The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-07-20

SAi'ieisuis LII luc Guy. / wan
my little girl to be as fashionable and as
stylish as-as--woll, as Jessie Mabin."
"Ah! she is your ideal, is she2"
Muc more to the same purpose, min.
gled with kisses and compliments, wa
said, but nothing in it deceived the
wounded woman's heart. For Mona,
though not a fashionable woman, was q
true woman, nevertheless, and under
stood not only what had been said, but
also all that had been left to be Inferred.
1t was not possible for him to leave hi
business entirely, but it had been ar
ranged that once a month he was to paw
a few days visit to the springs, and in
the intervals be refreshed and comforted
by regular and plentiful supplies of let
tiers.
The supply was pretty fair the first
week. but fell off gradually aftcrward,
until several days passed without any
token OF Nona's faith and memory. Still
he did not feel much troubled. He
thought he quite understood Nona's rca-
sons, and at any rate he relied with i'm
pllcit confidence on the effect which
Philip Hays in his own proper person
could not fail to make.
This confidence did not agree with
events. He arrived at the springs and
found Mona out driving with Jack Chris
tie-a young man whom he particularly
disliked for his p]rctcntious Manners. He
was on the piazza when they, returned,
and he was certain Mona saw him, though
she kept her eyes on Jacks face, and
pretended the greatest interest in his
foolish conversation; for of two things
Philip was certain-first, that her inter-
est was pretended, and second, that Jacks
conversation was foolish.
Then he felt unaccountably and, as he
very we'll knew, unrcasonably chilled by
the greeting of the splendidly dressed
Mona, who calmly and nonchalantly cx-
tended the tips of her glovcd fingers to
him, drawing out the while a pretty lit
tie assurance of being $50 glad to see
Mr.. Hays" with the information that
"Cccile had been expecting him since
the early morning train"
"Cccile!" he said, rep~roachfully.
"And you too, Nona?"
ooh dear no., Mr.. Hays. It is quito
too ~cxhausting to expect anything. One
at a time is quite sufficient"
Philip was shocked and silenced for
the time. For one distressing half hour
he tried to assume his rights as her be-
trothed, but she kept Jack Christie per-
sistently between them; and SO, angry
and hurt, he sought his sister Cccile.
''Cccile," he said. "what u change
there is in Mona! What is the cause2"
ga wonderful change! I never saw a
girl improve so rapidly. I suppose you
arc the cause. Do you know that she is
really the belief Jack Christie and Ed.
Forsyth and half a dozen others are raw
ing about her. Positively they are,
Phil"
every kind of them, but"
"Wcll, so it is, you know. Very
first families, and all that kind of
thing, you know. Upon my
word, brother, 1 believe Mona will make
a sensation next winter. Mamma is
quite satisfied now"
But Philip was not. No.. not at all.
Very far from it. That night at the hop
Mona looked lovely and grand enough
for a queen, her golden hair arranged in
picturesque style, which Jack
Christie audably declared to be s.just
the thing" yards of satin and lace max
lag a track of glory behind her, and
gold ard jewels flashing from her
head, her throat, and her wrists.
All in vain, however, Philip pleaded
for a dance. Mona had been engaged
Tor every set since breakfast, and she
reminded him rather maliciously of the
necessity Of conforming to the usages of
society. So he had the satisfaction of
watching the social triumph of the flu
Mrs. Hays.
Three miserable days of continual
disappointment and then Philip deter
mined to go back to New York, and see
no more until she returned to her
home.
He babe his mother and Cecile good
BY, and gave the regulation kiss to
Mona, who received it with perfect
and. many kind wishes for his
pleasant Journey; for, as he was to leave
very early in the morning, the ladies did
not expect to see him again before his