The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-11-06
For q week Hal was delirious.

thorough, womanly way, that ont
would hardly have looked for in one 81
young. At last, Halls youth brough
him round. To me it was a great re
lief. l wrote to his father that he hae
been sick, but wa better, and that VI
should probably soon come home.
But Hal was in no hurry to return
What his reasons could be for wishing
to stay in that out-of, thc-way place
puzzled me sorely, for awhile. But one
day it flashed upon me, all at once, tina
Hal was in danger of falling in love will
Jennie. Ever since his recovery, he hae
been in her society a good deal; and
noticed that she seemed shy and reserv
ed, whenever 1 met them together. J
had seen many other little things, too
that where quite suggestive, when J
came to think them over. "This,"
said to myself, "must 60 no farther
Jennie is charming enough in her way
but if Hal marries, it must be with some
one of his class. He, the heir Of one O.
the first families Of New York, to we'd
mere crest nymph Impossible VIVA
would his father think of me?"
That very afternoon, I said to Hal
81 shall get off to New York tomorrow
morning. Dan you be ready?"
He started suddenly, and gave me {
penetrating look, as if to read my
thoughts. Then be flushed scarlet, ane
said:
"Of course I will be ready"
That was all. But I felt relieved.
"Once get him away reflected, "and
he will soon forget all about it,
That night, after tea, Jennie went o11
to pick some berries. Soon after, ]
missed Hal. Iguessed where he was,
and I felt vexed. 1t was nearly DARK
when they returned, their hands full o!
bright maple leaves. When they saw
me, Jennie slipped quietly away into the
house. and Hal came directly toward
me. His face vas flushed, and he seem
ed agitated, and in attempting to talk he
made some strange blunders.
The next morning we were OF on the
early stage. We stopped a day at Old
Orchard, to rest and pack our trunks,
and then went directly homo, where we
were gladly welcomed by vi friends.
As we alighted from the hack, at my
hotel, Hal took out his diary to pay the
driver and as he held it up in the gas
light, I caught q glimpse of the page
bearing the date Of the day of u de-
parture from tho farmhouse F.; and on 1t
we're written two names, with a scarlet
maple leaf fastened below them.
Soon after our return, business called
me to California, where I remained for
a year.
Daring this time I had heard nothing
from Hal. The little Incidents of GU
tour in Maine, meantime, had been for
gotten. But when T returned to New
York, T called on Hal at once.
"Delighted to see you back again"
said Halls father, into whose presence l
was ushered.
"And how is Hal?" I said.
"Hal? I have not seen him for an
age" :.
Have not seen him Where is
hep"
"He is in the city. I suppose you
know Hal is married?"
81 did not" I said, still more sur
prised.
eyes, he married q penniless girl,
from somewhere in the woods of Maine.
Threw himself hopelessly away. 1 was
so displeased, that I told him he must
look out for himself; and the boy was
spirited enough to do so. He and 1
have not met for six months. He is do
ing business in a small way for himself,
and I understand, successfully"
81 am so sorry to hear this" I said.
Scan nothing be done?"
"Well perhaps" answered his..fath-
er, "we have both been headstrong and
foolish ; and both too proud to acknowl-
edge 1t. But I want Hal back again,
wife and all. he is all I have, and life
goes rather hard, I must confess, with
out him. I am glad you have come
home, Hardy. I can't quite make up
my mind to go to Hal myself, and /
want you to do it for me. You used to
have great influence with him."
CT shall be happy to serve you in
this"
"When will you see him?"
"To.night. The sooner the better. "
Aud so 1t was decided. The father
was to remain in the carriage while /
went in.
Halls house was a small neat cottage
in the suburbs. A vigorous tug at the
bell soon brought out the proprietor.
He looked at me a moment as if to iden-
tify me :; and then I felt a pair of strong
arms around myneck. -.
"Why. you dear old fellow" cried
Hal. "Where did you come from? I'm
so glad to SEQ you! Where have you
been all this time"
AS he spoke he whisked me into a cosy
little sitting-room, and before [ had
time to reply, had disappeared. It was
O CHEEKY, home-like apartment, with
nothing but plain furniture and simple
adornments ; but there was such a tidy
appearance about everything that I
knew Halls wife must be a jewel.
When Hal returned, I caught, for the
first time, a glance at his face. 1t was
the same fresh, joyous face, only there
was o serious m%anliness now, in place
of the old boyish expression. He was
followed by a fair.haired, rosy-faced
young creature, whom, with a proud air,
he introduced us his wife.
Where had l seer her before? She
had q familiar look, but I had met SO
many people in my changeful, moving
life, that I could not locate her for q
moment. Suddenly, under my scruti,
nizing gaze, she blushed I had seen that
blush before. All at once, the truth
flashed on me.
"Why, you are Jennie" I exclaimed,
and took both her hands in mine.
"Yes, I am Jennie" she answered,
and blushed again redder than eve
We sat down, and began to talk. ]
preached the subject Of his father.
81 can never go back to him" said
Hal, "without he makes some advances
first, and he will never do that"
"Are you quite SO sure p said a deer
voice behind u.s.. We looked around.
30 eager had been our conversation that
we had not observed the opening of the
door.
"Are you quite so sure?' said Halls
father, for it was he who spoke.
"My DEAR be continued, advancing
and bowling low to Jennie, "pardon ar
old man, who has come, though late, tc
ask your forgiveness. I want your hus'
band to be my son again. I want you
to be my daughter. I want you both tc
come and live with me, that is if you