The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-07-07
ollows Mrs. Branscombe's portly

! OllOWS MTS. DTdISCOuUe polelJ
igure into the hall.
Mrs. Branscombe's rather pretentious
dwelling, situated just on the edge OF
the village, is the boarding-house Of
Lynville, and, as there is quite sprink-
ling of aristocracy in and about the
sleepy little town, Mrs. B. can truly
coast that her boarders are all first
blass, unless, indeed, an exception NAV
| be made in regard to Cecil Adair, music
| teacher, who works for her daily bread
instructing the numerous little Brans-
combe's in music in exchange for her
| board.
1t is a close, sultry morning in Au-
gust, and several Of the lady boarders
have taken refuge in the wide, cool hall,
where a pleasant breeze is stirring. or
are seated on the vine-covered veranda
that runs the full length of the house.
Tie most striking figure in the group,
however, is the burly, good-natured
negro, who is stolidly standing guard
over m unassuming little trunk, fan
ming himself with his tattered straw
hat.
One glance is sufficient to dispel
C.cil's doubts and assure her that the
trunk is really hers. Alas! there is no
mistaking it; it has served too long and
too faithfully for that.
"Where did you get it?" she demands,
helplessly. "Who sent it9"
cit was Mars Philip CORTLAND what
told me to fotch it, Miss. Now jeff,
he sed to me, 'ef you gifts dat ar trunk
dar by twelve o'clock, III gin you one
dollar; eff you gifts IL dar TO twelve, III
gin you two dollars. And Is done it,
too, and de two dollars is mine, kase
Mars Phil nebber goes back on his
word: Whar will you have it tux, Miss
Cecil?"
"What does it mean, Cecil?" ques-
tions Mrs. Branscombe. {" do not un-
derstand it at all"
The ladies, attracted by Jeff's voice,
have gathered round eager with curl
osity; one dashing looking brunette
especially, who is always interested in
anything pertaining to Philip Courtland,
has stepped forward, and is supercil-
iously eying the trunk, the negro and
Cecil herself.
cit is only this" "Cecil begins, desper-
ately, seeing an explanation is impera'
tive. "Mr. Courtland was very anxious
for me to attend the reception to-mor-
row evening. told him it was impos-
sible, as my trunk was not here, and
consequently had nothing to wear. l
suppose he imagined lie was doing me
great service"
"Oh, certainly" sueered Miss Per-
cival, the aforementioned brunette.
" We believe that story. 1t is sc arcely
probable that he would have taken such
a liberty unless he had been duly au-
thorized or commissioned"
cit is q matter of utter indifference to
me whether you believe or not, " returns
Cecil, her color burning high. but
imagine you will, one and all, be readily
convinced of the truth of my statement
when you know-and know you must
in what an awkward dilemma the whole
affair has placed me. Perhaps it was
cowardly, but I did shrink from ac-
knowledging to Philip Courtland that |
could not afford dress for his sisters
reception, and so I put it on the plea of
my trunk not being here, little dream
ing he would take such step as this:
Now, not only my extreme povery will
be exposed, but the contemplate du-
plicity stopped to also, for the trunk is
emptv-literally emItyl Bring it up to
nv room "-this to JEFF, rs she precedes
him up the stairs with the grand air
that PHILIP Courtland has admired as
oueenly, but that Miss Percival con-
temptuously denominates as "giving
herselfairs."
Poor JEFF! Somewhat crestfallen, he
shoulders his burden, scarcely compre-
hendiug the situation, but decidedly OF
The opinion that Mars Phil has done
gone and put his foot in it, for shot,"
Indeed. when the innocently-ofend-
ing trunk has been carefully deposited
in the small room whittier be is
ushered, he is not altogether certain
that it will be safe to deliver the note
intrusted to his keeping, but remem-
bering the positive injunctions received
along with the note. ''Be sure to give it
to her, Jeff-Miss Adair. Do you un-
derstand? Put it in her hands. Do not
trust 1T to any one else," he considers it
wiser to face the anger Of this pale,
pretty girl than to encounter Philip
Courtland's fierce wrath should his Or
dcrs be neglected.
Yes, between two evils JEFF discreetly
choose the leact, and for the first time
considers his two dollars scarcely
earned as he reluctantly draws the note
from his pocket.
"Heah's letter, Miss Cecil, as he
sed was to give it into yo' hands and
nobody clse's."
The next instant he shuffles out of the
room as he shuffles out of our story.
CECIL: There is no reason now who
YOU should not come-nothing to pre-
vent. l trust you will not be offended
at the liberty I have taken; but how
could l allow such trife to stand be-
tween me and a whole evenings happi-
ness. have 80 much to say to you, it
seems that I cannot wait until to-mor-
row evening. long for, and yet dread
yes, for once I own myself coward
the moment when I shall hold your
hand in mine and look into your sweet,
truthful eyes and know what my life is
to be. Goodbye now until tomorrow
night, when-aS ever yours,
PHILIP"
A dozen sweet, passionate kisses, and
a rain of hot, happy tears, to consecrate
the little white-winged, love-laden mes
senger-that is all in the first few deli
cious moments when she realizes that
her heart has not slipped from her
keeping in vain-that Philip Courtland
loves her. But atterward come a thous-
and doubts ard fears trooping in upon
her, trampling roughshod the beauteous
blossom of her love at it's very birth.
What will he think when she does not
come-that she is offended?-that she
takes this way of delicately answering
his question before it is fairly put. Yes,
but one construction can be placed on
her abence now.
On what trihes do our destinies hingep
Is she, then, to suffer this great penance
her whole life through to atone for one
miserable white lie? Can it be Just? Or
is everything always to be harder for
her than for others?
But awhile later, when she presents
herself below, sne has left behind this
tumultuous, passion wrought girl, with
her flushed cheeks and tear-fallen eyes,
ani it is very calm, pale, unrutfled
Miss Adair, bearing herself with GER
tain proud dignity, almost hateur, that
goes the rounds of her accustomed
duties.
! But, alas! she has not succeeded ir
burying entirely that other unhappy
restless creature; she is not to bt
crushed out of existence quite so easily