The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-19
DoRA'S, S LOVERS.

Dora will never forget that day Of the
procession; she remembers the very airs
the bands played, the glitter of epaulets,
the splendidly caparisoncd horses, the
waving flags. She was very happy on
that day-far happier than she was for =
long, long season afterward. Clement
had invited her to 60 into the city to wit
ness the pageant; he had permission
from Mr.. Oliver, q director of the Bank
of Shekels, to take window in that
building, by which the procession pass
ed. Aunt Hitty had frowned upon the
affair, and had told her she was fool to
encourage that ungjackanapts ), and so
keep better matches at distance. " If
he weren't going off directly, I should
forbid it." she said. "How can you
care for him, when such aman as Simon
,Cleyerly is at your feet, passes me!
they're not to be named in the same
breath. Cleverly is tall, Clement Smith
ers isshort; Cleverly's eyes are dazzling,
Clements are near-sighted; the one has
q fortune of his own, the other hasn't n
sou. so to speak" AS for the question OF
money, Dora felt that she would rather
share poverty with Clement than dwellin
marble halls and fare sumptuously every
day with MIR. Cleverly.
It so happened that she and Clement
were the earliest arrivals at the bank,
with the exception of a clerk, and as
that person knew Clement, and had q
sweetheart to escort from the suburbs,
he soon left them in possession. Dora
had never been inside the bank before,
and while they waited and said their
tender nothings, she looked about her
asking innumerable questions, in ordor,
perhaps, to postpone the inevitable
question.
"There's the SAFE" said Clement, as
they paused before door. Its built
into the wall. If you open this door, il
rings a bell some where in an Office in
Exchenge street, and they are warned
that somebody is tampering with the
safe, and Up comes q brace of police
men,"
"Oh, Clement, what a romancer you
are!" laughed Dora. Wont they hear
it at Thule? Let's see"-and she turned
the handle of the door. "There Why
doesn't the bell ring?"
. pose, or he'd make off. Maybe it's the
inner door, the door of the safe itself
They don't lock this one. you see, and
anybody might open it by mistake.
When the bank officers want to open the
safe, they know how to prevent the bell
from ringing, they tell me, but maybe
it's all humbug. Cleverly told me about
it-he's teller here" And presently
other spectators arrived, and Clement
and Dora took their places at the win.
dow. and caught far off the muffled
tread of feet, the beating of drums, and
the hint of a martial tune. Just then
the door opened hurriedly, and an irri.
tated-looking man popped in, like ajack'
out-of-a-boX.
"Who has been meddling with the
banks safep" he cried.
Il don't think it has been disturbed,
replied a gentleman present. Clemen,
and Dora had forgotten that safe
existed, and had just stepped out upor
the window balcony.
Don tell me" pursued the irate Off
cial. "Was nobody here when yor
came?"
"Only those two young people on th'
balcony-lovers.
"Confound 'em!" and he stepped uF
to Clement and pulled his sleeve
Somebody's been tampering with TIN
safe-can you tell me anything abou
it?'
IL really" stammered Clement
suddenly brought down to earth. Z"
beg pardon-what did you wish?"
The man repeated his question NOR
angrily. His demeanor brought tn
blood in flame to Clements face.
There was no harm done, I assur
you," he answered. "The door wa
opened by mistake"
Tell him, Clement-tell him
opened it." whispered Dora.
"W Worth while bringing man all tn
way from Exchange street for nothing
Tn t comes of opening the bank +
Tom, Dick and Harry! I shall have t
lay it before the Board of Directors,
shall" ..
IL haven't the smallest objection,
said Clement; and while they returne
to the memorable pages of the past
where here a rose had been pressed, an
there sprig of mignonette, the pro
cession moved into sight, the musi
scared above them, the crowd surge
beneath; there was rhythm in the trea
of the marching feet, and the sun struc
sparks from the housings of the horse
and the points of bayonets. Cleverly
on q capering steed, looked up an
smiled on Dora, while daggers she
from beneath his brows as he recognize
her companion. But everything has a
end. The last bit of glitter and colo
finally vanished down the long vista {
the street, and the band music becam
like the unreal melody of dream. The
went and dined together afterward, an
stepped into picture gallery, and sal