The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-10-29
,old ring. She lifted the latter and


never heard from him again. For two
years I suffered all the agonies of hope
deferred and sighted love, and at length
I had a fever that left me the colorless
little ghost I have been ever since"
Perhaps he was dead"
"No."
"Then he was miserable creature,
and 1 should have put him out of my
heart and memory"
" Yes, I think you would, Eleise.
think, too, that it is likely you would
have let some other man make fool Of
you second time. I have different
nature. did not cease to suffer fol
James Early for FIVE years, but having
conquered that weakness | never per-
mitted myself care for any other
man. ..
But you were rich and handsome.
Did no one else care for you?"
Miss Ethel smiled queerly,, and after a
slight hesitation said Yes"
"Who was it, Auntie?"
"Colonel Powell"
"Oh, aunt! So you wanted me to do
a thing you would not do yourself"
Eyes, dear. You wanted to marry;
I did not. When was twenty years
of age, if had wanted to marry at all,
I should have married for wealth and
position. Colonel Powell can give his
wife these advantages"
care you still in love with this Mr..
Early's memory?" :.
"No, am not. If I should meet him
to-day, I do not think I should care to
speak to him."
Is he alive?"
"Isuppose so. I heard of his mar
riage ten years ago."
"Poor auntie!"
Don't pity me, child. ! am to be
congratulated. If it had not been for
my dear fathers opposition, should
have married for love, given my fortune
and my life into the keeping of selfish,
tickle man-ip fact, made just such a
little fool of myself as you are about to
make"
"Aunt, do you really think that
Harry would forget me in few weeks
or months?"
"Of course he would"
"I will try him."
"You will act very wisely to do So.
Eloise, ! am glad I have told you my
sad little story; it may make you at
least look before you leap Where
does Harry generally leave you?"
"On the little bridge outside the
Place."
"Do not say farewell there. Lovers
who part over running water never meet
again. Give him every lawful chance.
You may bring him into the park to-
night"
So a few hours afterward there was a
very bitter parting under the oaks in
Bruce Park. Elose was almost shocked
when it was over. In her heart she had
only intended to frighten Harry, but her
lover had taken the proposal too seri-
ously. and things had been said that she
could not unsay. At first, indeed,
Harry had laughed at Miss Ethers,
doubts of him, and his laughter had
provoked Eloise. She did not like the
thing treated as joke. 1T was very
serious matter, and she did not see how
Harry could laugh at the idea of not
seeing her for eleven months"
For eleven months was the time she
had fixed upon as the limit of her lovers
probation. In eleven months she would
be of age, and could claim her small
fortune. IF Harry was true to her, she
would then be willing to begin life with
him on four thousand dollars. Besides,
she had shrewd idea that if she
humored her aunt thus far, Miss Ethel
would not withdraw her favor.
Harry was indignant at all such pru-
Dental considerations. He spoke very
disrespecttully Of Bruce Park, and de-
clared he would not say Thank you ,
for every acre of it, and the old wooden
mansion thrown in, and that eleven
months was an eternity; they might just
as well say good-bS forever.
Then Eloise argued that 'it was very
well for him to talk of living on two
thousand dollars year and each others
love. Men could get society, and have
people speak decently to them, even if
they could only afford one new suit in
twelve months; but q woman's friends
depended on the condition of her ward
robe, and she wondered if even Harry's
love could stand a shabby old-fashioned
dress and one-button kid gloves"
Harry was sure she would make any
dress look elegant" and Eloise said,
angrily, "He was very absurd" and
thought so too. So the end of all Harry
bade her farewell " till the 5th Of the
following June, and that with many
tears and protestations they finally be-
gan their self-imposed trial of each
others fidelity.
The next mornings paper announced
the sudden departure Of Mr.. Henry
Torrens for New York on business of
Importance likely to detain him some
months" and Eloise was angry enough
at the information. She had hoped
Harry would try again to convince her
of "the folly Of parting" and she was
determined at this interview to be con-
vinced. tE T.4s,. .ts.,.. ..
For some weeks Miss Ethel did not
have very happy time. Elois wan
dered in the park, or about the big
silent house. and was not at all cheer
full company. At first Harry's letters
were so long and frequent that q great
deal of her time was satisfactorily EN-.
ployed in answering them. But by de-
grees they grew both shorter and less
frequent, and toward the beginning of
winter they stopped altogether.
The two W omen looked sadly in each
others face at the empty post box every
morning, and Miss Ethel had her will
made during these days, and left her
niece all she had, as some compensation.
But yet often when she saw the sad face
that had once been 50 bright and pretty,
she half reproached herself, and won
dered whether, where ignorance is bliss,
if it be not folly to be wise.
One day toward spring-a bright,
warm day for the season-Elois, who
had now long ceased even hoping for a
letter. was walking slowly up and down
the great hall dividing the large draw
ing-room and the late Mr.. Bruces
library from the rest of the house.
These rooms were very seldom opened,
and still more seldom used. Eloise only
remembered two or three grand oc.
casions on which they had been used for
great entertainments, the last being that
which introduced her into society two
years previously
A sudden fancy seized her; she would
throw back the closed blinds, and let the
spring sunshine into the dark rooms
Besides, there were all kinds of curious
ornaments there, and a great many
books; to examine them would pleas
antly pass a few hours. Miss Ethe.
readily agreed. She was glad to see heI
niece interest herself in anything that
could beguile thought from the one sad
mortifying subject of her desertiop.
Toward noon she went to seek Eloise
Her first glance showed her the girl sit.
ting thoughtfully upon the hearth-rug
with her lap full OF letters, and queer
tarnished Hindoo jewelry. She sprang
up to meet her aunt, and with a strange.