The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-02-13
More Than Her Match.

Long shafts OF moonlight were shoot
ing down through what seemed an almost
impenetrable wood and quivering on
the green mosses. A faint wind dallied
with the foliage. Wild flowers hecked
the ground.
Here, in this sylvan retreat sat Miss
Barron, and she was very much ont of
humor, for every now and then she drove
the point of her parasol into the un-
offending moses. She looked and was
downright disgusted with everything
and everybody. The telle of three
seasons, during which she had escaped
heart-whole, she was now caught, !"
and all because of three weeks sojourn
at country villa.
Madge had never been off her guard
before. Hitherto she had visited
fashionable watering places; but this
year she had come to quieter place, and
had met Lindhurst Darlington. She
did not yet know, however, she was in
thralldom.
She only knew she was cross and
lonesome; and 80 she sat punching the
little blossoms and pouting. She thought
Darlington exceedingly companionable,
and that the other four gentlemen stop
ping at the villa were little better than
wooden men. As for downright, earnest
love, why her intentions for three years
had been never to venture her heart at
sea, but only to glide about the shore,
flirting, safe to disembark any time.
Yet sbe was now thinking of Lindhurst
Darlington in way many would have
termed love. But she would not admit
this to herself. He WAS delightful
summer friend, that was all, she said.
She liked summer, and flowers, and
birds, and hazy atmospheres, and a
qulet Irritation; but when these went,
the coming season brought new enjoy
ments and fresh firtations. and Barring
ton could 20 with them. Were there not
others, pray, who could read TennysOn
and sing tenor? But now, just this
moment, it was rather lonesome. If he
only would come
he had gone to town the morning
previous, promising to return in the
evening. She had walked with him
through this wood-path, on his way to
the station. He had fingered moment
at the stile beyond, to tell her how beau
tiful she looked-how the fresh morning
air had frightened the color on her
cheeks.
"Come this evening as far as here to
meet me-" he had said, "won't you !?
The path will be horrid labyrinth with
out you"
"You will surely returr?'' she had
asked. elf you don't, L shall find
every tree hobgoblin when 60 back
alone"
"Return, indeed I shall think Of
nothing else. shall do nothing all day
but pull out my watch to see if it is time
for the train.
Then he caught her hand in quick
way, thought moment, bounded over
the stile, and hastened down the path,
tnrning often to look back at the pretty
picture she made. listlessly leaning on
the stile, with tinge of regret in her
face. At turn where she would soon
be hid from sight he had dared to wave
her kiss.
Madge was now waiting according to
appointment, and she had taken care to
concoct most ravishing toilet.
But all her little preparations were
wasted. Lyndhurst Darlington did not
come, Still she waited. 1t seemed so
unreasonable, so cruel, to disappoint
her. Perhaps he was only trying to
tease her, had got ont unseen. and
would surprise her directly by his ap-
pearance.
A doleful sough of wind, coming from
the dark recesses of the wood, sudden
shutting down of night, made Miss Bar
ron feel something like fear; and she
started nervously to return. As it grew
darker her dread became terror; she
fancied strange noises were about; her
feet scarcely touched the ground; she
skinned on, futtering at heart like
some low.fying bird belated from its
nest.
What wonder that she vowed tha,
night, as she brushed out her hair, never
to forgive Mr.. Barrington9 What won
der that harmless little bunch OF violets
which he had gathered for her the day
previous and which she had treasured in
vase on her dressing-case, she now
ound faded, dissgreeable and odorless,
and that she tossed them pettishly out
into the darkness from her Window
"I detest him and his violets," she
cried. "He may stop in town till dooms.
day, for aught I care"
Miss Barron did not sleep we'll an6
rose in the morning with little dull
weight on her feelings. "Perhaps," she
thought, "he will not come even to
day."