The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-09
n Wears BATH.

were having a tete a-tete one brilliant
August morning in the pleasant little
room which the vicar called his study.
That the ~tete-a-tete was not an alto
gether of an agreeable nature was very
evident from the agitation of the girl
and the vehemence of her father-a
portly ecclesiastic with several chins and
q pompous, s~elf-satisied manner.
II don't consider that he's q fit man
to be your husband" the vicar resumed,
after a pause in the talk. Il think one
has only to look at the style and cut Of
his clothes to form a very fair estimate
of the sort of life he leads in town. I
know him to be in debt, to disfgure his
mother tongue with the most hideous of
metropolitan slang, to drink between
meaIs-and yet you, Daisy Tcxter,
daughter of the vicar of Dottington,
sigh and sob that you never can and
never will love any other man. It's quite
but, gracious me! There's 9 o'clock
striking and the combinations at 10, so
that tie bishop will be here a quarter of,
and l haven't had time to take my morn
ing swim-thauks TO your foolish love-
sick chatter! Still, if I rush off now
there's just time for a hurried dip, and
as I am nothing without it, and as it will
clear my head and frcshen me up for the
duties of the day, I will be off, and we
will defer any further discussion until a
more convenient opportunity" saying
which the vicar loft the room by the
door, and the girl slowly went oat by
the French window, crossed the lawn,
and descended to a narrow shady lane,
where was waiting a young gentleman
with an honest brown face, who was at.
tired in a check suit of dittocs which,
although of ordinary London cut, had
produced no small impression from the
variety Of its hues on the obscure villag.
ers, who rarely saw anything but the
parsons broadcloth and the peasants
corduroya
.'lt's NJ Use, Gerald" she exclaimed,
when they met. "The pater's in an aw-
full temper this morning and has been
calling me all sorts of horrid names for
loving you and declaring that I would
continue to do So"
Mr.. Gerald Maldon, who was the son
of the squire of Dottington, took the
girl to his arms and, kissing her CULVER
ing lips, said:
Whats his objection to me, Daisy2"
"Why, he says you are what is called
FAST replied the girl, land he doesn't
like your style of life, your style of con.
versation, nor your style of dress,
dear"
t"Style of dress, by jove!" exclaimed
the young man, surveying the suit he
had on with no little complacency.
"surely he doesn't judge a fellow by his
dress. Why, when the bishop was at
our house last spring I wouldn't have
given the old fellow eighteenpencc fol-
all he hadm
"That reminds me, Gerald" said
Daisy, there's a confirmation to day. sc
the bishop is coming and the whole
place will be upside down. This, per
haps. has worried papa a little; there
fore matters may not really be so bad as
they now appear. He, however, wouio
not miss his bath, 80 he has just gone
down to the river to take his usual swim
1t will doubtless cool his temper as vel
as his body"
"Gone down the river for a swim! y
exclaimed the young man. by jove
I'd give something to see him! should
have thought he'd have been above such
rakish diversion. But a happy though
strikes me, Daisy dear. The bishop, a
you know, is a rare good fellow, and
being an old college chum of the COVER
nor's and my godfather, he would, I be
lievc, do anything for me. Keep you
spirits up, therefore, my darling, for tn
great man is certain to como in ant
lunch at our house, and I will get tht
guv' to ask him to say a good word TO
us to the vicar. So good.by, my wifi
that is to be, for l know it will be al
right. I wouldn't miss seeing my futur
father-in-law taking his morning bait
for a good deal"
Gerald Maldon, having kissed tn
girl again, hurried down the lane in tn
direction of the river. Carefully keep
ing himself out of sight, he %reconnoit
cred. The pompous ecclesiastic ha'
Just finished arranging his clothes in
neat heap ON the bank, and was descend
ing into the water with as much gravit
and consequence as if he were goin'
down his pulpit stairs. Mr.. Geral
watched every movement. and saw tn
vicar slowly duck his head and ponder
ously strike out into the middle Of tn