The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-08-20

| Nell WOulo nardnSue. Llle lSH lou
enough to learn it."
at is linked sweetness, long drawn out,
Lucius returned.
On wet days they read Browning below
or repeated in turn all the old ballads the.
could recall, or danced to Nell's violin. S
they drifted along the coast, touching her
and there at some port, or going ashore il
merry groups for books, or mail or gardel
party. Nora acknowledged she had neve
had such gay time in her lie.
ooh, if l could live on yacht forever !!
she said, one star-lit night, when she ant
Lucius were sitting apart, as they had con
tracted habit of doing.
$50 you like sea-faring life?"
"Yes; how dull it will be to return t.
commonplaces. Just think, Mr.. Elphin
stone, fortnight ago had never heard o
you; aren't you mortified p
"Such is fame. And now?"
"Why, now l feel as if l had known you
a hundred years or more;;" and then Nor;
hung her head at her own rash words.
81 regret that the time has seemed Sc
long," laughed Lucius "To me this fort
night has seemed Ike a dream. Tell me-
about yourself, Miss Nora" he said, after &
pause. "How little I know of you, in spite
OF our long intimacy. I've taken you en-
tirely on trust, haven't /? Continual
comfort in a face-the lineaments Of gospel
looks he quoted.
"Flattery, thy name is man. What car
1 tell you about myself that you don't know
already? You know my favorite poets
and novels, my religious views, my slender
accomplishments; you know l live in the
country, and am just now keeping house in
the city for my brother and sister, who are
abroad. Do you like boys, Mr.. Elphin-
stone?"
"What a digression! I can tolerate
them. By-the-way, speaking of boys re-
minds me OF a correspondence I've had with
an anxious mother on the subject. | rather
think l have one OF the precious epistles
about me: they're such sweet-tempered
specimens, you ought to see them. Listen,
here's one Of them,' as he struck a match
and read:
" Mr.. Thurston:
"SIR-I can rely implicitly upon our
divers word. And if fail to reorganize
the manners of our boy, it must be because
your own furnishes him such evil examples.
"'H. BROWNE
"There Don't 1 pity Mr.. Browne.
Isn't she Xantippe? Think of ma rrying
a woman of that kind! Ye gods!"
"But-but you are not Mr.. Thurston ?"
gasped Nora.
"Not exactly. I was his amanuensis on
this interesting occasion. Grandpa Thurs
ton has mischievous grandson, besides
myself, who had come to fisticuffs with said
Master Browne. Grandpa Thurston is
paralyzed, and can neither walk nor write,
therefore.the burden fell upon your humble
servant"
eyes, think the wind has changed, Mr..
Elphinstone," said Nora, after pause. 81
must 60 below"
"Let me bring you wrap instead, Miss
Nora"
"Thanks; but it is growing late. The
Others have already gone; 1 really must
follow. We get in tomorrow"
eyes. Remember this is our last night
at sea. Let US make the most Of it."
~ have enjoyed the voyage. 1t is only
the end that is unpleasant. Goodnight"
ooh, what fool" thought Nora, as she
lay upon her pillow, "ever to have written
that silly, bad-tsmpered note to Mr.. Thurs
toni 1t did sound spiteful, / confess
Perhaps l ought 10 have told him l was
the author; perhaps he already suspects it.
Isn't she Xantippe? Think OF marry
ing woman of that kind 7" she quoted.
"Who wants him to? He needn't have
taken pains to assure me of his Indifference"
she groaned, inconsequently, Gas if I didn't
know the difference between Irritation and
love-making. Well, we get home to-mor-
row. thank goodness! But, oh, dear! it
might have been all so nice "
When they parted next day Miss Nora
was cordial in her thanks, but omitted to
ask Mr.. Elphinstone to call and see her.
Nobody but himself observed the omission.
$50 you don't want me to call p"
he asked, deliberately. Does our ac-
quaintance end here?"
" ii you ever happen to come to Axmins-
ter, shall be glad to see you'-with a
blush.
"And why may I not see you here?'
"I am going home to Administer she
evaded.
"Then 1 shall certainly happen to go
there"
The Elphinstones went to some fashion
able springs directly, and Nora lost sight OF
them for the once. She had dreaded lest
Lucius should inquire her residence, and in
calling establish her identity with Xantippe,
and she was greatly relieved when Mr.. and
Mrs. Warner returned from Europe, and she
could pack up and start of for Administer.
But fate had not designed that the affair
should end here. The Administer train was
thrown from the track, and when Nora
came to her senses, she was lying in cool
room, with Nell Elphinstone bathing her
brow, and racking pain in her head.
"What is it? Where am I? Where
how did you come here, Nellw she cried.
"Hush, dear! 1t was so lucky that the
train came to grief just in the midst of your
friends, so to speak. Now 60 to sleep, that's
dear. The doctor says that you are in no
danger, but you'll have to stay here long
time; and nothing could be nicer than to
have you here. And your sister has sent
up nurse, as she's not we'll herself so don't
get excited"
Nora had, indeed, fractured an arm, and
sustained bruises that would detain her at
the Bitter Springs for some weeks; bit as
she began to mend she found that her lines
had fallen in pleasant places, after ALL
Lucius Elphinstone made it his business to
entertain and beguile her invalid hours
brought in the latest books, the choicest
flowers, amused her with desert ptions of the
fashionable follies at the springs, with
scraps from the operas and tidbits from the
burlesques of the day.
"You see, we had picnic in the neigh.
borhood at the time of the accident" Nell
confded to Nora one day, "and insisted
upon going with Lucius to view the wreck
and do what I could for the injured, and
YOU were the first victim we stumbled upon
I wish you could have seen Lucius' face, il
looked SO white and strange, as if the iron
had entered his SOUL"
"He is very good to care" said Nora.
"Dear me, how coolly you take itw
"I am very grateful" Had Lucius
really cared for her, or was he only shocked
"T am almost sorry that you mend 80
rapidly" Lucius said to her on the follow.
ing day. "I hear that you will take wing
tomorrow, and shall have no one to listen
to my nonsense"
"There are plenty Of listeners, Mr.. Elphin'
stone.'
"But none exactly like yourself"
"Thanks. Who is that coming up the
lawn? 1t looks like-why, it is Oliver"
"Oliver?" repeated Lucius, aghast, see
ing the color that trembled on her cheek
the light shining in her eyes. But before
she could reply, the door opened, and Oil
yer was in her arms.