The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-08-09
A BIT OF LACE.

SITS a perfectly exquisite piece of
lace, papa"
~" dare say, Flor.
"But want you to look at it."
81 shouldn't know any more about it
i'll did"
"Wel, then, want you to buy it."
q" Buy i'll! What for1
"Why, for me-"
"Pay FIVE hundred dollars for hand
kerchief foriyoua' - s,.
"Yes,; indeed Why, papa, I should
think itwas something atrocious. All
the other girls have them, although
certainly this is a little, the least little
nicer than theirs. I don't know why
Lucy should have, nicer handkerchief
than I, just because she married. Any
body else would say it was enough to be
married, and 80 let me have the hand
kerchief. Married women have every
thing-love and lace and diamonds.
Now, papa, just take out your pocket
Ebook." 1t was cosxing voice.
"Do you suppose I carry fve-hun-
dred-dollar bills in my pocketbook9"
"It makes no odds. Your check
book, then. I've set my heart on it,
q it's such a beauty. If you only look at
ID i-look at that wreath of flowers 80
delicately shaded; here the close work
in the light, you see, there the open
work in the shade, so perfect you can
quite fancy the colors; and all done in
sS this one thread. See, papa, there's a
K dewdrop, that round hole in the mesh. "
"Nonsense, Flor; I can't see anything
of the kind there"
=, e., That's because your eye isn't edu-
Gated, sir. Mine is; for have studied
90 other peoples laces till could almost
work them. That's good mani knew
= yon would. You always do. One, two,
three +" And then there was a shower
of kisses and tinkling laughter. And
that was the conversation of million
Taire and lis daughter that Lucian NAL
! win heard over the open transom OF the
next room to his in the hotel where he
staideovernight a year or two ago, seeing
rneither people nor handkerchief, and
Gaohastat the thought of handkerchief
costing five hundred dollars, which was
one-third of the mortgage on his little
place, that he was trying to pay off,
.heart:and soul-a conversation that now
: REQUIRED TO- him in a moment Of real
: agony, as the housemaid stood before
him holding little limp rag in her
hand that she had just snatched out of
the washtub, and that last night was a
bit OF dainty lace that Miss Rose Mer-
cier had called her handkerchief, and
Rad given him to hold during the galop.
Good heavens, how was he ever going
to restore it
He was a young lawyer, just entering
+ upon what in time would probably be
anepractice, but which was now rather
I empirical. He had started in the race
. for wealth and honor with good legal
ability, good name, and good morals,
and with NO other impediments than a
J Little patrimony in the shape OF q modest
dwelling in the suburbs, which he had
been obliged to mortgage for the means
to get o part of his education and his
profession, which mortgagehe was striv-
~ ng to pay of, that he might begin the
future clear of the world. he was a
handsome fellow, this Lucian Malvin,
an ambitious one too, in some degree,
and very nearly as proud as Lucifer.
He used to feel many pang in the as
socistion with those 80 much wealthier
than himself to which certain circum-
stances had subjected him. he had
had: an important case accidentally
thrown into his hands, and had acquitted
himself SO well that the wealthy client
took him up and would not let him
down; and when Lucian demonstrated
that it was out Of his power to keep up
such association, and was notifying to
. his pride besides, the client had assured
him it was not pride, but vanity, that
was mortified, and that the way to be as
wealthy as those he met was to keep
their company and get their cases and
he thought, on the whole, that perhaps
Is his friend was right, and he began to
yield with an ignobls motive, had never
theless become very fond OF the ways OF
: the people to whom wealth had given
every opportunity of culture and grace,
: and who knew how to treat life like a
work of art. Moreover, it was not a
little that he was petted by various OF
these good people. Certain motherly
ladies made him at home with them,
and won his confidence and hisafection,
notably Mrs. Barnetta. Parents with
good rentrolls of their own, as Mrs.
Barnetta used to tell him, were not so
kinsistent in the matter of rentrolls as of
virtue and talent in their daughters
husbands; and he was invited here and
there, and given to understand great
deal more than he choose to under
stand. Proud as Lucifer, as it was
previously stated, he was going to marry
no heiress of them all and be the thrall
OF her money; he could not marry a
rich woman, he could not marry poor
one. When he married, he was going
to give, not take, and at present he had
{, nothing to give. Perhaps he would
have been nobler person if he had not
been quite so strenuous in this matter
Of obligation /; but then, as Mrs. Barnetta
TX =, ne would not have been Lucian
-NMalvin, and Lucian Malvin was very
good fellow, after all, and there are few
of us but have our faults.
IT was among these people that be
happenedsto inset Rosa Mercier. She
: had come from distant place, and was
visiting his pleasantest acquaintance;
and certainly the house was pleasante,
still after her sunshiny little presence
dawned on it. It seemed as il, for in
stance, there never had been any flower.
in the house before, although IL had
always been overhowing; II seemed as Il