The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-01-14

mus IaCeQ IL TOO. HIS UTutc SOG ONCI,
but half stumbled. Didymus was coun.
try-brcd, had ridden horses to mill bare
backed, and was a half ccntaur when q
boy; so he brought his horse up.
Miss Scamper smiled approvingly.
Everybody admired the case and grace
with which Miss Scamper managed her
horse, and Didymus more than every
body.
When they arrived at their destination,
the party dispersed in the house and ovel
the grounds. They found old Scampel
there. He had gone over before in
carrv-all. Almont vas the property o.
Colonel Almont, and was for sale, with
its fine blooded stock of horses and cat
tie, its furniture, its library. and every
thing in the house and around it. Tht
colonel and his family were in Europe
and intended to stay there while he edu
Gated his sons at Heidelberg. So ht
offered the whole-a house that cost ;
hundred and thirty thousand dollars,
with all its offices of all kinds, stables
palmery. grapcry and greenhouses, fur
niture made to order, and over twelve
hundred acres of land in a high state o.
cultivation--''for," as he said in his let
ter, "a mere song" So it was; but a.
it was set to the tune of three hundred
thousand dollars, there were few who
could render the music.
They all admired the place. The
agent. who was there, seized on the
Scampcrs and Didymus, to whom he
showed everything and explained every
thing. Didymus was amused at this
and whispered to Miss Scamper, "He ha:
picked out the only three who could
certainly not buy it." Miss Scampcr;
by the twinkle in her eyes, evi
IDENTIFY appreciated the fun of the situa'
ton. Then the agent seized old Scam
per, and dragged him off to look at the
blood horses and imported cattle, leaving
Didymus and the girl together.
GLOW do you like the place, Mr..
Dodd"inquired she.
Like it, Miss Scamper! Why, it is
garden of Eden; that is. it would be sc
to me, if l had it with an Eve in it."
The young lady smiled, and said
"You like country life, then, Mr..
Doddw
Naturally" replied Didymus. 81
lived in the country until l was twenty.
two. l was born and bred there. ]
should have been there yet but for tho
death of both my parents. went to the
city in search of fortune. l have done
very well for the last seven years, and
have put a little by; but to covet a place
like this is like wishing for the moon"
"The country is the place to live in,
and the city to work in" said Miss
Scamper, sententiously.
"To live in, I grant you, if you have
the means-a good farm and money to
work it. Otherwise you toll harder in
the country than in town, with less com
fort and less profit"
Then they discoursed on rural
topics, with a marvellous unity
of sentiment, until the venerable
Scamper and the agent got back,
which was at the time the whole party,
each with q nosegay furnished by the
gardener from the greenhouses, was
ready for a return to the Springs.
There were vet two days of the young
mans vacation left, when he determined
to place his fate at Miss Scamper's dis
posal at the first opportunity. The
chance came that very night. That
evening a number were seated on the
veranda enjoying the moonlight. Miss
Scampcr sat apart from the rest, IN
heavy shadow, with her grandfather:
The old gentleman rose when Dodd
came, and left. Miss Scamper made
room for Didymus at her side, and the
two began to talk of the days doings.
"By-the.by," said Didymus, "have
YOU heard that Almont has been sold;"
Yes"
"And to the great heiress, Miss Boil
sovcr. l wonder if she will keep old
maids hall there2"
Miss Scamper laughed a low, silvery
laugh. II presume she WILL" she said,
''unless she chance to marry. Wasn't
that a sad accident at the mill today"
every. The man has q wife and five
children. I went over to see how they
were-to see if they were in pressing
need, you know; but that part is all
right. This Miss Bolsover, who must be
STAYING somewhere near, has been there,
and provided for all their wants. Isup-
pose, as she has bought A.mont, she
means to play the Lady Bountiful here,
which is ali the better for Micky and his
family"
Il believe, Mr.. Dodd,' said the lady,
''that you play the part OF Lord Bounti-
full sometimes, especially if some poor
woman left with five children should
rouse your sympathies."
"How did you know" he said.
"a little bird told me-" she said.
"You not only paid Mrs. Grants rent,
but got her eldest boy employment, and
then fairly ran away to avoid her
thanks. She was full of your praises"
'But she did not know my name,"
said Didymus.
"True. But don't you remember that
a yelled lady sat there the last time you
came? That was l. I was in Philadel-
phia on a visit, and looked up Mrs.
Grant, who had been q servant IN our
family before she married. She told me
of her troubles, and how a stranger had
helped her. l looked at you we'll, and
when you came here I knew you in an
instant"
Didymus felt his heart flutter. Now
was the time; but his tongue refused its
office. After a little pause, Miss Scam
per said, II have had a pleasant time
here, and I'm almost sorry that l leave
Tomorrow"
"'To.morrow.m cried Didymus, in des-
pcratiou, selling her hand, which was
not withdrawn. "Oh, Ruth-Miss Scam
per-you must have seen"
Here he stopped, but the fingers of the
lady frightened a little in his grasp. A
friendly cloud passed over the moon, and
the recess grew darker.
Il love you, Ruth, darling" he mur
INJURED, and drew her INCREASINGLY to-
ward him.
The people on the veranda were too
busy in conversation to hear a faint sound
made at the sealing of a compact be-
tween two foolish young people But
Gnce it was all settled, the tongue of
Didymus was fairly unloosened, and he
went on building his-their joint scheme
OF lie. nc tOlu ueT VI tue LlOuey uc
had laid away, and the big salary in
prospect, and the coy little suburban
! cottage on the Schuylkill, with its acre
of ground, that he would be able to
buy.
"And there is room for grandfather to
live with u.s." he said.
THAT might not suit him, Didymus."
she replied, Though it is kind and
thoughtful Of you. He would prefer his
own larger house in New York"
ellis large house, cried Didymus.
~ thought he was poor"
Poor! Silas Scamper poor! Why,
he has a two-third interest in the great
banking house of Gould, Silver Il Co.,
New York, Paris and Vienna, though he
figures as the Co. He has his own
house, and a great many more of them"
Didymus, in spite of his acceptance,
felt a gulf yawring somehow. This rich
banker
beg your pardon, Miss Scamper,'
he said, "but I somehow"
Yes, Didymus, you believed him