The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-05-07

| i've Oh one.
"And was born on a farm, and hop
never to live on one," retorted Robert
The good-humored wrangle onl.
ended with their arrival at the Ash
homestead. 1t was more than an ordi
nary farmhouse; it was a substantial
old mansion, square, paneled, low-ceiled
such as still exist here and there in out
of-the-way places, unreached as yet b,
the ruthless hand of improvement.
Inside were many comforts, and an ali
of old-fashioned refinement, which Mrs
Ashe, woman of superior taste and ed
ucation, had known how to value ant
preserve
"What's going on, mother?" de
manded Robert, after greetings and sup:
per were over, and the travellers, warmed
and refreshed, were enjoying an unchid'
den cigar by the fireside. I" say, Phil
isn't it jolly to have q mot er who don'1
object to smoking?"
at would be odd if I did, after the
breaking in l have had," replied his
mother. "a pipe-loving father and
five smoking brothers to begin with
then q husband with a cigar in his
mouth, and three boys just as bad.
ought to be used to it by this time, Ger:
tainly. What did you ask me, Robbie:
Nothing ever goes on here, you know,
Except the confirmation tomorrow
That is something. 1t is Easter-Sun.
day, you'll recQllect. Mrs. Allen and ]
have been at the church all the after,
noon arranging flowers"
Where did you get flowers? Has
any one set up greenhouse since went
away"
mo; but almost everybody keeps pot
plants, and they are all glad to lend them
for the purpose. My large pittesporum
is in bloom. I sent that over, with a
Gala or two and pink azalea. and quite
number of geraniums. Mrs. Allen
had roses and hyacinths and some pots
Of oxalis; and there were a number OF
other things-enough to make quite a
pretty effect. Miss Greer brought a
beautiful Easter lily, with at least a
dozen flowers on it. I can't imagine
how she contrived TO make it blossom
Just at the right time. By the way, that
is your name too, Mr.. Greer. Are they
connections of yours. these Greers of the
Hollow"
distant Ones" replied Phil, stiffly.
Then he child himself as absurd, and
went on, frankly: "That is to say,
we are second cousins, believe; but
there was some quarrel in my grand
fathers time, and we have had nothing
to do with each other since. I don't
know the rights and wrongs of the mat
ter exactly. Are there many of them?'
only, one daughter-this pretty little
"Azalea! Ye gods. what a name"
put in Robert.
eyes, it is an odd name. Old Mr..
Greer was dreadfully disappointed not to
have son, have heard. He is bedrid-
den now and a paralytic, and I fear things
are not going well with them. There is
no one to manage the farm but an ineffi-
cient hired man, you see, and it has run
down badly. / am sorry for Azalea
Greer. She is nice girl, and it lisa lone
ly life for her; but there seems no help
ing it,"
The morning dawned as Easter morn
ing should-fair, cloudless and smiling.
1t was early April, and the trees were
leafess still, but the rising sap tinted
their boughs with lovely shades OF
orange, pink and rosy brown, and all the
woods were full of sweet prophetic scents,
caught from sun-warmed mold and in
visible buds. Catkins swung their pearl
gray tassels from the willows branches
a sense of hope, of expectation, filled the
air. The sunshine sifted down in fine
rain of gold, and winter and all wintry
things seemed in q moment to slip away
and be forgotten.
The little church at Hollow End was
fragrant with flowers. Phil thought OF
the hired decorations of the great city
churches, of choirs whose anthems of Joy
are calculated at market rates, note by
note, and the contrast pleased him. The
service, which had for him the charm OF
comparative novelty, seemed especially
tender and striking in the simplicity OF
its country setting. He was touched and
sobered into gentle gravity unusual to
his gay nature. At such unwonted mo-
ments the heart is made ready for new
and strong impression. Pills heart was
ready; the impression came.
The candidates for confirmation were
requested to come forward to the chan
eel. The last to appear was young
girl, whose dress brushed Philips sleeve
as she went by. He was conscious of a
fragrance of lilies, and his eyes followed
with vague interest as she knelt or stood
among the rest; but he could see only a
slender figure dressed in gray, and a
great knot of hair, like FURNISHED red
gold, at the back of a small head. The
service over, she turned, and what
seemed to him the sweetest face that
ever mortal possessed was suddenly re-
vealed to his eyes-pure in outline,
softly tinted, shy, tender, with long
downcast fashes dropping over cheek
like wild rose. No color relieved her
dress, but below the fair arched throat q
single lily was fastened with knot OF
white ribbon.
To fail in love instantaneously with a
stranger is foolish thing enough, no
doubt; still, young men have done it
from time to time in all ages, and Philip
Greer did it now. A sort of wave OF
surprise, JOY. recognition, swept over
and lifted him as on tide as this sweet
vision neared him, passed, vanished.
Only decorum kept him in his place an
other moment. He longed to turn, to
follow, to see that face again. With the
final "Amen" he caught at his hat and
made a bolt for the door. Alas! his
charmer had disappeared. He sought
with his eyes this way, that, but in vain.
At last a glimpse of a gray cloak sur
mounted by little gray hat rewarded
his search, and making what haste he
could through the crowd, he gained the
door in time to see her drive away in a
farm wagon with two or three other peo-
pie. 1t was like the evanishment OF
Cinderella, and, as in that case, only one
tangible trace remained behind Of the
fair departed. On the ground, close to
where the wagon had stood, lay. broken
from its stalk, an Easter lily. Phil had
gust time to secure this treasure and
cram it into his pocket when he was
joined by his friend and his friends
mother.
"What made you hurry out SOP" de-
manded Robert. II saw you streakine
through the crowd like lamp-lighter,
and couldn't imagine what was to pay
Was it a fit coming on, or nose-bleed5' 5'
" Neither. II wanted to get out, y
replied Phil. incoherently.
"Oh, that was it, was it?" rejoined
Robert, with q chuckle. He looked sc
ripe for mischief that Phil dared not al.
lude to the gray charmer, about whom
he was dying to inquire. He gave the
conversation turn to Indifferent sub.
jects till he thought his friends suspi
cions were allayed. Then:
Mrs. Ashe, who was that young lady
who was confirmed-in gray?" he asked
in would-be indifferent tone.
I'm gray? Let me see. With \ blue
scarf on, you mean?"