The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-02-11

made Judith do up her high-heele'
slippers in q bundle. and then she stoo'
looking at herself in the looking-glaS
and waiting, until ut last the 'clocl
struck eight-the hour forthe ball to oe
gin-and then she grew deadly whit
and turned away.
Course Him and his rae for ever
she said, for he is making me the SEQ
Of tue town.
Aud then after walking up ant
down tie floor for 4 few minutes sh
stopped and said:
II would 90 to this ball with Sata1
himself if he would only come for me
I wish with all my heart he would"
And Just then Judith said there wa
heard L rafting Of carriage wheels Of
the frozen ground and Il carriage stopped
at the door.
"IIepsibah was down stairs like l
flash, with the door opened wide, for l
seemed that she thought it was JOIN
Shepard himself come 1T the last minute
but instead Il tall. slender. dark-tacet
gentleman dressed in black velvet
stepped inside and bowed low before
her. and outside stood IN elegant coach
Z such rs was never seen in the town be
! fore, with two horses steaming in the
chill air and tossing their heads I'M
patiently.
"'At your service said the gentle
man. will you honor me with you'll
company to the ball to-night"
For one instant Hepsibah hesitated,
and in that instant her mothers voice
called from the bedroom:
els that John, Hepsibah, and are
you going?
And then Hepsibah made answer,
No, it is not John; but | am going
And in another minute she was in the
coach, and judith was alone.
1.-The ball was just opened when dep:
sibah arrived, and every II stared
when she came walking in with the
strange gentleman; but she needed none
until She came to where John Shepard
stood with little Faith Pulsifer, and to
them she swepta low, hooking courtesy
as she took her place opposite them In
the dance just beginning.
"All that evening Hepsibah was the
life Of the ball. Her words were the
gayest, her laugh the merriest, and her
step in the dance the lightest of any
there; but she never once spoke or looked
ut John Shepard, and even when she
would have touched his hand in the
figures, she folded hers tightly before
her, and passed him by as though ne
were the side of q house. And, grand
mother said, in spite of her gay ways
and words and frequent laughter, when
she once met her eyes there was q look
in them that made her shudder.
"Of course there was whispering
AMONG the young folks about Hepsibah's
strange ways and the newcomer whom
she had brought amongst them. but
nothing was said openingly, and the
ball went merrily on. The stranger, al
though he had q slight limp, was by
all odds the best dancer in the room,
and he was so friendly and pleasant in
his ways, too, with a word and smile for
everyone.
with some of the young men, in
deed, he seemed quite like a boon COM
panion from the first, and one or two Of
the young women, too, seemed to be on
quite friendly terms with him directly.
But his lowest bows, his brightest
smiles, and his most fattering words
were all for Hepsibah, and when then
went into superb was the fashioy
then for the young women to stand
back against the wall, and for the young
men to serve them gallantly-he made
all haste to serve her first.
And strange it was, tnat, although
he took from the same dishes as the
others-containing only plain cakes and
home-raised nuts and apples-the plate
he bore to Hepsibah was loaded down
with delicate CONNECTIONS and fruit such
as the town had never seen before
great velvet peaches, purple grapes, lus-
cious pears and golden oranges.
But Hepsibah would not partake.
IL have a headache she said, and
may not eat. 1pray YOU turning to
Faith Fuisifer, who stood near. share
with me- And then Faith. a 'littlc
timid, silly. trembling thing at best,
fearing to anger her, and glad Of ANY,
thing savoring OF reconciliation,
stretched out her hand and took u pear,
but John Shepard interposed.
You may not eat he said, lest
you have Il headache also;' and, some.
what rudely rs it seemed, he took the
fruit from her, and threw it in the fire.
place, where, shortly. TO every ones
surprise, it turned red hot, and put the
other Goals to shame. .
But. Hepsibah only laughed and
curled her lip, and passed her plate to
the others, but none of them, save only
those who seemed most friendly with
tie strange gentleman, would partake,
but those who did pronounced the fruit
exceedingly good and sweet, but after,
ward complained that it left q sting and
bitterness behind.
AT last the ball was over, and the
girls were all wrapped up and chatter
ing to each other as girls will 1T part
ing. and He2sibah stood among them.
laughing and chattering too, and when
the dark gentleman came and told her
that the carriage was waiting, she
turned kindly to Faith one more.
1.-The walk is long for YOU she said;
ride with us, there is sufficiency of
room, and we will gladly see you safely
home;
And Faith delighted at the prospect
of = ride, thanked her in her shy way,
and started out with her, when John
Shepard, who had been detained by
some Of the other young men, saw her
and came forward with a face like a
dead mans.
"'Faitli,' he said. laying his strong
hand on her arm, stay and then look
ing straight into Hepsibah's eyes. he
said, sternly. 60 your way, woman,
but this child you take not with you.
she goes with me- And Hepsibah
dropping her head upon her breast,
went out into the night.
And that was the last that any one
saw of Hepsibah Keltry alive, ave ana
except only Judith, the bound girl. and
Judith related this:
when the ball broke up, Hepsibah
came home in the self-same carriage
that she went, and babe farewell to the
dark gentleman at the door.
~ shall see you soo again. she
said, and then she went upstairs with
Judith, and was undressed for the
night and went to bed; but on Judith's
preparing to make up her bed on the
floor near her as was usua:, she forbade
her.
81 would be alone tonight she
said; get you gone to the kitchen, but
leave the light burning on the table,
and goodnight And SO Judith had
left her.
But in the morning-oh, my child,
beware of evil temper, jealousy and
hasty vows-in the morning, theGone
who went to wake her from her sleep
found her lying in her bed, cold, white
and dead, and on n temple Il mark
branded deep into the bone-the mark
Of a eleven foot.m