The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-12-19
ELIZABETH'S OPINIONS.

Mrs. Danvers. quite forgctful of the soft
balls of m~any-colored worstcads in her
lap, rose hurricdly to meet her husband.
81 had a very, very, very important letter
to-day-from London!'
''From London, Fan? I did not think
that you knew any one in London"
81 was three years in a London board
ing-school, sir! Do you think it is only
men who make bosom. friends at school
John Lawrence and you were chums at
school, and arc ridiculous about each
other yet; I suppose l can have a school
friend too"
"Nonsensc, Fan! David and Jonathan
have no sisters. Women get 4 husband,
and then there is an end of my darling
Angelina and my darling Fanny"
"Her name is not Angelina, sir, and
she always calls me Frances. If there is
one thing Elizabeth d~etests, it is nick
names. She used TO say, If your name
is Frances, don't allow any one to call
YOU ANYTHING else She is quite a re-
markable woman, Will, assure you"
"And her name is Elizabeth 2"
"Yes-Elizabeth Atkinson. She is
yery rich-very rich indeed !; and l
thought, Will dear, if l could get her to
be baby's god-mother-she'san old maid,
Will-she might leave baby something,
you know"
"You mercenary little mother! You
would lay the weight of those two
dreadful names upon baby for the sake
of a possible legacy? Elizabcth-Atkin-
son -Danvers. The little mite could not
bear it, Fan"
eve would call her Bessie Will; her
godmother would never know. Bessie
Is pretty: don't you think so"
''No, I do not think so. lam for call
ing her Lily, Or Violet, or Grace, or
something flowery and pretty"
81 never knew a girl called Lily that
did not grow up fat and red, or one
called Violet that was not loud and vul-
gar, or one called Grace that was not ILL.,
tempered and gawky. Now, there is
something very stately about Elizabeth"
"And very likely baby will grow up a
little futtering, frizzly-haircd fairy, all
curves, and ringlets, and ribbons"
IT am ashamed of you, Will, talking
= about your own dear, darling little
daughter in that way. And after all the
trouble I have taken to select a proper
eodmother for her! And Elizabeth so
delighted, and coming all the way to
New York to see her ~goddaughter, too,
and everything else. I must say | ex-
pected more appreciation from yo,Sssill.
Lillian Morris here this afternoon,
and she of course opposed Elizabeth. I
expected that. She is all for those hor-
rid Saxon names, like Maud, and Elfri-
da. and Bertha. But a man of the world
"a sensible man like you. Will! am
astonished."
"Oh, don't scold. Fan. think Eliza
beth lovely; and, as yon say, we can call
her Lizzy."
"No, Will, I never said Lizzy. Lizzy,
indeed! I said Bessie"
"Yes, dear, Bessie. Ibeg pardon"
"And I shall write to Miss Atkinson
to say that we will have. the christening
in May, if that suits you. Will"
eyes, yes; that suits me very well.
John and I arc gong to the A~dirondacks
in June, but it will be all over by that
time"
"Al over, Will! I must say that is
not fattering to baby
81 dare say baby will be glad enough
to have it all over. But is this lady
really coming hcre2-to New York;"
"She is really coming. I was going
to ask you about refurnishing the blue
suite of rooms for her."
"Why; they were refurnished when
we were married, two years ago, and
nobody has used them but John Law
renee"
o "And he smokes. Elizabeth is very
sensitive on that subject"
For q short time Will held his ground
about re%furnishing; but after Fanny
shifted the point of attack from her rock
ing chair to his knee, the resistance grew
fainter and fainter, and finally the weak
husband not only agreed to the carved
oak furniture upholstered in rich wood
colors, but also professedto see the neccs-
sity for looking after the carriage.
THAT Mrs. Lorimcr has had hers lined
with dark purple satin, Will, and i. is really
an effective background for light hair"
! skillfully suggested Fanny. And am
so sick of those gray horses! Can't We
have bay ones, Will? They are more
English and stylish"
Sothe oak furnishing, the new carriage
lining, and the bay horses were deter
: mined on, and, what is more, Will Dan
yers had no sense of having suffered a de-
feat.
Will Danvers heard Il great deal of Miss
Atkinson between March and May, and
was allowed to read specially wise and
lofty paragraphs in her letters. He af,
fected a great admiration for the lady
but, in reality, he was quite sure sh'
would prove a tremendous bore. Blu
John and ] can get out of it," he reflected
"that is one comfort. And if she man
ages 20 put Fan under her thumb, she i
cleEerreT7 ldhdn lam, that's all, don't be
lieve Fan will give il-much; | ncve
knew her do 1t. I'll bet twenty dollar
they have a civil fight before Il month >
over, and that Fan comes out ahead
In a week after MisTAtkinson's arriva
Will had modifedrhis opinion. Her p
pearancc was not formidable-quitc tn
contrary. Indeed, she was so petite, 81
gentle, SO appealing, that Will had no
at first thought it necessary to guard on
of his prerogatives. But gradually h
found himself abandoning his dcarcs
rights. "Miss Atkinson was not well
would Nh. Danvers kindly breakfas
alone, and allow darling Frances to hav'
q quiet talk and a cup of tea with her?
Mr.. Danvers politely consented, and in
week the favor had becomes custom, ant
Mr.. Danvers breakfastcd alone as a mat
ter Of course.
It was the same in everything. Mis-
Atkinson took possession of his wife, hi
child and his house. Her cool, calm, au
thoritative way was irresistible, and sh'
delivered her opinions with such an al
Of settled conviction in their infallihilit.
that few cared to dispute them. Ssh
was really sorry to find so much to dis
approve of in New York society, and sh'
knew how to pass it over; but 1t was he
nature to speak the truth, though it wa:
often a very disagreeable duty"
And even Will gave her the usua
,credit. for this unpleasant characteristic
aNtsi is just her honest, straightforward
nature that makes her say this kind 0
thing" he said to John Lawrence ont
night; "but I wish she was not so fone
Of plain truths Fan is made to SCI
faults in me she never would find out b,
herself"
"sPlain truthsr" answered John
on;+efully 60 T have ALWAYS noticed tina
these people who are so fond OF 'plall
truths "never feel called upon to tel
pleasant truths. I have always refused
to meet the lady, Will, because | hk'
women who. are not above nice little
~hypocrisies to please us; but | declare
woman who proposes to accompany us
into the woods, and turn our private
pleasure into a public picnic, must be q
character. I'll 60 home with you to-
- -s-hk 49, ooo LIN