The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-10-24

or wandering among the ROCKS or along
the sands upon the shore. The captain
would come home hot and vexed, and
take his wife to task for this misdoing.
81 don't want any Deggarly parsons
hanging around my daughter" said the
captain.
The good lady would look very much
shocked, and really tremble in her heart
at the captain s temerity, for she thought
lit was almost tempting Providence to
cast a -contemptuous word upon the
clergy ,but she had that wholesome fear
of the captain that she never ventured
to demonstrate with him. She sighed in
secret with her daughter when the cap
tain managed to transfer the preacher to
the care of wealthy and comely widow
in the neighborhood
"He can poach all he pleases on that
domain" said the captain; and shortly
after, he was delighted to see the rever-
end gentleman riding out with the fair
widow, and gathering grasses and ferns
in the pretty woodland haunts about
Granville. .--.. ~ s.-
eve can't keep a parson single" I"
chuckled the captain at his dinner table:
"the women won't let him alone, do
what we may. But the widow Benson
owns her own house, and that will save
rent for parsonage.
The morsel upon Miss Betty's fork re-
NAMED untasted, and the captain in this
way spoiled many a meal for his
daughter. y = =
And so the summer waned, and Sep
tember was at hand-September with
her soft blue haze and rich warm sun
shine and though, the widow had q
brilliant garden of her own, she was fond
of the wanton wild flowers that grew so
luxuriouslv in the woods of Granville.
She and the young minister filled the
house with great clusters of golden-rods
and asters and big purple poke-berries.
One day the pony-pheton stopped before
the door of Captain Van Dyke, and the
widow was led into the sitting.room,
where she found Miss Betty almost
hidden by mosquito netting which she
was busily patching.
"Come, child" said the widow, "put
away that rag, and run get pretty dress
on. I've promised myself this many O
day we should take this drive together,
and declare to you it shall be the rarest
one you ever had in your life. The day
is made richly to order for it; the
balmiest air, the goldenest sunshine
not cloud in the sky Run away, and
make yourself look as pretty as you
can" ..,'.. .,....N
"You are very kind, said Miss Betty,
with little trip of cold jealousy on her
tongue; "but I must mend this netting
for poor Fifne. She is sick with fever,
and the mosquitoes are dreadful down
there n.the wood: Mamma says I may
have this netting if I can make it do; it
is SO badly torn, "Isaid poor Betty, t'and
so perplexing But I could not sleep,
Mrs. Benson" she added, with IN air of
gentle dignity, in which there was also
a slight sniff Of reproach-"I I could not
sleep in my own bod of luxury, and
know that poor Fi6ne was languishing
there, prey to fever and mosquitoes.
If the widow had thereupon offered to
drive to town with Miss Betty and buy
for Fifne brand-new canopy, Miss
Betty would have put the old netting
aside but she was at heart very glad
that the fine lady offered no such sacri-
fee to charity, for she could not bear to
find her altogether perfect.
"Ten chances to one, my DEAR" said
the widow, you'll have your labor for
your pains. These poor creatures are
verysupersiGous and queer, and don't
know what is best for them. I've no
doubt, il" any case, she has pretended
to be sick to get rid of some clear-starch-
ing for your goou mother. Fifine would
rather work at home, SO that she can be
with that lubberlY lout of husband OF
hers. She is the finest and best OF
laundresses, and sorry should I be to
have any thing befall her but you
must not believe all that these willy
Frenchwomen say"
The color mantled high in Miss
Betty's cheeks as these ISLANDERS fell
upon her ears, and she steadily refused
to put her work aside. 5&
tsYou are q little goose,p said the
widow at length. :" Must I tell you,
then, that we shall have some charming
company with us 2! We are to stop at my
house for Mr.. Roake-there, now, Miss
Betty, run away and dress. ''..''
The color fed from Miss Beatty's
cineeks, and the needle trembled in her
fingers. As she raised her blue eyes to
the fine black ones of the widow, tear
or two trembled within them.
"You ore welcome to your charming
company" she said. 81 will 60 on
with my work for poor Fifne."
The widow laughed lightly and went
away, leaving poor Miss Betty to strug-
gle on with her troublesome task, which
was more and more irksome ow that she
knew how some other people were
spending their afternoon. AS rent after
rent yawned before her, and her weary
little fingers grew less and less nimble,
more than once the question arose with
in her, whether it was better to go on.
Since nobody cared for her, why should
she care for any body? But her gener-
GUS heart conquered all these bitter
temptations, and nearly at night-fell she
ran up stairs to slip on the pretty mus
lin robe, all smoothed and crimped by
the art and industry of poor Fifine. The
netting was not q very heavy burden,
but she carried also kettle of ice with
her and a pot of jelly. She took the
road through the woods, and though it
was growing darker, and her heart beat
rapidly, and she could not brush the
mosquitoes away because her hands
were so full. yet she was upheld by the
thought of rescuing poor Fifne. Since
she could not save her from the stings
of SANDER and reproach, she. should at
least be free from those of mosquitoes.
At last through the trees she could see
the chicken-coops of Fifne, and soon
she was at the poor woman's bedside.
The heart of Miss Betty was fired with
indignation when she remembered the
cruel words of the widow. Fitine lay
nnon q rude bed in the corner. Always