The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-07-05

SWoeGof cream. bub IL IeLuIueO aSd1l
and again, and always with deeper
pain.
The visitors found on my arriva
were long since gone. Miss Hunting
don lived in the neighborhood; and il
would, perhaps, be proper to say that
We we're become quite intimate, had moi
all the talk and revelation been on hel
side. 7, for my part, had had no ad
ventures, and it seemed to me not inter
esting to offer theories to one who could
narrate facts. q 80 ts
One day she upbraided me for my
want of confidence, but I really had
nothing to tell, until at last I bethoughi
myself of the story of the ring.
"How very curious !" cried Miss
Huntingdon, when I had ended, hel
brown eyes opened wide. I" Do let me
see it.. I shall certainly know it il ]
have ever seen it before"
So took it from the case where it lay
glittering, and put it into her hands.
And it was with strange foolish pang
that saw her examine it, and heard
her chatter concerning it. She looked at
it with unfeigned interest.
+ "It is really beautiful" she said,
"and most uncommon. No, there is not
one among my acquaintance that have
ever seen wear such ring. It is the
oldest thing And it all happened
the evening you arrived2" ...--.
She had turned quite away from me,
and was looking out of the window. I
could, not see her face at all. - I'LL
"Miss Huntingdon, said, gravely,
with an emotion which I concealed as
we'll as was able, twill you answer me
question truthfullyf"
. "Any question that friend should
ask, I will answer. truthfully." She did
not turn toward me as she spoke. i .
"Wel, then, was it not you yourself
who threw this ring away2" :.
Now she did turn, and looked me
frankly in the eyes - - -
"Truthfully, it was not L"
"Thank you-oh, thank you |"
Why didTI furtively kiss the3ring :
Why, if she had said /" Yes, would I, in
turn, have thrown it passionately away
All ! the reader guesses.
It was perhaps fortnight after that I
sat alone at my window watching the sun
set beyond the hills, white with snow,
but seeing it as one sees in dream.
All my thoughts were wandering to-
ward happy hour last evening, when
DR.. Richardson had asked mo to be his
wife.
From thence the days fed by like a
dream. They were SO happy, but 30
short--that was all had to complain
Of; and they too rapidly brought near a
day that I longed for and yet dreaded.
And-it is sad confession-for the
first time in my life looked at myself
often in the mirror. 1t seemed as if /
had suddenly grown almost; pretty.
There was pink color in my cheeks;
my pale eyes had darkened and bright
ened. One day-think how foolish IL
really leaned over and kissed my own
lips; it seemed so delightful to be lit
tie handsome that 1 felt grateful to the
mirror.
"Do not you wish I were beautiful r.
l said, one afternoon, to DR.. Richard
son, with a wistful longing that he
should tell me he thought ME SO. We
were standing near the open door Of the
parlor, just as be was taking leave.
"Indeed I do not" he answered,
frankly. 81 love you just as you are. "
That was pleasant, but not what |
wished to hear. 81 . = II
| "But do not you wish l were as hand
some as--as Miss Huntingdon. for in
stauce2S Irersisted. '"Think how bright
and laughing her brown eyes are And
what gypsy color rises in her cheeks
when she is excited She looks aiame
sometimes"
"She does indeed" said DR.. Richard,
son, smiling; "but am not salaman,
der. / have no wish that you should
resemble her. Miss Huntingdon is
too -
"Too excellent for this world !" cried
that lady's laughing voice outside. She
had just entered the hall, and stopped q
moment at the parlor door. ",Good
afternoon, DR.. Richardson. Is the pa.
tient up stairs better to-day9 7 am OF
my way to see her. shall not take you
with me, Agnes, in order to earn DR..
Richardson's good opinion over again
for once he had good opinion of me. ,
She looked up at him sidewise and
laughed. She was wonderfully pretty
this afternoon-all sparkle and glow.
There was an instants, but only ar
instant's, odd constraint in DR.. Richard
sons manner I; then he said, quite
gravely "You have not forfeited my
good opinion, Miss huntingdon
"The truth is, DR.. Richardson" sai6
Miss Huntingdon, her face all lighted
with s4ucy, inward laughter :" thu
truth is, you owe me O debt of graft
tude deeper than you can ever repay
Tell me now, frankly, if it were not TO,
me would you be at this moment the
happy man you are?" Wv
"Frankly, I would not.
DR.. Richardson was very serious
Even Miss Huntingdon seemed to vel
some feeling under her gay manner.
was troubled.
"Why do you two talk in riddles 2
I asked. "Do you not both know tina
I have no talent for guessing2"
cat least you shall not cultivate i
lust now, DEAR" said Miss Huntingdon
&c DIR. Richardson will tell you when J
am gore. l must 60 to your aunt. i
does her good to soold me-" She turned
away and moved step or two, ant
then looked back with changed face
"Agnes," she said, wistfully, "woulc
you mind kissing me2"
"Mind kissing youa What a ques
ton But you are not going away
immedistely9"r Il ~s 80: :. -
"Oh, I don't know. Perhaps I hai
better bid you goodbye now. She
kissed me twice. Goodbye" she
said. Absolutely the spark in her eyes
was quenched in dew "Agnes," she
said, with an odd sort of half laughing
seriousness, 6" if you should ever come
to think that Ananias was a moral
character in comparison with myself, il
would be impossible for you to love me
any more, would it not2 But let me
assure you, my dear, that some stories
are told with the best possible inten'
tions."
Il Then she left us.
What can she mean, dear 2'
asked, turning in wonder to DR.. Rich.
ardson. a.7...i .rs
He led me to the chair I had quilted
and placing me there again, stood before
ma