The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-11-14
MISS DABNEY.

When was living on farm.
MISS DABNRY. "
Ithad been universally conceded among
Lonise Dabney' friends that she was no
favorite with gentlemen-that fortune
80 essential to feminine we'll being
Whether it was from lack of beauty
(though about that there were diversi
ties of opinion), or because Of cold ane
critical manner, certain reserve, ire
sponsive to the masculine touchstone
an innate detestation of Irritation, O
making an effort to please one sex more
than another, who could say? Louist
was herself aware that she inspired the
masculine heart with no serious senti
ments, and she may have wondered secret
" by what spells other girls who were
not 80 we'll bred nor 80 intelligent, and GER
tain y no fairer, gathered groups oflovers
about them, while she stood by,r alone
and uncared for-not, that she coveted 6
plurality-but what charm had they *
which she could not aspire? Every
woman loves admiration, and it is not tc
be supposed that Louise Dabney was
superior to this amiable weakness.
2"Louise has never had . Irritation, 6
love affair or a proposal" her friends
would have told you; but they were moi
quite correct in their verdict. She had
had "an interest, to putt mildly, ever
since that dreadful ight on the Continent
VIXEN her uncle had been brought hfeless
into the little out-of-t the-way place among
the mountains, and had left her alone
among people speaking an unfamiliar
jargon, with the sea rolling between
herself and home; and Loring Northcote
had come to her aid, though a total
stranger, had taken her burdens upon
himself, and had been like a shadow in
a weary land to the. .desolate girl, and
had finally escortedher home across the
sea, with his: wid owed sister as chaperon.
Since that period there had been more
or less intercourse between them, to be
sure, but the haf-tender regard he had
manifested toward her had seemed to
crystalize, without developing into any
thing more personal and particular.
"lt is onlylisw way with sl women" '"
abe said, and excused him in her heart.
And when she had thanked him for all
his kindness, and said: 5"How5 can I
ever reward you?" "By always com
ing to me when you need Kindness" he
had answered, but he thought s''She
is less emotional thata sphinx" And
though Louise had more than half e1-
pected that their relations would grow
closer as time sped, had, perhaps, some
right to expect it, yet Mr.. Northcote
had never advanced step nearer ; and
if she had abandoned hope, the flame
still smouldered, ready to, be ,rekindled
byAai wo7d, q touch, and nobody the
wiser, not even the interested friends,
who thought Louise neglected her op-
lportunities !; that any other girl would
have had an offer, at least, under the
circumstances. iiVTr2 "E!. .
It was the following season, which she
spent at the fine old mansion of a friend,
when, seeing the company dispensing
day after day by twos, she resolved to
amuse herself like the rest-to do as the
Romans. Every woman likes to believe
that she has her own little attractions,
and how was she to make sure of it il
she attracted nobody? Besides there
was nothing else to do. To abstain rom
the popular ( amusement seemed like
reproducing those who engage in it. Mr.
Leroy appeared to adopt her views. Il
abe walked, he followed like her shadow
If the river allured, his boat was al
hand; if driving we're in order. he
handled the reins like Jehu. Their
acquaintance had begun, moreover
under the most favorable auspices, to
take q romantic view Of it. She had dis
covered that her pocket had been pickeo
on the cars of both money and tickets
A handsome stranger steps forward tc
the relief of the distressed damsel graft
tu,le on one hand. gallantry on the other
he has established a claim to conversation
and discovers that theyare both bound fol
the same hospitsble roof at Valley Farm
Gould a Irritation be ushered in more
propitiously?
..Really," whispered Mrs. Furniss, 6
fortnight later. sitting on the veranda
and looking toward Lanise, who sat IN
the hammock which Laroy was lazilJ
swinging, II believe Miss Dabney has
made an impression.
"Who is Mr.. Leroy ?" asked the gen.
tleman to whom she spoke, and who hsd
Just arrived in the last train.
ga capital CATCH ,.
Alliterative at least. And has Miss
Dabney landed him."
"She could IL she would. It isn't his
fault if she hasn't"
"I shouldn't say that Miss DabneJ
was susceptible."j /
",How did you finl that out Mr.
Northcote ?" laughed the hostess.
'"'By natural processes, I believe.
L I'm told she isn't a favorite with
your sex; but exceptions prove the rule
Ienaver knew her to have Irritation
SbeforeI confess. :" a. "a
ss.sIs this a Airtation21 s&,sS.
"On her side, yes. It's her very in
difference that attracts Leroy. He''
used to being made much -ef, and to bav'
the girls, thrown ,at1hisy.h head, 80 K
SSpeak. As .shea doesny want TO- MARI.
him. she can afford to be audacious."
"I didn't think she would oondescene
to firt." g 8 Z 3iC &lA d
"You seem to have made study o
Miss Dabney. 4 think she didn't wisl
to be left out in the cold. Allmy guest
seem TO bei paired off this season. Yot
will have to devote yourself to me, Mr.
'Northcote, unless I import anothe
blessed damoseE'" =.
Don't, I beg !; I an, content with th'
blessings theigods have provided. =
.t"aYou might dispute Louise Eith Mr.
Leroy, toEbe sure. :.
"True. Letus begin by interruptint
the tete-a-tete. :" =, sJuyxurr
"+'Mr. Northcote," said Louise, "thiI
is pleasure for which Mrs. Furniss hat
not prepared u.s." .4"|l - =
Excuse me, but your friend doesn'
look as if he regarded it in that light,
said Northcote, aside. II hope I an
not de trop."
E"7"I didn't know that such humility o
that hope suggests was trait of you
'Gs.;sbM.,fnr1o ssw,v u ssr.d,nrraL >. ..