The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-17
Al last she knew she loved Wilfred


Why, it would be her joy to recognize
his right to demand of her return for
the love he bore her. Lucilla Fowler
had been hitherto willful, impetuous
, girl. Suddenly she had become trans
formed into loving, submissive wo-
man. Beatrices words
"And Bencdick. love on E; 1 will requte thee,
Turning my wild heart to thy loving hand"
rose to her mind, and the spoiled beauty
and coquette, overwhelmed with shame
for her own willfulness, opened her eyes
to her own faults, clearly and without
disguise, and sinking back in despair on
her pillow, burst into. passion of
tears.
Lucilla scarcely slept all that night !;
but when Dorcas came in the morning
with the hot water and the intimation
that it was nine o'clock, she felt almost
ashamed lest her maid should remark
her heavy eyes and haggard appearance.
"Please, ma'am, I'm very sorry" be-
gan Dorcas, penitently, "but forgot
all about it"
"Forgot all about what?" asked LII
ella, istlessly.
"The note, ma'am, for Captain Her
bert. It's Christmas time, you see,"
pleaded the lady's maid, apologetically
"and when I left your room last night,
ma'an, to take it to the captain, I met
Mrs. Knox, the housekeeper, in the
corridor, and she told me there was
hot curry of turkey, and mince pies, and
elder wines, and 1 don't know what else,
ready in her room, and asked me to go
down and so-and so-and-hee-hee,
ma am here Dorcas put her apron to
her eyes, and began to sob 81 forgot
all about the letter, ma'am, till this
morning" she continued =; 81 but when I
went up to the captains room, just now,
he was up and gone out. Oh, maam, l
do hope it amt no consequence.
A light broke on Lrcilla.
"Where is the note now, then" she
asked, joyfully.
"Here, ma'am." And Dorcas drew
it from her bosom. Lucilla seized it,
while she almost screamed:
"Oh, you good girl You dear, good
girl" Dorcas started back in amaze
ment. What, no scolling? Had her
mistress gone out of her senses
"You may have that purple mcrino
of mine, if you like, Dorcas," pursued
Miss Fowler, "and that nice warm
jacket. I shan't wear it again. y
Then light broke in upon Dorcas'
frightened mind also.
"Oh !" said Miss Pert to herself,
"some lovers quarrel, guess, and she's
altered her mind, and she's glad he amt
got her note. All =.
But the wary lady's mail kept her
IDEAS to herself, and thanking her mis-
tress delightedly, proceeded to assist her
to make Eer toilet.
When Wilfrcd Herbert took his seat at
the breakfast table, he was i'll a state of
terrible suspension AMI uncertainty, and
utterly unable to account for Lucilla's
radiant lemeanor. Was she glad to be
rid # him? Had his note been lie
livered to herr If 50, how WAS it that
he received no answer? He tormcnted
himself with these questions till every
body remarked his absence of mind. He
helped his next fair ncighbor to ievilcd
kidneys instead Of game pie, and electri-
fed the housckecpcr, who presided over
the tea and coffee, by asking for more
sugar III his gap of coffee, when he had
already taken five humps.
Mr.. Fowler rallied the young officer
on his absence of mind, and suggested
that where his treasure was, there it Was
TO be presumed his heart was also.
The young ladies' asked him if he chad
i,i.; considering cap on, while one acute
d;;mscl suggested that perhaps Captain
II. wHs e,ltsnglei in the fjwler's snare.
Breakfast over, Lucilla, anxious to
make amends, and too happy to care
much about cTcr,eaping the conventional
fence Of maidenly propricty, advanced
toward the young officer.
"You have not had your answer yet,
Captain Herbert" she said; "if You can
come with me two minutes into the con-
serratory, you shall have it now"
Bewil,lcred. but tumultuol.sly happy,
the captain followed Luciila into the place
specified.
She came to the point at unce, without
any beating about the bnsh.
II wrote yon last night" she said,
placing in lis hand the note which Dor
cas- had returned to her.
Wilfred Herbert turned it over with
puzzled lock. There was the one ;nx-
icus little wor,l "Nn."
"What dous this mean?" lie asked,
doubtfully.
"It MEANS" answered Lucilla, blush
ing and smiling at the same time:
"No." answered YOU, last night;
YES" this morning. sir. say.
ColOrs viewed by candlcliSht
Do not LOOK the same by day.
Then, like q good, honest girl rs she
was, she told him the whole story.
"Dorcas ought to he pensioncd,' he
said, rapturously. "Iou do love Inc,
then, darling, after all %
"Ycs," replied Lucilla, blushing,
"although ] have both said and written
"No."
"Ncvcr mind, Lucic, dearest, sweet
est, best" said tho young man, taking
her in his arms unrcpulscd, "yDu know
two negatives make an affirmative"