The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-07-21

Mt. NlTDS was Sa my, WILL Alo"h |A'o
scored his forehead with horizontal
wrinkles like the staff in written music.
eff could only convince you that it
was your duty to be my wife, 1 should
stand some chance of getting you; but,
unlurkily for me, you've cherished this
notion that you ought to keep house for
your brother till you"
"i'rother needs me-" murmured Miss
Roxanna, tears swelling in her eyes OF
baby blue"
"And don't I need you9 Haven't
some rights? During your stricken Sis
tcr's illne IS consented to waive these,
but now she is gone and want you"
Don't Joel, don't"
81 tell you do, and I can't help it"
cried Mr.. Kirby, with grim humor.
'When couldn't move you by letter, l
resolved I'd come and speak for myself.
You used to say you loved me, Roxy.
Can t YOU"
You know plenty Of other ladies,
Joel, younger and more pleasing" fal-
tered Miss Roxanna, nervously smooth
ing the pale gliding Of hair that framed
They are nothing to me, replied the
gentleman, curtly, almost as if he es-
teemed the fact a matter of regret.
Assured of the favor of more than one
pretty girl of his acquaintance, was it
not little hard that the full current of
his bcing must needs set toward this un.
responsive woman of thirty ? It had
been ever thus with Joel Kirby from his
perverse childhood. when, if he wanted
cake, no human power could induce him
to nibble gingerb: ead.
"No, Roxy, there's only one woman
in the world for me-" he continued, in a
softer tone "Your brother is of diff
ferent temperament. Has it never oc-
CURED to you that lie may marry second
time 2"
Brother marry! Oh, no, indeed, he'll
never marry-nerer !" cried Miss Rox-
anna, rooted and grounded in the belief
that her brothers heart was entombed
with the dead Cimena. sNo, he could
not take another wife, Joel, and you see
he has only me. couldn't be so cruel
as to leave him."
To all Mr.. Kirby's subsequent plead
ings she made this same reply, but it
soothed his chatting spirit not little that
she made it with faltering and that she
parted from himself with tears.
AS the sound of his rapid wheels died
in the distance she hastily dried her eyes
and hurried into the kitchen to see about
the belated supper. Mr.. Perrin, still
gloating over castles in Spain, looked up
with the roguish purpose of greeting her
as .'Mrs. Kirby" but, dismnyed at her
troubled countenance, remarked instead
that ''the days were getting shorter"-a
fact that she had obsers ed before.
He felt as if he had received blow.
For him there was, there could be, but
one Interpretation of his sisters nnwonted
emotion. She loved Kirby, and Kirby
no longer cared for her, Poor girl, she
had dr. amed that mans affections were
like granite boulders, incapab of change,
and she was awakening with shock.
Hapless Roxanna! She too had Ter trials.
Keenly sympathetic, the magnanimous
brother, concealed his own dlsappoint-
ment as best he could, and layished
upon his sorrowful sister an excess of ten
dcrness.
"You have the knack of spelling me
for other folks cooling, little woman,
that's the truth, said he at tea time, os-
tentatiously heaping his plate with cream
toast. GLOW should I ever get along
without you?"
''That'll make her feel that I appre-
ciate her, if Joel doesn't" he mused,
benevolently; while she, on her side of
the table, was thinking: "It's just as I
suspected; it would kill brother to lose
me-"
"Ch. you'd manage somehow. Maybe
you'd marry" she ventured, timidly, al
most hearing the futtering of the lost
Climena's wings.
"Poh! poh sister, nothing seems less
likely" answered her brother, in a voice
so sad that Miss Roxanna chided herself
for having opened his old wound afresh.
But she had done it for Joel's sake. She
Dwell it to Joel to make sure that there
coull be no misunderstanding.
The October days with their monday
patches of sunshine and their heavy bor-
ders of twilight came and went. In a
spasm of hope that the charming widow
might yet consent to share the domestic
sceptre with his sister, Mr.. Perrin made
a second proposal, only to receive a Sec
ond decided, though flattering, refusal.
Mr.. Kirby repeated his call upon Miss
Roxanua, and departed cursing fate, and
by no means loving Mr.. Perrin. whom he
supposed perfectly acquainted with the
relations between himself and Royanna.
Overta%ing Mr.. Perrin one day walking
home from the postofice, Mr.. Kirby with
inward reluctance asked him to ride.
With equal relu; tance Mr.. Perrin ac-
cepted the invitation, rejecting: eff l
amt civil, he'll take it that I'm mad be-
cause he doesn't renew his offer to Rox-
anna, and I won't humor him."
"Heavy frost last night. growled Mr..
Kirby.
very" assented the other, conscious
of an inward chill. ''Winter is upon US.
Shall you spend it in Mainc2"
"My plans are uncertain,' snarled Mr..
Kirby; aiding, mentally: ''Thanks to
you, sr."
"Of cou sc you can choose your own
climate There's the advantage of hav-
ing plenty of money. and no family ties y
''No family ties! Whose fault was it
that he had no family ties2' unused the
irate bachelor, making rapid passes over
his long beard as if he would mesmerizc
the pain in his breast. "Might not Rox.
anna have been his wife years ago
but for the necessities of this selfish
brother2"
Though I've lately heard it hinted,