The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-03

her here, sir, when she changed her
dress for widows weeds, and got into
the Brighton train, sir, with Captain
Potter"
Ernest turned pale faint.
He recovered himself with great
effort.
u know" he cried. Il sent her off
to Brighton. and have just seen her off.
How dare you follow your mistress,
sir?"
The man turned away in blank dis
may.
Ernest" said Constance, eve have
both been deceived"
"Stuff!'' said Ernest. 1T was a trick
we played on you, that's all. We found
out the plot, and contemplated to save
you"
But still there was terrible doubt at
his heart. What could il all mean9
"Come into the waiting room, Con-
stance" he cried, land let us talk.
All, what miseryw he muttered to him
self.
They turned into the waiting room,
and Ernest threw himself upon q seat,
leaned his arm upon the table and
groancd.
"What do you mean to do, Ernest?"
said Constance. clutching him by the
arm. LIT is all very well to tell your
servants such stories. / admire you for
it, Ernest; but I know better. 1t is
deliberately planned. We are both de-
ceived.'
1T is impossible" said Ernest.
Glow blind YOU are,"s said Constance,
Il always mistrusted Theresa; she was
my early friend, you remember, and l
believe that Potter used to come to our
house on purpose to see her, using mo rs
a blind. Oh, Ernest, what shall we
do?"
81 shall call a special train and follow
them" said Ernest.
Then ! shall 60 with you." cried
Constance
Ernest rose and staggered to the plat
form once more.
Ernest" said a decisive, feminine
voice at his elbow.
He turned and beheld his wife and
Captain Potter.
"Hullo!" cried Potter. ernest, my
boy. how are you? Cad, I've got into Il
pretty mess with ali this ambuscading;
wrong party after all, jolly row, pull
the string, stop the train-Claphan
Junction, guard in an awful rage. Give
US into custody. eh? Ha, ha! Here we
are again, back first train. / say, old
fellow, III just change widows with
you"
Come into the waiting room," cried
Black. land tell me what it all means.
Potter, I consider you an unprincipled
fellow to inyeigle this young lady into
such trap. You know you only want
TO waste her fortune as you've wastcd
your own"
Gently, old fellow" said Potter,
call a mistake. My uncle died last
week and left me SO, 900 year."
"Then why do you make off in this
clandestine way?"
Its all right, Black, I assure you.
I've got special license in my pocket,
parson waiting at Brighton. We're
both of age, you know"
Then why all this disguise?" .
"Oh. that was my doing" sobbed
Constance. 81 was so dreadfully afraid
And how did you get the widows
things, Constance"
"F-from-yom-Aunt Blake. 1t
wasn't very wicked, was it?"
Il think" said Theresa, who had re-
covered her equanimity and her usual
aspect of proud serenity. Il think,
Constance, you had better come back
to Shrublands with me and be married
in n respectable, orderly way"
Aud they settled that SO it should be.
They all went back to Shrublands, and
Constance was married the next week,
not in the widow weeds, but in a full
bridal costume with several brides
maids.
Ernest" said Theresa, affectionately,
when it was all over, "1'll never be
Jealous again-but for all that, I'm glad
that artful mink is safely disposed Of.
She shall never enter my doors again,
never"
Potter always speaks of his friend
Black with ahectionate commiseration,
and says that the worst five minutes he
ever spent in his life were passed in the
Brighton express in company with
Nine. Theresa.