The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-14
TED.

folds of her gray travelling dress.
A trivial remark, but her husband
glanced quickly at the half-averted
face.
you are displeased, Laurc."
Young Mrs. Amberley bit her beauti-
full lips in 4 moments silence.
Il think l might have my choice, Al
gernon." g.,
1t does secla q little hard, doesn't it,
dear" lifting lightly the little gloved
hand and kissing it.
Certainly Alcernon Amberley wished
10 indulge his bride of . month, but he
continued: !,
In taking n OF these children Of
nv dead half-siSter, / wish to make q
choice which will be of the most bene-
fit to the family. The elder girls can
earn their own living. The younger is
very pretty. and will be adopted by q
good and wealthy family if we do not
take her away, while Ted"
"Trdm interrupted Laure, impa-
t;ently.
Ted is Mt IN undesirable age, and not
particularly brilliant and interesting;
but, rs he is the one who stands most
in need of help, | think we ought.to take
him."
such a shock of tow-hair, and so
horribly baShful." pouted beauty loving
Laure.
II know the little girl would please
you, best. but perhaps the boy will de-
vclop better than the girl" replied Am
herley, in the o n of decision his wife
had already learned to know.
He was so certain he was right-that
:I;e poor. %fricndlcss. uniformed boy was
most in need of protection and training
that he could net allow his wifc'S
fancy to decide this important matter.
much rs he re! rcttcd her disappoint-
ment.
The younger child-the little Nellie
was pretty n Il ricture, and at the
charming age OF three. de could not
but sympathize with Laure's wishes,
but his young wife was short. sighted.
He was older than she, and felt oblig-
ed to decide the matter according to his
best judgment.
They were on their wedding trip.
From Niagara it had extended to- Chi
cago; from that city to 4 lonely tract of
rolling prairie, where resided this re-
mote connection IF the Ambcrley family.
The father OF these orphan children
was a coarse. hard man, who was al
ready casting about for 4 second wife;
and the probability was that the expect
ed stepmother would be little benefit to
the two young and helpless little ones.
: Laure regarded this maj with Il teel-
ing little less than horror. The rude
and primitive living was distasteful to
her refined scnsibilities.
1t was only when she walked alone
across the great pillows of green, and,
standing in solitude in the silence. be-
held stretched before her countless
leagues ofluminCus sunset. that she said
to herself that the West was grand and
eautiful.9
They were driving now along the
smooth prairie road. A silvcry creek
ran along its edge, bright and bank-full:
Here and there 4 Judus bush showed
its crimson among the bush green's. TO
right and left stretched away the bound
less prairie.
Laurie had requested the driver to get
away from the uninviting home; but
for the firsttime there wasa shadow be-
tween herself and her husband.
In justice to youno Mrs. Amberley, let
Inc say that she tried to repress her dis
content, but this only made her disap-
pointment moro apparent to her hus-
Dand. More and more it troubled him.
loving his young wife most tenderly.
and at last he said:
IF you really cannot give up the lit
tie girl, Laure. you shall lave her"
"Algernon." she cried. lit isn't that
like the little Nelly so very much. but
don't see anything to like in Ted"
The subject was then dropped. They
drove back to the house.
The first person they saw on their re-
turn to the house was Ted, who came
bashfuliy out to take the horses. TIe
always stared ut Laure. Certainly she
was the most beautiful creature he had
ever seen in his life. .
Secretly he adored her as she fingered
amoment now. Having descended from
the carriage, and being loath TO 60 into
the house, he addressed her:
"Re you going to take me'"
No" said l.aurc, quickly; "lthink
| shall take Nelly"
She noticed that the hoy's head
dropped as he turned away, leading the
horses: but she took little notice OF that
The next morning her husband was
called to Chirago alone on business.
She endured the unrongcnial surround
ings rs long rs she could. then caught
UP her hat and shawl and went out to
walk.
She strolled half q mile. found the
fording Of the creek. and still went on.
The emerald of the bush-grass was
magnificent. the May sky arched above,
blue us lapis laZuli. Sweet wild birds
flew ovcr her head, and no other living
thing WAS in sight.
The great stiffness had n wonderful
charm for her. Now she looked Won
deringly ut the green distance surround
ing her; then wandered about. gather
inc the flowers which gemmed the grass
like a i :. eapphires and stars Of gold.
Thu linlcG clouds of sunset began to
fail in the west, ut last and she turned
toward home
After walking quite 4 distance she be-
gan to look anxiously for the landmarks
of her return. In vain. Round and
round she wandered; but the changing
light gave everything Il new aspect.
For half an hour she stood, with
throhbing heart, looking vainly to the
right and lcft-lost.
The roseatc light deepcned into gray.
Adensc fog crept around her. She had
directed her faltering footsteps to 4
single cottonwood tree, and now stood
rlinging o it, her heart sinking in her
bosom. Oh. where was she and what
would become Of her?
She could make no further effort, so
hcwildsred had she become that she
knew no longer in which direction to
search. Must she stay there all night?
If so she tried to believe that nothing
would harm her.
but it grew dark. The tirefies
Swarmed around her head. She heard
Il strange. distant, mourntul noise which
terrified her.
Suddenly she heard her name called:
AUNT Laure! Aunt Lauren She re-
pied. Here" eagerly, and a small
figure came bounding through the rust
.ing grass to her side.
/: was Ted.
oh, Ted! I ain lost"
II know it. came to find you. |
was watching for you to come back
you did not come. l said nothing to the
Others. I set off to find you. Come
quick. l think l can find the ford"
Laurie grasped the boys small, eager
hand, and hurried away with him
through the dew-wet grass.
You are all wet. Ted" &
81 could not wait to find the ford; |
swan across"
Laure's wide eyes distended still fur