The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-11
How Love was Lord of All.

NILS. CUecle WdS uOHutuSs ouC VI III
coolest, haughtiest frowns, and her
penetrating blue eyes were looking
straight in Genevieve's face.
A saucy, piquant, pretty face, in deli
cate rose and pale olive tints, with we'll
opened eyes that did not shrink from
Mrs. Steeles-velvety bronze-brown
eyes, full of resolution and intelligence,
for all their lovely liquidness.
She was Steele all over, from her
broad, white forehead, where the brown
hair rippled from its snowy parting
down to the dainty little pink ears, to
the high-arched foot that was especially
a"Steele peculiarly"
And by being all Steele" was meant
she. was resolute, and decisive, and in
Dependents girl whose judgment was
to be depended on, whose impulses did
not run away with her sense-a sensi-
bic, cherry, happy, healthy girl.
Der mother, sitting in her hig l.
backed rocking-chair-"the chair OF
state" G%enevieve called it-laid the
n~ewly-opened letter down on her lap,
took off he. gold trimmed eyeglasses,
and-frowned at her daughter, because
her daughter had, after her silent read
Ing OF luc leGIcI, IetUIueu IL W ucT
mother with this remark:
~ dare say Aunt Juliet means to be
very kind. but I shall not accept her in
vilation on those terms"
II don't see why, Genevieve. I wish
you would remember that every such
invitation from my sister diminishes
our expenses very materially, besides
affording you chances. you would not
otherwise enjoy, OF seeing people and
Genevieve's eyes flashed long before
her mothers deliberate remark was
ended.
Don't mention it to me, mamma
you wouldn'tif You knew how horribly
revolving it is! Yes, expenses are re-
duced every time n of Us goes to Aunt
Juiiet's for the season, and, so far, my
sisters have succeeded in being married
of. while you ana / here at home were
going without the necessities of life to
further their plans. Mamma, I tell you
am thoroughly disguised with it all.
don't want 10 60 to Long Branch with
Aunt Juliet. ! don't want to 60 hus-
band catching. l prefer to stay here
with you, mamma"
She ended her brisk, indignant protest
with an afeetionate little sentence that
certainly should have been very consol-
ing 10 Mrs. Steele.
IL am sure you are a very strange
child, Genevieve. / certainly feel very
grateful to my sister for all she has done
for Augusta and Isadore, and no less for
the great kindness she displays in invit-
ing you on her summer campaign, and
for so t~houghtfully inclosing these two
one-hundred dollar notes to 'renovate
your wardrobe ! really wish you to
obey me in this affair and accept the in
vitation."
Genevieve began to display ever more
han her usual hauteur. and by the way
she held her head up, so perfectly re-
spectfui for all its positiveness, Mrs.
Steele knew there was a battle in pros
pect.
II could not think of going, mamma,
under the circumstances. So far as &C.
cepting Aunt Juliet's charity, l have no
silly hesitation whatever, for she is rich
and can afford to buy the pleasure
OF young. peoples society; but"
and her fathers look came start
!ingly plain all over her lovely face, cit
ID because / Bnow to a certainty that
Aunt Juliet intends to leave no stone
unturned 10 bring about a match as
che u%nblushingly calls it, between
Lance Fielding and myself, and it
shocks, and angers, and disgusts me.
Nor under any circumstances will I 20,
unless auntie positively promises that
her pet animal shall not be paraded for
my benefit, or l exhibited for his"
Mrs. Steele smiled frostily.
"Quite a dissertation for one so un.
skilled in society lore. Almost any
young lady would feel enraptured at the
simple prospect of meeting Lance Field
ing-young, rich as Cresus, or will be
when his mother dies. handsome as an
Apollo, and a most charming, refined
gentleman-what1 call a thoroughbred
society man-the very one above ali
others l would rejoice with pride un-
speakable to see you married."
Tneu Genevieve's eyes displayed a
sudden mutiny that warned Mrs. Steele,
ii she intended to carry this battle, her
moment had come. So she hesitated a
second in her speech, and then took
another tack.
You May consider it settled, with
out any more discussion on the subject.
Of course. you can use your own discre-
ton in the matter 81 far as Mr.. Field
ing or any other gentlemen are con-
oerned. But SO far as accepting your
aunt's invitation goes, I shall write to
cay we thank her, ana that you will be
in readiness on the twentieth"
Of course, Genevieve had no choice
left her but TO obey her mothers impera-
tive command; and as she was uni
formly dutiful, for all her reso luton and
independence, she went on with her ar
engagements pleasantly and promptly,
with the mental reservation that she
would, under no possible circumstances.
allow. herself to be made a trap to catch
q husband.
Two weeks afterward Genevieve was
plunged into the creme de la creme of
fashionable society at Long Branch-the
prettiest, loveliest, most exclusive young
belle that had adorned society that
season, and Mrs. St. Laurence began to
comprehend, as she had not c, mpre-
hended before, the full meaning Of the
friendly, sisterly warning Mrs. Steele
had dropped her, in saying that al
though Genevieve was most sweet, and
charming, and gracious, and obedient,
and accommodating, she nevertheless
could contrive at a point, where not
even her friends could persuade or in