The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-22


the pile of FURNISHED, yellow straw, she
began to select the smoothest and most
perfect of the >traws, clipping them with
her pocket scissors and dcpositing them,
one by one, in little basket at her side
When she had made beginning, she
could not resist the temptation to run
down to the old we'll under thc apple
trees and draw tin-cup of water, mols'
tening the straws, and beginning the
pretty ce-edge braid with eager fingers.
''It will take more straw than l had
any idea Of" said she. Il must run
back and get few more"
Once more she perched herself on hel
little throne amid the sweet-scented rye,
straw, the brown curls escaping over hei
forehead, the eager crimson dyeing hel
cheek.
And at that very moment the big
double doors were thrown open, admit
ting a flood of morning sunshine, against
which stood Rufus Darling himself, lean
ing picturesquely against his horse
shoulder.
Lilias jumped to her feet, blushing to
the very roots Of her hair.
Mr.. Darling DOTTED his hat.
$50 you are the burglar" said he.
Martin Dyer told ME that the barn win
dow was open, so I came down here to
sec what it meant"
Cit isn't for myself" said Lilias,
looking guiltily at her crisp, yellow
grain stalks; ''it is for Louise, and will
pay you for them, Mr.. Darling"
''Those rye straws?' said Mr.. Darling.
"Why, suppose whole bale of them
would be worth about three cents. If
Louise wants whole barn full, they are
at her service. But wonder what you
are going to do with them2 Would ii
be treason to ask?"
Lilias looked timidly at him. She had
fancicd he would be angry, but he was
not.
He spoke with a certain amused ten
dernGss in his tone; his dark eyes shone
under their long lashes, that curved
slightly upward at the ends.
All the old times of neighborly friend
ship seemed to come back again there
under the fragrant shadow of the barn
roof. Perhaps-perhaps if he and Lou
ise were to meet again, all might 60 on
as before; for surely Louise could never
resist the pleadings of those soft, mag
netic eyes.
And Lilias unfolded all her plans, un-
der promise of the Strictest secrecy, and
Rufus Darling listened with deep inter
est.
"Tou are going to the garden-party9'
she asked.
81 have been invited
s'You will see her there said Lilias.
"Whoever may be there, I am quite,
quite sure that no one will be loveliel
than our Louise. But mustn't stay any
must be nearly seven o'clock,
and ouise will wonder where l am gone.
And l have got to hide away the straws,
so that she shall know nothing about the
bonnet until it is all finished and
So Lilias ran away through the woods
with her apron full of rye-straws, leaving
Rufus Darling standing on the barn
with one hand shading his
eyes, while Max, the horse, munche the
sweet, white clover that grew almost to
the door.
The little bonnet proved an undeni-
able success. 1t was like glistening
golden sea-shell, with the cluster of pink
everlastings dropping over its brim. and
the shadowy knots of soft, black lace
beneath. And the white organdie dress
was almost as beautiful as new, and the
tears of gratifad pride came into Lilias's
eyes as she saw how pretty Louise looked
in her impromptu outfit.
"Dearest lily, wish you were going,
too." said Louise, tenderly kissing the
sweet, self-sa; riff ing genius who had
wrought all this Transformation. ''lt
seems so wrong for me to take all the
pleasure. -,
II shall be Just as happy at home, "
said Lilias, bravely.
She did not know how true her words
were destined to come.
1t was nearly 9 O'Clock when Louise
came home in Mrs. Stuart Seymour's car
riage.
SOh, we have had such delightful
time!" cried the girl, radiantly. 81
never, never was SO happy in all INV life !!
And oh, Lilas, l don't know how shall
tell YOU! always fancied he liked me
q little, but 1 didn't know"
"Stop, stop" said Lilias, smoothing
the fair lair that lay over her shoulder;
this is getting confused. Who is he2'
"Ma; or Arden" explained Louise.
''He-he says he loves me. And we are
engaged. And he is coming to see mamma
tomorrow.
"Then it was foreordained from the
very beginning that you should 60 to
Mrs. Seymour's instead of me-" said
Lilias. "Be2ause--I L am engaged, too"
'sYou?" cried Louise, her blue eyes as
widely opcn,d as two morning-glorie of
a June aunrise you Lily!"
eyes" confessed Lilias. "Rufus Oar
ling has been here. We have had long
explanation. He says it was me that he
loved all the time"
"Why, who ever thought otherwise2'
SAID ouise.
II did," owned the blushing Lilias.
"Th"n you were the only one," said
Louise. "You dear little modest violet
of Lilias, how could any one care fol
me when you were by! Of course he
never thought twice of me. And I am
so glad--for Rufus is such splendid
fe low! And to think that my little
g rden-party bonnet brought about the
reconciliation. For it was that, wasn't
it:--that morning in the barn."
eyes, it was that admitted Lilias.
"Or in other words" said Louise, "t
was your sweet unsclfshness and self sac
r.fice that has made US both happy TO-