The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-07-17
"I do not hesitate to confess" wen

" NY uo11y o2Soos
every laudable, I'm sure" said the
old lady, growing a little uneasy under
the clear blue gaze, "only-there are
steps and gradations in ali society, you
know, and-I am a little surprised to
find you so intimate with Miss Elton,
whose family is"
Mary came over to Grace's side, and
stopped to kiss her cheek.
"My dearest friend-my most precious
companion" she murmured, 81 should
be quite lost without her, Mrs. Sey-
mour."
The old lady took her leave stifay,
and did not ask Grace to return her call,
although she extended an invitation to
Mary, couched in the politest and most
distant terms.
Crank |" she calculated, never once
stopping to remove shawl or bonnet,
and bursting into her sons studio like
an express-messenger of life and death
news. "who do you suppose your para
gon of a Miss Teller is ?"
"The loveliest of her SEX" returned
Frank, briefly and Complementary.
ga factory grill" screamed the old
lady at the height of her lungs, Ca
factory girl !"
"Well, what of that?"
"What of that? Frank Seymour,
you never mean to say that you would
have anything to say to a common fac
tory grill"
eel should pronounce her a very un-
common factory GIRL" said the young
man. with an aggravating calmness.
"Frank, don't Jest with me-" pleaded
the poor little mother with tears in her
eyes. "Tell me at once you will give
up this fancy for a girl that is in no way
equal to you" =.
"No-she is in no respect my equal"
returned Frank, with reddening cheek
and sparkling eye, "but it is because
she is in every respect my superior.
Grace Teller is one of the noblest
women that ever breathed this terrestrial
air, as we'll one of the most beautiful.
Mother, I love her, and she has prom
ised to be my wife"
Mrs. Seymour sat down, limp, ifeless
and ~despairing.
Crank Frank I never thought to
see my son marry a common factory girl.
And then a torrent of tears came to
her relief, while Frank went on quietly
touching up the scarlet foliage of a
splendid old maple in the foreground of
his picture.
$50 you are determined to marry me,
Frank, in spite of everything?"
Grace Teller had been crying the
dew yet on her eye-lashes, and the un-
natural crimson on her cheeks, as Frank
Seymour came in, and Mary Elton cor
siderately slipped out ''to look for a
missing pattern"
81 should think So" said Frank, look
ing admiringly down on the gold head
that was STOPPING among the pansies.
"But you mother thinks me far below
you in social position"
"Social position be-ignored. What
do I care for social position, as long as
my little Grace has consented to make
the sunshine of my own home"
Eyes, but Frank"
"Well, but Grace?"
"Do you really love me?"
For answer, he took both the fair deli
cate little hands iu his, and looked
steadily in her eyes.
Crank" said Grace demurely, "I'm
afraid you will make a dreadfully strong
wilied, obstinate sort of a husband"
81 shouldn't wonder, Oracle"
And so the gold twilight faded into a
purple, softer than the shadow of East
ern amethysts, and the stars came out,
one by one, and still Mary Elton didn't
succeed in finding the pattern.
Mrs. Seymour was the first guest to
arrive at Mrs. RanGall's select soiree on
the first Wednesday evening in July
~elevating her %kid-gloved hands, "what
is the matter? I hope Frank isn't in
any sort of trouble"
"My DEAR" said the old lady in mys-
terious whispers, Frank Las been en-
trapped, inveigled into the most dread
full entanglement. Did you ever fancy
that he, the most fastidious and partic-
ular of created beings, could be reso-
luteS determined On marrying-a fac
tory girl9"
Mrs. Randall uttered an exclamation
of Mortified surprise, and at the same
moment a party of guests were an
bounced, among whom was Miss Grace
Teller, looking rather more lovely than
usual.
"Well," thought Mrs. Seymour, as
her hostess hurried away to welcome
the new corners, twill wonders never
cease? Grace Teller. at Mrs. Randall's
soiree! But I suppose it's all on &C.
count of Mary Elton's uncle, the Judge.
Here comes Mr.. Parker and Cynthia
dear me, what q curious mixture
American society is; how they will be
shocked at meeting Grace Teller"
Involuntarily she advanced q step or
two to witness the meeting. Mr.. Park
ter looked quite as much astonished as
she had expected, but somehow it was
not just the kind of establishment that
was on the programme.
"Miss Grace; you here9 Why,
when did you come from Factoryville ?
"You are acquainted with Miss Tel
Ter :" asked Mrs. Randall, with some
surprise.
"Quite well ; in fact I have had the
management of her property for some
years. Miss Teller is the young lady
who owns the extensive calico factories,
from which our village takes its name"
"Dear mel" calculated Mrs. Sey-
mour, turning pale and sinking down on
a divan near her. "Why, they say the
heiress of the old gentleman who owned
the Factoryville property is the richest
girl in the country"
"Grace," said Frank, gravely and
almost sternly, "what does this mean p
The blue eyes filed with tears as she
chung closer to his arm
ct can't help owning the calico fac.
/. tories, Frank. Don't you love me just
as well as if T didn't?"
|: "My little deceiver. But why didn't
you tell me ?"
"Why should I tell you, Frank? II
was so nice to leave the heiress behind
and be plain Grace Teller for awhile.
And when I saw how opposed your
mother was to our engagement, a spark
of woman's willfulness rose up within
me, and I resolved I would maintain my
incognita, come what might. Mrs.
Seymour" she added, turning archly
round and holding out her hand to the
discounted old lady, "didn't I tell you
that I owed my daily bread to the fac
tory?"