The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-11-01

'teSAh w 49, NN
lain in his-on that strange bridal
day.
eff you grant me shelter, it is equiva-
lent to accepting my friendship" he
said, allowing himself to be drawn into
the cave and seating himself so as to
shield her from the rain which now be-
gan to beat in.
"Now. YOU might almost as we'll be
outside as do that" said the girl, re-
proachfullv. "What a dcluge it is"
peering out over his shoulder.
The damp air heightened her color
and sent little rings of golden brown
hair curling madly over her pretty
forehead, her violet eyes shone, and her
FACET was the fairest that Ger the
sun shone on.
Max Arden thought so as he an
swered dreamily:
81 wish it could last forty days"
What a good conscience you must
have!!" gayly; "now. l should be too
afraid of being drowned with the rest
of the sinners"
Miss Harding"
"Who told you my name was Miss
IIarding?"
"NIy guide, Luke Smith. He claims
to know everything"
"IIe certainly seemsto knows great
deal"
clam camping out near here, and
seeing you SO constantly, naturally in
quired about you. 1t is a lonely spot to
see a lady"
clam staying at the Mountain house,
six miles from here" she explained.
81 drive over every morning to sketch
this lovely glen, and the carriage comes
for me again at t o'clock. 1 should
be going to meet it now but for the
rain"
blessed rain !" murmured Max.
The young lady frowned and APP
peared to regret the mOmentary inti-
macy into which she had been drawn.
There was a few minutes silence while
she turned over the contents Of her
portfolio. Once more nature favored
Max. The wind blew a loose sketch
to his feet, which he looked at in
amazement.
"Why, it's me !" he cried, eNultant
and ungrammatical, "and a capital
likeness, too"
"You-you are quite mistaken in
in any conclusions you may draw"
stammered Miss Harding, blushing,
and clothed with shame as with a gar
ment. "You need not imagine |
sketched you because-that is-you are
not to think-anything."
II don't. My mind is entirely
vacant except for a. strong desire to
possess my portrait. You probably do
not prize it very highly"
81 do not prize it at ALL"
"And 1 would give-even unto the
half of my kingdom for it."
would you give that ring which
looks like an heirloom?"
Instantly it lay in her hand.
"Oh, no! 1 was only jesting. l
cannot takeit."
"You must. You named your
price and l agreed, so the bargain is
concluded. 1t is an heirloom, as you
supposed; and I rejoice to see it in
your possession. l always meant
losing his head a little as he gazed at
her flower-like face-"to give it to the
girl l loved; but now
"Well, now?" she echoed, softly,
with avertcd face.
"Now, 1 may never tell my love,
because"-with an efrOrt-"I am a
married man."
"Mr. Ardenv-angrily - "because
of that foolish sketch you think that
l. You say this as a warming"
"A warning to myself, perhaps"
Gas if you needed any"
"You are right. l am past that
He buried his face in his hands.
There was a long silence. Then the
girl said, in an altered voice:
"The rain has stopped F.; l think l
will 60"
Max Arden stood on the dark We
randa of the Mountain house listening
to strains of music from the ballroom,
and watching the dancers dancing in
time for queen among them moved the
girl he loved. How more than fair
She looked in her white evening dress.
Presently she seemed %laughingly to
dismiss her little court, and came out
alone upon the vcranda. Max stepped
forward. lie had to apologize for
startling her, but he was afraid she
was sick, he said, as he had not seen
her for so long.
"Only a week." she answered, ch &c
fully. cit is my mother who was i'll
but she has recovered now, thank you.
So we are going Tomorrow
"Going where?" with an cagerness
he could not repress.
why should l tell you, Mr.. Arden?"
with cold surprise.
"That l may follow you. BY what
right? Because l love YOU"
$50 soon ?"-incredulously.
GAY; even so quickly mi may
catch the plague" he quoted, with
a bitter laugh. "And the pursuit of
happiness is one Of the unalienahlc
rights Of man, you know
but when man fancics his happi-
ness to be a woman and shedoes not like
pursuit, has she no unalicnablc
rights" merrily.
"Donot jest with me-"
She was silent for a moment. Then-
in soft, vibrating tones:
"No, 1 cannot jest. have some
thing serious to say to you, Mr.. Arden.
l, too, am married, and, ALIAS to Anus
band who casts me off. Hush, and
listen. l was persuaded into Il hasty
marriage, partly by love of his mother,
partly, perhaps, by-intercst in him,
which she had educated Inc to feel.
Besides, 1 met him accidentally in So
ciety, and fancied l could-like him.
Max, take your arm away. Believe
me, l was not told by what means he
was forced into marriage! What
kneeling to me, Max? Suppose some
one should come. DO get up"
"N0t till you forgive me-"
"Well, in that casc"-with pretended
reluctance-"I had better forgive you
at once"
K X =
1t is not five years since Max mar
ried in haste, but he has not yet re-
pcnted at leisure-nor has his wife.
Strong Mans Feat.
A story of remarkable human
strength is reported to the following
afrect. At Now philalplDhia. Ohio. a