The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-06-12
A PRELUDE IN BROWN.

"But, my dear boy, who is going to
say anything of the sort? What mis-
construction can be put on your going
to the seaside for q month, meeting Il
young lady there, and in natural way
making her acquaintance? Nothing
may result from it beyond acquaintance,
and no one is called upon to remark
what, after all, is mere coincidence"
"Uncle Joshua, I wonder you can
look me in the face! Mere coinci-
.dencer when you know perfectly well
that this is Il cut-and-d dried arrangement,
and that 1 am led like lamb to be sac
riticcd on the shrine of your heircSs.
Coincidence, forsooth! am aston
ishcd ut your cheek, sir, if you will par
don the expression"
Upon my soul, you young fellows
take pretty airs on yourselves nova
days" retorted Uncle Joshua, angrily.
Maud Lowell iSan heireSs-and l don't
deny-l very considerable heiress; but
none The less is she a remarkably pretty
girl, accomplished too, and amiable, and
all that; lust. the girl whom you would
bcs are to fail in love with if it wasn't
kSvorth your while to do so. You are q
fool, Ned, let me tell you, a very pro-
r.ounced fool. fyou let such a chance as
h this slip on account of Il farrago of non=
-! >s.S.!tiStCa, notions about love and disintcr-
estedncSs: all twaddle. Such ideas don't
wash. sir. let me tell you. I've tested
EN-: they don't wash,n bringing his
nand down with 4 bang on the table by
way of period.
Uncle Joshua was natty, dcbonair
old gentleman of suave and circumspect
manners, and habit oftiptoeing ginger
" over the surfaces of ideas and things
with due avoidance of all dangerous or
lebatable spots. This ebullition there
fore took his nephew quite by surprise.
Never had he seen his relative so eX-
cited about anything before. His care
fully preserved old face was red and hot ;
he Jumped about in his tight boots; his
voice and manner were fully of unwont-
ed vigor. Ned Banks had been used to
think of his uncle rs 4 kindly, formal
fop, to be gently chaffed and practically
ignored when convenient. He hardly
knew what to make of him under this
new aspect.
Uncle Joshua, for all his little absurd
tiles, had been good friend and a help
full one to his nephew. To him Ned
owed his college education and his start
in life-obligations which he had ac-
cepted easily at the time, as the young
are wont to accept all favorS done them,
but of which he felt the weight when
thus reminded. His opposition to his
uncle's scheme had not sprung from any
deep-lying principle. The idea of mar
rying-an heireSs was no more distasteful
to him than to any other man of his age
but he had experienced an instructive
repugnance to entering into 4 precon-
certed, cold-bloodcd arrangement for
the purpose. Now, however, seeing his
uncle's real annoyance and diSpleaSure,
he said to himself, After all, why not !?
don't commit myself by simply going
to the place" And after short silence
he added: "All right. sir; it's settled,
then. I'll be ut the Cove at the time
YOU name, and do my best to be civil to
the young lady. First of July, is it?"
and he took out notebook and made
an entry of the date.
"My dear Ned" cried the older Mr..
Banks. deeply gratified, "now you are
behaving Just as should wish. l hope
very confidently hope-that this trip
of yours may eventuate for your welfare
in many ways. Nothing could be farther
from my wish than to force your inclina-
tions; but there is no harm in forming a
pleasant acquaintance, Ned; there can
be no harm-no possible HARM"
The South Cove was looking its pref
tiest when Ned Banks, true to his word,
alignted on the lst of July at the door of
its hotel. All the little cottages and de-
pendencies of the large establishment
shone in the brilliance of fresh paint.
The grass was newly cut: the plaster
vases and fed-tinted firkins were filled
with gay gcraniums and bright -leaved
plants. Beyond lay the sea, vast and
blue, no whit less solemn or less inscru-
table for this little fringe of ornament
on its borders hem. A boat, with a
scarlet-shawleG lady sitting in the stern,
was rowing across from the green island
opposite. People thronged the piazza.
From a distance came the intermittent
thunder of the bowling-alley. The sea-
son was fairly under way; that was evi-
dent. Ned scanned the groups on the
veranda with the natural hope of seeing
some acquaintance. He discovered none;
but presently, from the lips of lady
near him. he heard familiar name.
"Mr. Allibone Crosby told me So"
Where is Mr.. Crosby this after
noon?"
"Driving with those Baltimore peo-
pie, I believe"
Hullo.what brings him ,Shere?" solil-
oquizcd Ned, as he slowly strolled TO-
ward the Office.
For Allihonc Crosby was reputed
suitor of Miss Lovell's-Uncle Joshua's
ward. 1t was a singular coinci,
dence, certainly, if nothing more, that
he should turn up at the South Cove just
then: and so Ned reflected as he went tc
bed, with the moon for n candle, and thu
L 4 /, .