The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-11-15

in time to secure the hand of his fair
charmcr for several dances. Fortune
seemed disposed to smile propitiou,ly
on him. and the coast was clear. The
colonel was not to be seen, and no one
else cared to inquire too curiously
what officer ought to be on guard at
the bank on that particular night. AS
he led out the lady the scapegracc
lover had the satisfaction of seeing his
rival turn away with Il lowering brow.
He was determined to lose no time
now. In the maze of the waltz. while
the soft undulating strains of Strauss
stepped the senses of the dancers in
sweet dreams of delight, under the
roseatc light of the many wax candles
in that perfumed, crowded ballroom,
Il question was asked, and an answer
TREMENDOUSLY whispered, which trans
ported two young people into a tempo
rary paradise of their oWn creating,
where there were only two, and no
room for any other besides. No won
der that at such moment all minor
slhlunarv considerations were for"
gotten.
But, when a brief e~cstatic hour had
passed, and they emerged once more
from the rosy pavilion whittier they
had retreated among the flowers, there
loomcd, dark and erect in the distant
doorway of the adjoining ballroom, a
tall, martial figure, whose gray head
lowered above the company; Il vision
which struck u sudden chill to the
ardent lovers heart.
by Jovc." he exclaimed, with a
start. "There's the colonel"
The sharp ejaculation, breaking in
strangely upon the dulcet tones of
love, astonished the pretty creature
who hung'on his arm.
What of the colonel?' she asked,
softly. "Why should he not be here,
poor man.
because | am here who ought to
be on guard in street, and because
| shall be cashiered to Il certainty if he
sees me-" was the abrupt reply.
"Oh, do go away this minute. Do,
dear Harry she pleaded, in terrified.
beseerhing accents.
He looked ut her, then around him,
irresOlutc for a moment. The colonel
had turned his back and was moving
into another room. No, he could not
90 just yet, the temptation to remain
was too strong.
"L.eavc you now, when we are
happy and are to he parted so soon?
No., l cannot, darling,' he whispered.
fondlv. but, never. fear, we will
keep out Of his way"
She did not urge him any more. She
did not fully understand the magnitude
of the offensc nor the risk it involved,
and was too glad to keep him Il little
longer by I'LL available means.
There were Il number of reception
rooms in the locale where the ball was
held. all of which were thrown open
for the occasion. Keeping a cautious
eve around them the young people
coatrived to pass from one apartment
t. another whenever they detected
the dreaded form of the colonel APP
preaching. After a time he settled
down quietly at a whist table in the
distance. and they gave themselves up
with reckless gayety to the enjoyment
of the evening. Another hour passed
and supper time came, and still they
danced or fingered in quiet hooks and
managed successfully to eludc the eyes
whose recognition was to be so care
fully avoided.
what 4 comfort it is that he is such
a maypole AMI may be observed from
afar !" laughed the girl, who had
caught the infection of her lovers au-
dacity.
At length the dreaded time for part
ing was ut hand. The early morning
train was to bear away the lady to her
fathers summer residence, and thus to
separate for awhile the newly plighted
pair. What wonder that in those last
few precious moments they forgot all
precautions and saw and heard moth
ing in each others all-engrossing pres
ence? lie followed herto the hall and
folded the shawl carefully round her
graceful form ; for another happy min
ute yet he stood with her hand locked
in his, meeting all her heart shining
out through her deep blue eyes. Then
the carriage door closed with a sharp
bang, which struck cold and heavyon
his e"- as the rolling wheels bore her
awav into the night.
Perhaps his eyes were somewhat
dazzled by the bright parting glance
he had drunk in so eagerly, for all
other things around looked dim. Pres
emily he turned listlessly to take his
hat and depart in his turn, still feel
ing like one that dreams. Suddenly,
however, something impelled him to
look up, and what was his dismay.
when he found himself face to face
with-the colonel!
There was a crowd of departing
guests in the hall, and as they gath
cred and jostled each other the two
men who had been thus unexpectedly
brought together were again borne
apart. The recognition was but in
Simultaneous, therefore, and in another
moment the junior officer had con-
trived to minyle with and disappear in
the crowd. But by the stern, aston
ished gaze which had met his eye for
that brief instant he knew that he
had been identified, and that the
colonel fully remembered where he
ought to have been.
If he still yentured to retain any
hope that the recognition had not been
complete, such hope was promptly dis
PEELED by the order which presently
rang out in ominous tones from the
%colonels well-known voice of thunder.
"Drive to the Royal bank instant
ly." he said, with awful distinctncSs.
"And 60 as fast as you can"
Captain Kendall had managed to
slip unobserved through the doorway,
and he now stood in the street.
What was to be done? The carriages
that were in waiting were all private
mes. The hackney coaches were far
down the file, and even haI he been
lucky enough to secure n in time
the rattle of the wheels ut that dead
hour Of the night, speeding in the
Sa.nc direction as the coloncls car
f4 =. ,1