The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-10-29
can't it for a Kindness" was all that

meant it for Kindness" was all that
she said.
Still she grew very restless, and con-
tinuany declared that she was sure
something was going to happen. But
coming events often cast long shadows
before, and it was full two months after
ward ere Miss Ethel's presentiment
came true. Then she got letter one
day which threw her into wild, fever.
ish excitement. "Eloise," she cried,
almost sobbing with JOY, he is come;
he is at the village; he will be here in
an hour. How am l to bear itP"
Women seek each others sympathy
in hours Ike this, and Eloise-perhaps
with just little pang for her own sor-
row-gladly gave it. But when she
Joined the long-parted lovers at dusk,
and saw her aunt lingering with tender
cares by the handsome dark stranger at
the fireside, she knew that never again
would Aunt Ethel want sympathy; it
was easy to see her lover was still her
lover, and that they thoroughly under
stood the past.
Perhaps the sight of their happiness
was q little irritating sometimes to
Eloise. She could not help blaming her
aunt in some measure for the loss of
Harry, and she wondered if she ever re-
| membered now any of her old opinions
about the folly OF marrying for love.
Many women would Eave reminded her
of them, but Eloise was not ill-natured;
and when she saw the old lovers wander
ing about the gardens 80 happily to-
gether, she only hoped that her own
blighted youth might have some such
recompense given it; for such a joy it
would be almost worth waiting, little
while, but not twenty-five years; that
was too strong test of fidelity.
It was not asked other. On the morn
ing of the fifth of June, when the dew
was yet on the grass, there was mes
senger to see her. lie had with him an
exquisite basket of white roses, and in
their midst was letter which made
Eloise Bruce the happiest girl in Amer
lea. And Aunt Ethel was just as de-
lighted. "He must come here at tonce,"
she said; "they would wait breakfast
for him-and he lnust never 90 away
again"
Then the ladies discovered that Harry
and James Early were already friends.
They had met at hotel in New York,
and both having their hearts in the same
little Southern town, they had speedily
become confidential. And Harry was
not long in getting his pardon, though
his excuse might well have been consid-
cred by less loving mistress rs an ag-
gravation of his offence.
"You see, darling" he explained be-
tween his kisses, ''you wanted to test
my heart, and so thought it only fair to
let you test your own also. Do you think
YOU would remember me, if you never
saw or heard from me for twenty-five
years, as Aunt Ethel did that lover of
hers9''
Harry! 1 should remember you for
ever. never, never would have mar
ried any one else, if you had staid away
altogether. But indeed it was cruel to
try me so bitterly"
And how about you sending me
away9"
Il won't ever do it again, Harry; and
I never really wanted you to 90. You
ought to have known that"
A few nights afterward, as they all sat
together on the moonlit veranda. Aunt
Ethel said, very tenderly, Children,
James and I will be married next Thurs
day, and we shall sail for Calcutta imme-
diately. Gould not the two marriages
be made at oncep Then. Harry, Eloise
could live on at the old place, and keep
it from going to destruction. 1t is
Eloise's now; l made it over to her to-
day, and Mr.. Green says you are going
into partnership with their firm, so I
hope you will have enough to keep love
from flying out of your windows"
Little more was said at the time, for
Aunt Ethel persistently turned the sub
ject, but when she came into Eloise's
room to bid the new bride elect good
night" the happy girlwhispered: "Oh,
aunt, how generous you have been to
us! Surely Mr.. Early must be very
rich, to let you give us such a maGnifi-
cent wedding present"
"No, dear. he is not. In fact, be is
yet what he calls q struggling man. He
has great ventures on hand he may he
come rich, or he may lose nearly all he
has made. 1t something about indigo.
dear, I know not what, and don't care.
I am going now wherever he goes, and I
am very, very happy woman"
Then Eloise whispered, slyly,
"Auntie, do you remember saying a year
ago that a girl was little fool who mar
ried for love?"
Il remember, dear. I am wiser now,
and I say if the girl is little fool who
marrics for love, she who marries with
out it is the most foolish and wretched of
women. On the whole, Eloise, I am
rather proud of our good sense-eh, my
darling9"
Others, however, seemed to think
differently; for Lizzie Bruce. meeting
her friend Selma James one morning,
said: "Selina, what do you think?
Harry Torrens has come back, and
Cousin Eloise has actually forgiven him
everything and is going to marry him;
I never would have done it. Would
vou?"
Certainly I would not; but then
Eloise Bruce was always ON that sub
ject-a little fool. ."-Harper's Weekly.