The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-08-30

and remarks when he was in a serious
mood, and playing sad when he was in
clined to be merry. She would no lon
ger throw down his new hat flor which
he had q particular afection) q dozen
times q day, and pretend that it was en-
tirely accidental, and invite disagreea-
BILE company when he WAS least in the
mood to bear it. 1t required all her res
olution to leave her husband; she felt
wretched and unhappy at the very idea,
and would walk around the house think
ing of his loneliness, and wondering
whether he would eve feel sad OF re-
member her abominable behavior when
she had gone.
Her very heart was bursting the morn
ing she left, and it was with the great
est difficulty hat she could restrain her
tears. Yet one never would have sus-
pected it, for she was gay to an excess.
81 leave you with the comfortable
conviction that you'll not miss me at
ALL" she said, lightly, as her husband u.s.
sisted her into the carriage.
he smiled, said "Good bye" and the
horse started. Mr.. James Taylor would
have been fattered if he had known that
Fanny cried all the way home, and her
pretty face was so swollen and disfg-
ured that she did not even see Archie or
half of them till the following morning.
"Ill punish him by not writing"
thought she; she never even asked me
if I would I"
And write she did not for a fortnight,
till at length, growing desperate to hear
from him, she penned an epistle abound
ing in questions and directions, orders
and counter orders, with a feeble hope
at the end that it might find him
fourishing. he replied Immediately by
a very kind letter, not love-like, but in
unison with the rest of his conduct,
affectionato, proper and amiable. Fanny
waited a fortnight again, then sent for
him to take her home. And now was
Mr.. James Taylor, if he had the least
love for his amiable helpmate, to under
go a slight purgatory.
She wa absent when he arrived (of
course she intended to beg, riding with
her cousin Archie, and walked her horse
leisurely up the avenue talking gayly to
her escort till her husband reached her
side. Nothing could be more coolly
we'll bred than their meeting. No rap
ture or emotion on either side. She
chopped he was we'll ;" /" had she enjoyed
her visit2" Eyes; more than tongue
could tell"
CT don't believe he is WE'LL" thought
Fanny, as she glanced at him afterward
chow pale and thin he has grown, and
he looks more melancholy than ever.
wonder what is the matter with him."
murmured Fanny to herself. It was
surprising how many plans Fanny had
with her cousin during the three days
that her husband remained. She had not
been particularly civil to him before,
for he was an old lover, and she did not
care to be ; but now there really was nc
end to the jests and excursions they got
up together !; she gayest of the gay, and
he carrying her wild fancies with all the
zeal in the world.
ct don't think James looks either
we'll OF happy, Fanny" said her mother
one day.
"Don't youa" returned Fanny, and
she felt quite charmed at the idea, and
racing after her husband, who was Of
the foot of the garden, she proposed
her mothers remark without the slight.
est circumlocution. He looked for /
moment at her animated face, then re-
piled gravely that "he was perfectly
we'll" Fanny was uncertain again, yet
rather troubled.
"You must go and take a walk with
me, James, down by the river" she
said, "whero we used to 60 before VIC
we're married." and putting her hand in
his arm she continued, "now you must
go-I have you captive, surrender at
discretion"
Never had Mrs. James Taylor been
more charming than on this Identical
afternoon. She behaved (there is no
denying it) more like a wild bewitching
child than a decorous married lady; but
still she was very sweet. Her husband
yielded himself unhesitatingly to the
magic influence of her smiles.
"Take care! Don't 60 there, Fanny
he exclaimed, as she stopped over the
bank of the river.
"But I must have Them"
She returned, and bending an inch
further lost her balance and fell in. She
heard a deep, agonizing groan, had q
sense of suffocation, and lost all con-
s~ciousuess. When she revived, she was
on the bank of the river, her husband
bending over her clasping her hands,
pressing her wildly to his Heart, and
with every tender and endearing term
entreating her to look up and speak to
him again but she could not. She felt
deathly faint and relapsed into q sort Of
half stupor and heard his agonized cries,
his vain appeals for help, with naugbt
but the wind and leaves to hear his wild,
desperate misery, and with that deathly
sickness yet upon her, Fanny had q de-.
licious sensation at her heart. He loved
her, there wa no doubt about it now,
loved her madly, devotedly, and even if
she had died in the cold river, she would
not have exchanged for her life that mo-
ment's bliss.
"But, my dear Fannie, how could
you think I did not love you?" Exclaimed
Mr.. James Taylor, nc longer cold, dull
and silent, but as enthusiastic and can
did as his wife could desire.
Chow could I think otherwise p re-
piled Fanny, smiling family, for she was
yet very weak. "You mover told me
that you did"
"TolG you2" exclaimed Mr.. Taylor,
and the lone was sufficient. "It shall
entirely be the burden of my song for
tho rest of my life," he continued, "and
Won must be content to hear it for your
abominable suspicious"
81 certainly shall be, James Taylor"
replied his wife.
The Yacht Race,
The ocean yacht race for the Bennett
CHALLENGE CUP was begun on Thursday