The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-09-15
BY HUGH WILSON AND H. 7. WARDLAW.

| ~ AoV OSSLA W hPR4SSA%sS NSA
And then she laughed, in a careless way
as she added that she was too independ
ent to be generally admired.
do you come often to this spot?
Rives inquired, observing her gather he
mantle about her, preparatory to leav
ing.
livery often; but I have other haunt
quite as pleasant, and will give thi
one to you, as you appear to like It,"
He assured her he should find tn
place much more agreeable if she woul
continue her visits, and that, in fact
he felt rather lonesome at the cottage.
"Why don't you come up to the hous
and get &C quainted with Aunt Debo
rahp" she inquired.
He replied that he had had a glimps
of his friend Vaughan's aunt, and ha'
been a little awe-stricken by her impos
ing appearance, connected with all tina
be had heard of her wealth, goodnes
and cleverness.
Your friend Vaughan's aunt ism
good or clever enough to brighten PEG
ple." Agnes said, laughing. "She is
plain, kind. hearted soul, and one VIII
likes to make people happy when it is Il
her power to do so. She would be gla'
to see you: and make you welcome II
her house
But Rivcs decided to wait till Walter
arrival; and meantime would Mis-
Agnes allow him to come to this spo
tomorrow and bring the new book h
had been speaking of?
And so it fell out that these youns
people met again and again; and tn
Young mar found himself each tim
more interested in Miss DEBORAH
Vaughan's poor niece and companion
for she had told him that she was al
orphan, and had been brought up b.
this aunt and a dear uncle, now NJ
more.
He wrote to Walter and made a conf
dant Of him, and finally declared hi
intention of asking Agnes to become hi
wife, if she would not object to sharin!
the life of a Western settler. He wa
sure of succeeding in the new life h
contemplated, and they could be yer,
happy in the simple and primitive way
of living for which he thought they botf
ha&a taste.
Walter laughed outrageously on read
ing this epistle. Then he hastily scrib
bled off the following answer:
"DEAK PHL-If you won't be per
suaded 10 marry Aunt Deborah anC
wealth, and are resolved upon Agne!
and poverty, 20 ahead. But Agnes is s
good girl, and will make a good wife
If you can get her-for she has not the
highest opinion of masculinity in gen
eral, and I have heard her say that she
would never marry except for love, and
didn't expect ever to meet with q man
whom she could love.
"Shall be with you this day week,
Meantime. success to you.
"Yours ever, W. ""
On that day week, accordingly, Mr.
Walter Vaughan made his appearance
at the Elmwood fshing-cottage, where
Cicero, with many Chesterfeldian bows,
informed him that his master was gone
for a solitary walk down the stream.
Walter required no further informa'
ton, and boldly proceeding in the direc'
ton indicated, as n familiar with the
locality, impudently presented himself
in presence of the two lovers, who were
seated, hand in hand, on the rustic bench
under the elm tree.
He extended a hand to each. Rives
cordially grasped it; but his eyes opened
a little rs he beheld Agnes hide her face
on her friends shoulder, with an odd
sort of little half-laugh, half-sob, while
the latter put his arm about her and
kissed her tenderly.
Don't be jealous, old fellow" said
Walter. laughingly, noting the sudden
change in his friends expressive coun-
tenance.
"Nor am I-only- Well, really, ]
must say that 1 was not prepared for
this. Agnes never mentioned that you
were cousins" -.
"Nor are we" answered Walter, still
laughing: .,
Rives looked very icy AMI dignified,
and Agnes raised her face and stood
apart, blushing and laughing a little.
"No," repeated Walter, I'VE are not
cousins. And as you don't appear as
well acquainted with this young lady as
you ought to be under existing circum'
stances, allow mt to introduce her. My
aunt, Miss Deborah Agnes Vaughan.
Rives actually turned pale.
walter, this is ajoke?"
"Not a bit of it. She is really the
Aunt Deborah of whom I spoke to you,
and whom I wished you to marry
"But-but you said your aunt was
richP" said Rives, looking extremely
bewiIdered. and still incredulous.
"Soshei is. She is owner of this es-
tate, and a large fortune besides, LEFT
her, three years ago, by her uncle. Isn't
it so. Aunt Debby?"
but" persisted Rives, II have seen
Miss Deborah Vaughan. have heard
Agnes call her Aunt Deborah"
1.-THE elderly lady whom you see on
the terrace is really my Aunt Deborah
Vaughan, after whom, and after my
dear uncle's wife, Agnes, / am called
now said Agnes herself. "Only uncle
and aunt. and Walter, ever called me
Debby. 1t was their pet baby-name fol
me. To every one else I am Agnes"
"And why have you concealed all THU
from mcp' inquired Rives, reproach
fully. ~ half
shy answer. II am going home now
to tell Aunt Deborah that you gentle
men will come to tea in an hour-sever
o'clock, Walter. sharp! You know w
keep es rly hours here. And 80, Au re
voirm she added, half saucily, as sh'
disappeared amid the laurels.
And then Vaughan explained to hi
friend that no deceit had, in the first in
stance, been practiced upon him. Rive'
had simply himself fallen into the error
of installing "Aunt Deborah" for al
old maid, on which it had occurred tx
Walter that it would be a good Joke II
allow him to remain under that impress
sion until introduced to the lady a
Elmwood. He had, in writing to hi
youthful aunt, informed her Of his plan
and also of the horror with which Rive
J had spoken of marrying for money.
"You see," Vaughan continued I'm
little aunty-who is barely twenty, by
the-bye-ever since she came into thi
property, has had the greatest dread O
being courted and married for he
money. And when, accidently meetinI
you in the wood, she discovered tina
YOU took her for a poor relation of tn
rich Miss Deborah Vaughan, and tina
despite this supposed poverty you evi
IDENTIFY liked her-why, how can yo1
blame her for allowing you to remail
under that delusion, especially when
to whom she wrote all about it, advise
ftp Why don'tyou see. my dear fellow
that nothing could have turned OH
more happily, since you have uncon
sciously proven to Debby that you low
her for herself alone? And you've &c
a treasure, Philip, worth all the fortune
in the world; for, rs I told you, she j
the best, and c'everest, and sweetes
little soul on earth"
$50 she is-bless herm i%nterrupte
Rives. "OnlY.n he added. almost n