The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-03-26

CnrlSGmaS uay, duo WAS paleI duu moI
listless than ever.
"Frank Thorpe, you are utterl
stupid. What is the matter?" aske
Mrs. Mornington.
GA general giving way of the system
I should say"
"Nonsensel General laziness. L
my day
"Oh, my dear madam |" starting u
alarmed. "Indeed, I'll reform.
think I'm better already. Miss Viola
I'm intensely interested in the subiec
occupying your thoughts at present,
you'll tell me what it is, an1iously.
"I was wondering if you were eve
in love, and how she treated you,
laughed Viola.
Over Thorpe's face rushed food o
scarlet. he glanced up, caught Mrs
Mornington's sharp eyes upon him, an
flushed again.
Mrs. Mornington gave ler first bit o
advice to her young charge that night
"Frank Thorpe is not man to trif
with, my dear. I think he is in low
with you. You could hardly do better.
"Do better!" raising her broad lid
for full, steady look. "I hadn'
thought there was to be any calcula
ton. No; Frank doesn't care for me
aunt"
eff he is in love with you, so mucl
the better. But come; Mrs. Grove
Christmas ball must be attended"
And Viola went to the ball, and froz
Frank Thorpe, who, unconscious o
oHense, languidly assumed his usua
station near her. There was something
glacial and tremendous in her genera
style that night that provoked ant
amused Mrs. Mornington. But SIN
was beautiful, too-more beautiful tina,
overland so her aunt forgave her.
Among Mrs. Groves guests that nigh
was a rather grand.looking man, VIII
certainly was no longer young. Having
lost one wife, he was now looking fo
another. When he was presented tx
Viola, she was barely civil. Mr.. Nicol
son seemed to like it.
Frank Thorpehad ceased being frozen
To tell the truth, Viola made the ad
vances. There was shade more o
languor in his manner, and his sad gra.
eyes had an added shadow, but he sough
no explanation.
Restored to sunshine. he accepted
that, too, with no particular demonstra
tion. but he seemed to enjoy it. TX
outside lookers-on, the matter seemed
to lie between him and Mr.. Nicolson
whose attentions were perfectly straight
forward and business-like.
One frosty, sparkling morning Viol'
had been out for a walk. On the wa,
she had met Frank Thorpe, as she wa
very apt to do.
He accompanied her home, and en-
tered the touse with her. There, Viola
feeling unusually bright herself, begal
lecturing him on his purposeless life.
elf we're a man - emphatically.
"Thank heaven you are not How
ever, go on"
"You put me out. Mr.. Thorpe, VIII,
don't you do something?"
"Do something's Don't II an
your devoted attendant three-fourths O
my waking life."
"Yes; and get yourself and me talked
about by everybody. Not that I care
certainly" hurriedly, to cover hel
blunder. "I shall choose my friends
where I please!" making matters worse
of course.
He sat up with sudden energy.
"Miss Viola, if 7 we're a woman -
"Thank heaven you are not"
"Exactly. However, if I were, Ger
tainly would not hirt with that antedilu
Wan relic, Mr.. Nicolson."
Mr.. Thorpe, don't"
Miss Viola, I beg your pardon, YOU
certainly DO"
She looked at him with an astonishe6
red in her cheeks and light in her eyes.
Then she laughed frankly and good.
naturedly.
"You see,"-leaning forward and
laying his hand confdentially on hel
arm" I can't bear to see clear-heart-
ed, honest girl lowering herself to the
ways of these artificial, brainless girls,
who have been bred up all their lives
to the business of catching husband.
You don't need any such paltry ambi-
ton. Wait till you find man worth
falling in love with, and then marry him.
Wait forever, if you don't find him p
Viola sat motionless with astonish-
ment. If any dumb thing had found a
voice, she could not have been more
amazed. And she had felt SO fully
called to administer advice.
While she sat, his hand still on her
arm, and her eyes still on his face, the
door opened, and John Ellsworth was
ushered in.
Viola swept toward him, with eager,
outstretched hands.
"Why, John Why, John !" was all
she could say.
And Frank Thorpe, being disturbed
by this new conner, who was called John
and received with such an outbreak ol
enthusiasm, gathered himself up and
lounged away.
John Ellsworth was in town for fort
night. Mrs. Mornington treated him
with great politeness, and was always ir
the way in the most natural manner il
the world, when he came. Viola always
accepted his invitations, and when the
time came for their fulfillment, there
was some unavoidable obstacle in the
way. Meantime, Mr.. Nicholson atten
tons grew more pointed, and Franz
Thorpe kept out of the way.
Then Lent came, and there was q sud
den cessation of gayety, John was call.
ed away by his fathers illness, ant
Viola felt the inevitable reaction. Ant
she did not know that she would ivt
through it, and be ready and cage,
for another season when the time came
It was alike everywhere. In the mar
row circle out of which she had come
there were jealousies. and heartburn
ings, and petty scheming-no better ant
no worse than she had come to know il
the past weeks, though possibly les
disguised by smooth, conventional polisl
of manner. Wait till she met man sh
loved She might wait till she wa
gray and blind. There had never ap
peared one to whom she would give
second thought, unless it were-well
perhaps, John Ellsworth, if the life tina
would follow with him we're not too ner
row to breathe in; or Frank Thorpe,
he were not too lazy to speak. AM
then, by contrast, there came vision o
Mr.. Nicolson, and all his wealth.
If she had shown the first symptom o
her moods tN Mr.. Nicolson, be woul'
have desiste.. from his attentions a
once. Here was youth and beauty in
statuesque state Of perfections That wa