The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-10-10

QrOppcu WlGQlu Uuo uTaWlllS -IOOul, dul
as Mrs. De Berrian sat pensively leaning
her head on her hand that bore CLEAN
ing sapphire, a dark curl straying owe
he contour of the white hand set in it
lace ruff, and the damask shadow of 1
great vase of roses on the table, talle
than herself, falling round her, Colone
Lefebvre thought that he did admire
Mrs. De Berrain quito as much by day
light although it occurred to him late
that Bell would have called it rose-igh
or curtain-lght instead. He was con
tirmed in his admiration before he lef
her. He was not sure but that by the
tins he saw Mrs. De Berrian again ht
should be really in love with her. Ane
his little cousin Laura? Well, thank
Heaven, he could afford to marry where
he chose.
She was rather m enchanting woman
after her kind. Il will tell you about
her." said Laura to her~cousins, wher
she had endured their reproaches. "She
makes it a vital point to 'please-in hel
person, her manner, her voice. Her face
can only afford smiles, so she never re-
sents, not even such look as Bells
She was charmingly dressed. She il
visiting people just on the verge Of
society, Mrs. Vaughn says, but she
doesn't seem to belong to them. It ii
my belief that she has had money, rur
through nearly all of it, and that is hel
last throw for station and husband"
"Laura, where in the world" cried
her displeased aunt, "did you pick up
such -
French novels" said Bell, who had
run over. 81 must say, Laura, I think
you took great deal on yourself. Now
she will return the call" F"
"She-she would like to be respecta'
ble," stammered Laura. And you
know very well that if you want Lucian
to 20 and marry such q woman out OF
haud, you have only to persecute her. u
"Persecute her! You do use select
terms. We let her alone-which you
had better have done"
I'll didn't want Lucian to be NOR
titled"
$50 You. mortify us"
And by the time Lucian came home,
Laura was in a flood of tears, and sobbed
out, in reply to his amazed inquiry
"Oh, they are abusing me SOP And
then every one laughed at the idea of
their abusing little Laura, the darling of
the house.
"Well, we'll, Laura" said he. I'll
not abuse you. Invite you to our picnic
tomorrow to Great Falls. Mrs. De
Berrian will chaperon YOU"
"Mrs. De Berrian p rose the chorus.
"Madam Arroyo, the Spanish minis
ter's wife, invites her"
"Well, to be sure" said Bell, catch
ing her suspended breath, "nobody
knows anything about her either-an adj
venturess, all the legation say"
"The Count Zara escorts her. I
suppose nobody knows anything about
him."
The Austrian attache-yes, he hit
Nell hard then, he thought. " And
the young Russian duke that enchanted
you So"
ooh, men, all of them!"
every fine men, and some Of the finest
ladies at the capital. I'll take care OF
you, Laura, if you'll CO."
"Tn 60, Lucian."
"Perhaps she'd best" said Bell to
Helen, at the door. 81 shouldn't let
him out of my sight, if I were she"
1t was month later when Bell ran
over one evening, as usual, now the gaye-
ties were so few, and sat talking gloomily
With Helen.
81 never would have believed it OF
our Lucian," said she. Gail but en-
gagged, as he was, to Laura, and with
her fortune, that would have just doubled
his own, and she so gentle-and now
perfectly lost and infatuated over this
French doll"
81 can't imagine that it is the same
brother who turned pale when we came
down with carnine on our cheeks the
day after we first saw the French play,
and who expostulated with us so.
"Our turn now.
"He would have made Laura such
n good husband said one.
"But now this demoralizing
woman -
And while they we're bemoaning his
decline and fall, the subject of their COM
plant was whirling away in palace-car,
surrounded by wraps and rugs aud lunch
baskets aud periodicals and French
candy and Mrs. De Berrian, the wax
lights shining softly down from above on
the charming picture the lady made, rs,
having removedher hat, she leaned back
among her cushions under the shelter
of the rose-colored scarf passed over her
dark curls. Mrs. De Berrian had been
summoned to New York Oh important
business Colonel Lefebvre had sud-
denly found that he had business there
too. Mrs. De Berrian perhaps meant to
give him some business before he re-
turned. Neither of them was aware that
behind the curtains of neighboring
section, whose births had been made up
and occupied just as the train started,
seposed one of his aunts and his cousin
Laura.
If simply an infatuation over mere
beauty were in case, no one could marve
at Colonel Lefebvre's infatuation. BY
candle-light at night, behind veil out
doors, in the dim, deep-curtained draw
ing-room, Mrs. De Berrian was worthy
painters pencil-delicate features,
scarlet lips, deep dimples, penciled
brows, the sparkle Of teeth, the soft
dark glow Of great eyes, the snowiness
OF the forehead under multitudinous
waves of shadowy hair-beauty could
hardly be better imaged forth, although
possibly one might tire of it, and of the
set, unvarying smile, for all its sweet
ness. Lucian had not tired of it yet
once or twice there had crossed his mind
suspicion that its owner was not alto
gether a woman Of high principle, but
whether he had put the thought away as
reasonable, or had felt with not un
usual masculine vanity that he coulC
change all that, or had not just ther
cared so much for high principle, it die
not hinder his own color from mounting
when he looked at hers, or his pulse
from quickening when this woman
touched his hand. AS for Mrs. De Ber
rian, she was beginning to feel tolera
BILE assurance that at last her pendulout
position on "the verge of society" was
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