The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-04-28
CASSIA.

itself among the elms and oaks,
and shrouded even its doors and win,
dows in thick hanging jasmine and cy'
press vines.
Nine o'clock in the morning. but not a
creature was visible outside; the matted
balconies were empty, the hammocks all
unoccupied. indeed, every room opening
from the lower balcony was darkened ex-
ceptinr one. In this room the blinds
were reversed, and a faint breeze
moved the thin white curtains. A
table was laid here for three people,
and the preparations on it seemed to i'm
DIV that their event was momentarily ex-
pected.
Presently the door opened, and a
beautiful girl of about sixteen years OF
age entered. She was dressed in a fine
long robe of white muslin, trimmed
with knots of pale green ribbon, and in
her hand she carried bunch of pansles
and lilies.
"Ie-oy"
ayes, Miss Cassia."
Tell Colonel Bauvare I am wait
ing"
In a few moments stout, handsome
man dressed in white linen en-
tered. He kissed the girl on the brow
. softly.
''Where is mammal"
"She will not appear this morning.
She lay awake all night planning about
the ball, and is too fa'igued to rise"
"But surely to give party is not such
very important affair, papa"
"The people whom entertain is very
important affair indeed, Cassia."
i'Dear me- had not thought of it in
tina! light. I should just invite all the
good dancers and nice people in the
neighborhood. There are plenty of nice
people around u.s."
Fortunately this is a very select neigh
borhood; there are no better families In
the country-in the world, I might say
than the Bauvares, the Pcy*ons, the LIE
Croixs the Des Moines-"
"And the Riveses, papa. remember
young Herbert Rives so well! He was
the handsomest youthI ever saw. We
must not forget Herbert Rives, papa. "
:sCassia. wish you to distinctly under
stand that Mr.. Rives and 1 have had a
bitter Guardian irreconcilable quarrel.
If the public sentiment was raised to
proper pitch here, I should shoot him
with great deal of pleasure. I hope I
shall never hear you speak of either the
father or son again"
II want Herbert Rives to come to my
ball, papa"
'sIt is impossible, Cassia."
Ca,sia was silcnced, but not convinced.
Toward evening she went out to walk.
The negro girl with her had little
bucket, and was gathering wild straw
berries as they walked. AS she entered
the grove skirting the Rives estate the
thick, intensely green turf as soft as vel
vet. delighted her: the shade and warmth
and sweet earthly smell filled her with
delicious, drowsy sense of repose.
.sOh, how nice it would b. to lie down
on this turf and sleep!" she thought. II
wonder what ones dreams would be in
such placer
She had scarcely ceased wondering
when she saw a splendid black horse
quietly feeding, and under tree not far
away a man lay either dead or sleeping.
Not dead surely? She must at least see to
that. In moment she stood over him.
He was young man, handsome rs En-
dymion, and fast asleep.
When they had gone little apart she
paused, thought minute. and then took
her handkerchief, and with the little god
pencil at her chain wrote, Glove has been
with thee, and thou knew it not" Then
stepping softly back, she laid it on the
turf beside his head.
Not until they were quarter OF mile
away did Cassia speak; then she said,
softly, emily, do you know who that
is2n
'Lor, yes Miss Cassia-Massa Her
bert Riyes. Done forgot my berries, Miss
Cassia. Kin l go back fur 'em?'
Eyes; can see the house now. Go
back if you wish"
When Milly got back to where she had
left her bucket, the horse was sad1led,
and the young man was slowly riding
away. Milly watched him cut of sight.
and saw him examine the handkerchief
carefully, then kiss it and put it ii h s
breast; all Of VIII ch proceedings she re-
ported, with somc slight additions, to
her mistress.
1t was very natural that both young
people should revisit the scene of this
adventure. But for two days nothing
more came of it. They went at unlucky
hours and only crossed each other. On
the third day they were fortunate. Cas-
sia. sitting with a book in her lap
which she was not rca ling-heard the
fiery gallop of horse, and instantly
afterward horse and rider vaulted over
the ziczag fence which divided the Bau-
ware and Rivcs estates.
Before Cassia could rise, Herbert had
dism ountcd, thrown the reins over his
horses neck, and, hat in hand, advanced
to her feet. His manly grace and beauty
and his unaffected delight in their meet
ing completed the conquest which had
brcl gained while he was unconscious OF
The power of his attractions. He pre-
tended no ignorance of Cassia's person
he addressed her frankly as Miss Bau-
ware, and reminded her of their girl and
bov friend hip He confessed that he
had been watching for glimpse of her,
and that he had dared the tres: ass on
the Bauvarc land for tac pleasure of seek
ing her.
Cassia met him in the same humor.
There was no formalty and no emtar-
rassmcnt, and the conversation drifted
insensibly into low, short sentences, made
wonderfully eloquent by passionate
glances and whispered queries, that Cas-