The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-07-11

Harry was delighted with the pros
pect of continuing with her.
"Yes, | know where you mean. The
place we call Sandy Beach,
"Yes; and you can't imagine how
lovely tits here-old-fashioned, rather
crowded quarters, to he sure, but with
not the faintest vestige of anything
like fun or style"
"And you actually are boarding
there, Miss Harper? Why didn't you
come to one of the notes.-the Seaside,
for instance? It's a nice house, and
pleasant company is there"
May smiled.
"Not l.. came to the seashore to
enioy myself and get away from fash
ion and dress and tiresome people,
And you have succeeded in ENJOY
ing yourself at Sandy Beach,
admirably, these four weeks. O
are the first devotee OF the world that
| have seen since | came here
Her dark gray eyes spanked mis-
chievously as she gave a glance across
at him.
rs that really so? 1 hope, then,
you will not condemn yourself to such
isolation any longer--at least from me.
May I Join in your solitary amusement,
Miss Harper"
A faint flush crept softly over her
rare pale face as she SAID -,
81 am not sure Will and Ben VIII
agree to such an arrangement. They
are my %inseparable companions IN my
rambles," and she looked at the two
little lads 50,
Harry gravely produced a handful
of pennies which he gave them.
"Now, young gentlemen, may l
escort you and Miss Harper on a
charming excursion l know OF TO-
morrow" :,
II must make it conditional, then"
said May, laughing. "Promise me
YOU won't tell any one there is any
body down at Sandy Bach, will you?
Occasionally fishing parties come to
arrange with Uncle john call them
Uncle John and Aunt Jane Jackson
horrible, isn't it?-but l always con-
trive that no one sees me, for L am
determined not to be drawn into
society this summer, if can help 1t. l
don't want to see company
"But you don't regard me as COM
pany"
NO" she replied, II don't regard
you as company"
After that it was all up with Harry
Browne, and he went back to the Sea-
side house acknowledging that he was
in love at last, and with an unknown,
obscure gil, who, doubtless for other
reasons than her dislike for society,
perhaps for pecuniary reasons, was
STAYING at Sandy Beach. He liked her
all the better for it he honcr'd her
good sense, and he fell over head and
ears in love. ,
The next three weeks were themost
blessed ones he ever had spent in his
life. He Disguised Adele Fayton and
her friends daily by his persistent
neglect of them. He continued his
solitary excursions-solitary till he
came to Sandy Beach, where May was
always ready to accompany him, or
entertain him, or bewitch him, until
one day he toldh he loved her dearly,
and that it was the one wish of his
life to have her for his wife.
And May, with her soft eyes shaded
with the tenderness of love and trust
unspeakable, looked in his handsome
face and told him she had loved him
from the moment he had rowed up be-
side her that summer day.
As he took her in his arms and i'm
printed a lovers kiss on her red lips
and put his arm around her slim
waist, his heart gave great throbs of
thanksgiving for this blessing on him.
X X x X
The piazza of the Seaside house was
a bewildering, bright scene, with the
gayly-dressed girls standing in earnest
conversation as Harry Browne came
up to the house.
Adele Fayton tossed her pretty dark
head saucily.
There! Didn't I say Mr.. Browne
would 5e on hand to greet the heiress?
You men can't withstand such a golden
temptation. Mr.. Browne, she has ar
rived at last"
"She? Who?"
Adele laughed sarcastically.
There isn't the least use in your
pretending you don't know what l
mean. You know / mean the heiress."
Harry smiled-a sort of pity coming
over him as he remembered how much
happier he was than the n VINO
should be fortunate with this wonder
full newcomer.
"Yes, I really had forgotten. Ar
rived, has she?"
Bertha Hunter went up to him in
her gushing manner.
II prophesy you will be the very
first to 60 wild over her. She is just
what l Imagine you will like. Great,
dark-gray eyes and the goldenest hair
and 50 romantic !; l wonder you never
came across her in your solitary ram
bles. She has been staying down at
old Jackson's cottage all summer; but
then May Harper always had curious
ideas. At all events, she is here
now, and l am dying to introduce you,
Mr.. Browne
He stood COMPOUNDED Tor a moment
while he tried to realize it.
May, his darling, the heiress whom
he had declared he would rather COM
NIT suicide than marry? May, in her
cheap, blue flannel suits, with no gloves
or veil on her hands or face, she the
great heiress whose movements and
sayings were chronicled in the daily
papers whose dresses were copied by
less favored mortals, whose presence
was as welcome as the sunshine?'
"And she is pretty, too" Adele Fay
ton said, a little venomously, as il it
were quite a shame. Il saw her us
she went to her rOom."
Harry glanced composedly up at the
array of faces and said
"Iam glad you think May is pretty.
1 think she is the loveliest girl living.
So you did not know that | was en-
gagged to her?'
There followed a lull in the merry
chatter that eloquently expressed the
dumbfounded establishment of llarry's
announcement.
twas Ever Thus.