The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-07-28

VI course you won De just U tucu
that's not to be expected.
''Not to be expected' I should very
much like to know why have any mo-
tive to be unjust TO your friends"
"oh, we'll" she said, rcsignedly, the
trouble is, Jack, you're in lo'e with me
yourself"
With astartled air he looked at her an
instant. Then smile broke slowly over
his face. =,
"Well, that IS a singular assertion, u
he remarked. after q rather long silence.
Eyes; but the mo singular thing
about it is, that it's true" she retorted,
with perfectly unmoved air. "That's
where the singuIarity comes in"
He bit his lip, still regarding her with
sort of puzzled yet tolerant look. Sud
denly his whole expression changed.
Lillian" he said, abruptly crossing to
where she sat, II wish to God you were
more of woman or-more of a child.
can't understand you. Do you try to
bewilder me-to make yourself a mys-
tery?" =,
IL don't try to make myself anything,
she retorted, raising her free, calm glance
to his troubled face. II don't see why
you can't understand me. I understand
you. have only been afraid that ia
nette would understand you, too"
''But if this that you say is true-lf l
have been so unfortunate as to give my
heart one way and my word anothel-
surely you might have some thought for
me, some consideration Why do you
delight to make me suffer-"
"Why2 Because you ought to suffer,
Jack. Because. if met you half way,
you would throw Janette aside without a
oualm of console elce-Janctte, who is
worth dozen such wo uen as I am. /
may be frivolous and triAing, Jack; but
have my own id as of honor, too"
"You are a miserable firtw he said,
slowly and bitterly.
"That's not true, jack" but her young
face wore a strange, hard smile.
"Talk of honor-you talk OF honor2
You have neither heart nor con-
science"
"Jackw
Her voice stopped him halfway in the
sentence. A burning flush had spread
over her face, and the next instant she
burst into wild passion of tears, and
rushed out of The room sobbipg like a
hurt child. That was the end of Jacks
reasoning with Lillian. When they met
at dinner she was her bright, pleasant
self again, smiling and talking gayly;
but Jack felt that the distance between
them had widened to deep, impossible
gulf, that neither word nor smile could
cross.
Lillan's terrible frankness had defined
his position and placed it openly before
his eyes. And it had also shown him an
undreamed of force and courage in her
character With the restless passion her
mere beauty had inspired, there began to
mincle higher form of admiration, and
for the fir time the thought of breaking
his engagement to Janette took form in
his mind. This, too, might be done with
her full consent, if he could make up his
mind to throw himself entirely on her
generosity an tenderness. She had been
80 good to him always-a friend, Sis
ter, since he could remember, almost.
Would she be less good to him now, If
he came to demand from her the willing
sacrifice of her dearest joys and hopes?
He knew she loved-had loved him al
ways, and mans logic, by degrees
made it very clear in his mind that
this love should flow to the making of
his happiness, and to the total renun-
citation, if need be, of her own. Why
else were women made compassionate as
angels and heroic as martyrs? Kind,
happy Janette, little dreaming that she
was expected to pose in either or both
of these difficult positions, wondered at
Jacks strange, restless manner, and went
on smiling securely above her lace ruffles
and embroideries and her happy dreams.
It is not to be wondered at that Jack
put off from day to day Janette's disil-
lusionment. But time came. after one
of Lilian's rare evenings at home, when
she had been more lovely, more gra-
cious, more tender, subdued. thoughtful
and loving than he had ever known her,
that Jack made up his mind, with mas
culine vigor, to final and determined
effort for his freedom before another sun
should set. He had seen of late an un-
mistakable sadness in Lilian's eyes,
wistful anxiety that not all her pretty
smiles could cover; and on this especial
evening her hand had fingered long in
his, and her glance had met his own
with responsive kindness. He left her,
thrilled and restless, his heart beating
wildly at the thought that tomorrow
would bring him at least the right to
throw himself at her feet.
But to morrow brought him something
widely different. BY breakfast-time the
whole household was in wild censterna-
ton: Lillian had disappeared. Her pretty
white bed was unruffled; but on its pill
low lay this little note, addressed to
j Janctte:
Don't be troubled OF unhappy. I have
gone away, of my own free glad will, to be
married Tell papa-tell every one to for
give me, and love me until come again. /
will surely return in time for your wedding,
dear, dear, precious, darling. Janette You
will not miss me much. You have your
kind, good Jack to comfort you. q. . q.
And papa will not miss me for he has you.
But you must all love ne, and know that,
wherever am, l must always be your own
true, loving Lillian"
And this was the end of Jacks fever
ish dreaming, of his plans and hopes and
strong resolves! His bigh-Luilt castles
lay in ruins round him; but no one knew.
thank God of the wreck and havoc in
his life Janette hung sobbiug on his
shoulder. He shudderd as he kissed her,
thinking how closely she had passed to
keener and more lasting sorrow. He