amamma came
up one evening and absolutely took hel
daughter off without preface or apology,
who was hesitating, blushing and be-
lieving that her father was going home
with her." when Mr.. Williams requested
that honor. There were no more little
suppers and family dinners, for him at
Mrs. ILindsey's, and little Maggie. not
only refused in the most digni6ed man
ner to be caressed and played with, but
dashed over the othor side Of the street,
whenever she saw him coming, in evi.
dent perturbation and alarm. The gay,
merry, fattering world had changed
amazingly for Mr.. Frank Williams;
"nodsa and becks, and wretched smiles, Z"
all vanished; he begun to doubt wheth-
er he was himself. To complete his
desperation, sthe lady of his love bad
waned from timid delight to chill indif-
ference, and from chill Indifference to
cold contempt, proposing in the full
lu1uriance Of which last he received, a
most emphatic and Indignant mol
for his trouble. Mr.. Williams confded
some OF, his distressing sensations to his
friend, Mr.. Lindsey, who confded them
to-. his WIFE,. and wondered what the
deuce had got into the people, particu-
larly that silly little girl, Gertrude Yer
non, for treating fine, gentlemanly tel-
low like Williams in such scandalous
manner.
Mrs. Lindsey said nothing, but
thought great deal; her woman's heart
failed within her for fear, and over her
pillow that night fitted visions of suits
for slander and defamation, courts and
costs, mingled with those Of justly in.
furiated husband, and the new cashier 9
handsome person extended at full
length with his brains blown out. On
considering the matter the next day,
however, there was possibility that
some one else might have done the mis-
chief, and without betrayiDg herself she
determined to proceed, in the most di-
plomatic manner possible, to the dis
covery of this fact. At small party
where Mr.. Frank Williams was not, she
seated herself by Mrs. Maxwell, a charm
ing young married lady and friend OF
his, who had remained cordially true and
kind amidst the volley OF cold looks and
icy greetings by which the unfortunate
youth had been assailed. 7 Il Z r
"What can be the reason" exclaimed
Mrs. Lindsey, with wonderfully ignor'
ant and sympathizing air, "why that
agreeable young man, Mr.. Williams, is
not here tonight 7"
"He was not invited" replied her
auditor, coldly, with most suspicious
brevity. rs az --..1 - -.
"Not invited T." echoed Mrs. Lindsey,
as if she really could not credit the full
horror Of the fact, of which, blythe way,
she was aware before. Her companion
made no reply, and Mrs. Lindsey begun
on another tack. "I do not think he is
as great favorite as when he first came
here" Still no answer, and Mrs. Lind
sey, who did not find this "monologue-
ing" particularly agreeable, turned to
her silent auditor, and exclaimed:
"What can be the reason ?"
=" 7 should imagine you would know,
Mrs. Lindsey" answered the lady, at
leugth, with no little indignation. " for
it was something that you told Mrs.
Vernon, and Mrs. Vernon told Mrs.
Fisher, and Mrs. Fisher told her cousin
Mrs. Wells, and she told Mrs. Davis,
and she told-nobody knows who; suf-
flee it to say, that every man, woman
and child, in this place has heard the
"something," and it is doing deserv-
ing young man incalculable injury and
running his prospects in every way"
"What will become Of mes" thought
Mrs. Lindsey, in an agony, as she walk
ed home that night. "Oh that treach-
erous Mrs. Vernon, when / told her in
all friendliness, too, entirely on her
daughter Gertrude's' account, and she
promised me that she never wouldspeak
of it again /" ..... '.,-. = .. -.
Early the next morning she sailed
into Mrs. Vernon's and asked, with
quivering lips and ashy cheek, whether
che had NJ entioned "that affair about
Mr.. Frank Williams to any one.
Her friend looked excessively fright
ened an silly herself for a moment or
two, then acknowledged that she "had
spoken of it to Mrs. Fisher, but she was
sure she had not told-she would 60 and
see her without delay"
ssBut she has though" replied Mrs.
Lindsey, with the energy OF despair;
"she told her cousin Mrs. Wells, and
Mrs. Wells told Mrs. Douglass, and
Mrs. Douglass told Mrs Davis, and it is
all over town."
Z Nothing except Mrs. Lindsey's con
sternation could equal Mrs. Vernon's.
But drowning man catches, at straw.
(, There may be some mistake, she