The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-09-15
AUNT DEBORAH.

..
wish it we're in my power to help you"
Don't mention it, Wat. Ihave been
imprudent and extravagant, and sup
pose I deserve the consequences"
"You should have been wiser than
to fall under Dos wells influence; but
then you did not know him so well as
the rest of US. As for the betting at the
races-why, q debt of honor must be
paid. of course"
"Of counsel"
And the speaker looked lugubriously
out of the window, and drummed with
his fingers on the sill"
"The question is" resumed his friend,
show is this to be done, since your
uncle refuses to help your"
why, I must dispose of what per-
soaal property I .possess-my watch,
books, and so forth-and 50 pay, as far
the money will 60. And then I shall
join Tvrell's party for the West, and 60
stoutly to work and show my uncle that
I am fit forsomething."
Rather a Quixotic plan. What's
the use or necessity OF going Weste"
liam sick of this place. You know,
Wat, I'm not used to being in debt, and
it gals a fellow more than you've an
idea of to lose his self-respect, and be
perpetually dogged and dunned. Why,
it has actually made me ill.,"
Vaughan looked anxiously at his
friend.
$50 it has. noticed the change in
you "a soon as you entered the room;
though it is, no doubt, partly from over
work under that old screw, Sands. The
idea of his turning you off on ac-
count OF a little frolic"
1.-The frolic may have been carried
too far" admitted the other, frankly.
lat airy rate, it will serve as a lesson
for the :uture," he added, philosophi-
cally.
Vaughan walked thoughttully up and
down the room, then, abruptly stopped.
"Rives, I've thought of something.
Deborah?"
"Not for the world"
"She's ever 80 rich, and wouldn't
me anything. You've heard me speak
of my Aunt Deborah"
81 don't remember, though I've
heard that you had rich maiden aunt,
with whom You were q great favorite.
But as to the loan, Walter-l won't
hear it! I mean to 60 to work and
make money to pay my own debts"
you'll have an awful time Of it GU
in those Western wilds."
IT can bear it" with a shrug.
Vaughan resumed his walk.
He was, as be had said, greatly con.
cerned to see his friend in this strait,
and still more so at the thought Of los
ing his s~ociety-for he knew Rive8 to
be In earnest about going West
He was now thinking how this could
be prevented. His friend, an easy.
generous, open-handed fellow, had, for
the first time in his life, been led into
what sober-minded people regard as evil
ways. he had fallen into society not
the most desirable; had been led into
betting heavily on a friends horse al
the races; had given champagne sup
pers, and gotten himself so deeply into
debt that his uncle, who had received
an exaggerated account of it all, bad re-
fused to assist, or even to see him.
Added to this, he had lost his place as
hanking-clerk, and was now, as has
been seen, thrown upon his own re.
sources to make his way in the world
"The worst of it, to me-" he presently
remarked, gravely, "is that I have Of
Tended my uncle. he has been as kind
to me as father, and deserved something
better of me. But he shall yet see thai
am not %ungrateful, and that, though
tripping n c I can and will stanc
alone like a man."
Vaughan turned round suddenly, a!
though not having heard his friends
words. his face illuminated Us with
brilliant inspiration.
81 say, Rives, I've an idea. II yor
won't accept a loan from my Aun
Deborah, Why, suppose-suppose yor
marry her"
Rives stared at him in amazement.
"She'sa frst-rate good soul the bes
and dearest of rich spinsters!" continued
Wat, earnestly, and a little excited. g..
don't see why you shouldn't marry her
if she can be induced to have you"
"Wat, I hope you're not in earnest il
this extraordinary proposal" remarked
Rives. gravely. "You ought to know
me sufficiently to be sure that I woul.
neve marry a woman for her money
not even O young woman; but an oil
maid-why, it's preposterous"
Wat laughed q little, but resumed
stanchly: -.
"Yo1 are-let M see-twenty-eigh,
or thereabouts-"
"Twenty.seven onlym correcte
Rives. with emphasis.
well that doesn't form SO very grea
a disparity in your ages. And for th
rest-why, Aant Deborah is no beauty
] must admit, but she is remarkabl
pleasant-looking, clever ard agreeable
and the best hearted creature in tn
world, though q little eccentric"
Rives slightly shrugged his shoul
ders.
"And you really think that, with he
c~leverncss, she would marry a youn
tllow like mep" he said, sarcastically.
why not, if you could induce her t
like you sufficiently AS 7 said, Aur
Deborah is peculiar in her tastes an
opinions; out, coming to think OF it,
am sure she would appreciate YOU"
How is 1t that she las never ma
ried?"
We'll" said Vaughan, slowly, "sh
has lived q very retired life, and,
fmct. I may as well confess, she admitte
to me that she never had but one offel
and, as she was at the time only eigt
t. en-, and the sutton q bald-headed Of
wifower. she very sensibly declined"
Poor lady! It's unfortunate st
80 ~ 80 M# -