The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-15
CHAPTER II.

of gratitude that young person received
with slight feeling of compunction.
CHAPTER II.
It was merry dinner party. Mr..
and Mrs. Cornthwaite could not do
enough to pleasure their guests, both
then and subsequently,; and being of
that order of people who have sunny no.
tions of life. and never grow old, they
succeeded to admiration throughout.
Twice only during the evening had
Lionel Grant found himself in the i'm
mediate society of Miss Shelton, once as
her partner in quadrille, and again as
an actor with her in charado.
In their interchange of the ripping
amenities of society, there appeared to
each converser more meaning than those
littlenesses usually carry. His words
were earnest, hers haltingly timorous.
ST had no idea this morning that I
was to have the pleasure of meeting you
here. am acquainted with Miss Chad
wick and her sister. I met them great
deal in London last season. Is it not
singular they never referred to you?"
"Not at ALL" Isabel replied. "Our
lives are 80 different. am a farlrer'e
daughter, and I live in Kent. We are
all busy at home in quite another way
from theirs during what you call the
London season."
After the charade. in which Miss
Shelton and Mr.. Grant enacted parts,
Isabel's two cousins, who had separately
and conjointly observed the what they
were pleased to term brazen Irritation of
the pair, took Isabel to task. 1t was
CLARA who spoke.
"Isabel Shelton, Amy and are more
surprised than words can express. Are
you-are you aware that your frequent
conversations with Mr.. Grant, who is
hardened firt" (this was falsehood
coined on the spot), "have been noticed
by Others beside ourselves ? Pray be
more circumspect; otherwise I shall
feel it my duty to tell papa"
Nothing was farther from Miss Chad
wick's intentions than the fulhllment of
this threat, but she hoped it would de-
press her cousin, and it did. The min
utes which had sped SO joyously began
to drag with Isabel, who gradually be-
came intensely miserable, and wished
herself miles away. When Mr.. Grant
next accosted her she replied to him
with an air of constraint. Looking un-
consciously from her face to that of
Clara's, he saw there malicious sparkle
which let light into the cause of Miss
Skeletons change of manner. So, she
had been interfering
"Oh, Mr.. Cornthwaite, what lovely
moonlight night !" exclaimed Miss Chad
wick later on, as she looked from the
veranda across the shining sea; "do
take us for walk to Moulin Huet."
The amusements were by this time fhg-
ging, and Clara feared that, during the
lull, Mr.. Grant and her cousin might
come together again.
"To Moulin Haet to night, my dear ?
Are you mad? Remember the moon is
inconstant, and, alas, my climbing days
are over But if you will promise to
be very discreet, and Lionel will act as
guide, 60 by all means. I consign you
especially to his care. Let us to cards,
my friends, while these madcaps go in
search Of the picturesque.
The arrangement harmonized with
Clara's views, but not with Grants.
However, he put the best face he could
on the matter, and led the way, accom-
panied by Miss Chadwick, and followed
by Amy, Isabel and two Guernsey
young ladies and their respective cava-
liers. Isabel was attended by an an
cient beau, gallant to fault. Neither
of them found the others conversation
very entertaining. The party had not
proceeded far when Lionel exclaimed :
"Now, ladies, which is it to lie, COM
fort or a spice of danger?
"By all means let us have some ex-
citement," rejoined CLARA. She had
confidence in her protector. The beau,
who had lost confidence in himself,
counseled prudence but he was over
ruled. Disposing of their trains in a
manner that BODIED i'll for the appear
ance of those appendages on the morrow,
the ladies vigorously pursued the tor
tuous path which was struck out by
their guide, and the entire party speedi-
ly gained the heights. In the scramble
Isabel. who had persistently declined
the assistance of her companion-he
really had no superfuous stamina to
spare-tound herself alone. It troubled
her, 30 miserable was the mood into
which she had wrought herself, to re-
main with the rest OF the capricious ex-
pedition; and 80, scarcely needing the
direction in which she wandered, she
gradually lost the sound of their voices.
The wind was freshening, and driving
dark clouds across tho face Of the moon
in manner that foretold sqnau. Why
were Clara and Amy so cruel to her
She was sure there was nothing III he1
innocent enjoyment of the bright con.
versation and pleasant societ! OF Lionel
Grant-what dear handsome fellow he
was (which they could properly tind
fault with. They were jealous. That
was il. They grudged-
A fall, piercing scream, dull thud,
and silence.
She had missed her footing on the
shorn grass, which is there as smooth as
velvet, and had been precipitated into
the ugly depths below.
It is evident that her cry has been
heard. A loud ringing shout comes
i e.~.. a. - .,Il..,,s es5a ,f fhA hoe G1k II