The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-10-08
He thought Loolie was conscious Of
getting attached to him more than was

getting attached to him more tnan was
strictly proper, so long as there had beer
no specific proposals on his part; and he
resolved to REMEDY that by an early
avowal Of ,tHe. But he did not find il
so easy to obtain interviews rs it haG
been. She was polite when they met
but obviously wished to avoid being
alone with him. At last. however, by
persistent watching. he found an oppor-
tunity to ask her to be his wife. To his
great surprise, she answered:
mo, Mr.. Norton, cannot marry
you"
"You have become very formal all al
once with your Mr.. Norton" rejoined
he. with a forced laugh.
when I called you Robert I did not
know of you what I know now," she
replied,
mc?" said he.
II know that you sometimes get in
toxicated," she replied.
Who told you go ?" he inquired, very
hastily.
mo matter who told me-" she re-
joined. 1T is true: and I never will
marry any man who gets intoxicated u
But am not drunkard. Loolie," lie
pleaded; Though confess l have some
times been rather the worse for liquor,
when l have been with set Of gay fel-
lows"
Isn't that the way drunkards gener-
ally begin?" she asked.
II suppose tits" he answered. but
if you'll marry me | promise never to
<,cto &c 1;onp,. -
My dear Aunt Eliza married a man
who made the same prolnise, and q
wretched life she has had OF it. shall
not We, ture to try the same experiment.
l thank you for your offer, but I cannot
accept it. Good evening, Mr.. Norton. ="
And she vanished from the room. He
was offended by her plain speaking, and
manifested it by very cool politeness
when they met. 4 few months later she
was Informed that he had gone to Cali
fornia.
Her companions noticed q change in
Loolie. She entered into dances and
frOlics with less Zest; and although she
used to initiate flute to perfection, she
now professed to have forgotten how to
d. it. Coniectures were whispered
among the girls that she was in love
with Robert Norton, who had flirted
while with her. and then gone off and
left her. The young men said that Bob
Norton couldn't have been such fool as
to leave her if she were in love with
him. More than one tried by very
marked attentions to console her for his
absence; and some of the opportunities
seemed so eligible that her parents ad-
vised her not to let them slip. But in the
silent watches of the night she communed
with her own honest heart, which said
to her, What right have you to marry
one man and love another?" She BAH
ished beaux from her thoughts, and left
gussips to wonder at the chances she was
losing.
A year passed without any tidings of
Robert Norton. Meanwhile her father
sickened and died. and the withdrawal
of his earnings rendered it necessary for
the older brothers to put more money
into the common stock for family use.
To accomplish this they resolved to seek
theil fortune in California. where, mt that
time, the streets were supposed to be
paved with gold. They chanced to be
among the lucky few, and before many
months had elapsed they sent for their
mother and sisters. The first news that
greeted them on their arrival was that
Robert Norton was in their neighbor-
hood, that he had pounced upon a rich
vein Of gold and had become million
aire. When Mrs. Draper inquired how
he bore this rapid change of fortune, her
sons laughed, and replied:
ssJJo l;roc lilo n popo oocl- ond
throws money about by shovelfuls."
Mr.. Norton took IN earl y opportunity
to call on his old friends, and impressed
them all with an idea of immense pros
p rity. I.oolie's observing eyes noticed
his rubicund visage even more than the
st ylishness of his dress and equipage.
II recalled the conversation when he
had asked her to be his wife, and the
recollection had flushed her expressive
face with a vivid blush. That swift
mlntling of the blood was hailed as an
suspicious sign; and, emboldened by
tile wealth he had to offer, he soon re-
nrwed his suit.
l.oolie replied: II have told you
that would never marry man who
g IS intoxicated; and any one looking
INV Soul lux, N1r. 4NOllOils 1uuSt SCI
that you drink hard"
He turned away with sudden anger.
" You are as frank rs ever" he said.
" Nobody can complain of you that you
don't speak Your mind plainly"
Isn't that the most honest course?"
size asked.
He was silent an instant, and then re-
pied: Yes. Loolie, you are :, The
right. But I love you so much am
sure | could conquer any habit you did
not like"
You may feel sure, but 1 do not"
size rejoined.
What can I do to convince you?" he
anXiously. "1f l do not taste
q single drop of any Intoxicating liquor
for a year will you consent to marry
mn?"
IF you do not taste drop for two
years. I may perhaps consent, provided
You agree 10 certain conditions I shall
propose" she replied.
they must be hard conditions if do
not agree to them" he exclaimed, exult-
ingly. He attempted to draw her toward
linn, but she gently disengaged herself.
He took her hand and looked steadily
into her eyes, as he said: Il solemnly
promise you, Loolie, that for two years I
viii not taste drop of any Intoxicating
liquor. 1t is long time to wait; but
am willing to serve as long as Jacob did,
il | can only win my Rachel at last"
After that. large portion of his even
lngs were spent at Mrs. Draper's, and
the places that had known him knew
him no more. For q while his former
wondered what had bee, me of
him, but they soon fathomed the mys-
terry. and laughed as they said: "Hc's
cot in love with that handsome girl from
the East, and he is too much taken up
with her singing to his flute to care for
cur company"
"Our turn will come again when she
gets to be an old story" said another.
But Loolie's expressive face and lively
dramatic ways had the charm OF per
p"tual novelty. He craved no other ex-
c'trment than her company, and he
sometimes urged his indifference to more
dangerous conviviality rs a reason why
his term of probation should be short
ened. But 1loolie had always been noted
for being firmly persuaded in her own
mind, and when she formed a resolution
she was not easily tempted to swerve
from it. 1t was happy period to both
OF them; especially to Loolie, who, in
to the common bliss Of" loves
young dream" had apleasant conscious
ness of leading her companion away
from paths the end of which was inavi-
table ruin.
The morning after the two years had