The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-03-07

live at the farm2 | know l didn't treat
her exactly right. but when one finds
ones self surrounded by handsome fash
io:able girls one can't help but forget
the rustic maidens one leaves behind.
But have good reason to think | can
still make it all right. Better late than
never, you know. She has remained sim
gle for my sake am sure, and l have
come here to reward her constancy at
last In short, to marry her."
ITO marry hera'
"Great heavens! what a parrot you
are, jim. Yes, to marry her. She is
dernier resort"
"What's that2" asked the blacksmith.
"a last resort l can't live any longer
in the city. I'm over head and heels IN
debt there-owe for this very suit have
on. So I've made up nv mind to return
to the home of my childhood, marry my
old sweetheart and settle down into
quiet country gentleman. Not bad
thing to DO when one can't do anything
else, is it2'
"Well, I swan you are cool card"
said Jim. "But you won't find her at
the farm, but at the little rcd house just
this side of it, She isn't bit stuck up
though she has come into fortune.
You'd better 60 right along, and | wish
you all the luck you deserve"
Palmer eyed him suspiciously for
moment, and then staggered up the
road, with the gold-headcd cane once
more fitted snugly across the small OF his
back.
well, l swan" said Jim, eff that
don't beat all Id like to take that stick
and prod him in the back with it out of
the village. But s'posc she'll take him
and kill the faltcd alf, and all that sort OF
thing, thanks to his pooty face, whilst
l never even darst-" but the last of the
sentence was lost in the merry clink,
clink, clink that had begun again.
Ruth Cobett was hanging out her
washing when Jack Palmer stepped on to
her front porch and raped on her front
door with his gold-headed cane.
She was tallsh, slim woman, with
soft, fair hair drawn UP on the top Of her
well-shaped head, and arranged there in
three or four large, loose puffs, aud she
had keen blue eyes, nose of no par.
ticular shape, thin, rather decided and
vet pleasant mouth, and ears that forced
themselves upon your attention.
The clothes she was hanging on the
line were, as the Widow Crummins, who
lived in the next house, had often re-
marked, las white as the driven snow,"
and Ruth, with clothespin between her
lips, had stepped back on the grass plat
to regard them complacently when she
heard the rapping on the front door:
For a moment she stood and wondered
who it could be, for it was very un-
usual thing to have anyone come to that
door, all her friends, after the manner
of country people, preterring the back.
Then she dropped the clothespin on the
grass and went to see who the caller
was.
Jack Palmer graspcd her hand as she
through his mind at the same time how
different it was to the soft hands he had
for years been accustomed to grasp-and
exclaimed, in as impassioned tone as
he could command: truth, dear Ruth,
and do I indeed see you once more 2"
Miss Corbett wrested her hand from
his and looked at him in amazement.
Then a light began to dawn upon her.
els it-can it be Jack Palmer Z" she
asked
"It-is-it can," replied that gentle
man.
"And what do you want 2" Ruth went
on, with cool, calm directness.
"What-do-I want Z" stammered the
caller.
eyes, what do you want ?"
"What do I want ?" again repeated
Mr.. Palmer. why, Ruth, how can
you ask I came to see you"
"And why 2" pursued the lady.
"Why Because my heart has re-
turned to the old allegiance. Because I
longed for my boyhood's home. Be.
cause, Ruth, I want you to forgive and
forget the past"
"And then2" said Ruth.
"Then-then, replied the city gen.
temen. shifting his hat from one hand to
the other and wincing perceptibly under
the glare OF those calm blue eyes; "and
then, hoped Ruth, you would become
my wife"
"Have you lost all your money!" asked
Miss Corbett.
"Well, yes, I have lost the greater
part of it, but before I lost it made up
my mind to seek you again. did. upon
my word, and ak your forgiveness"
"Sorry to say that doubt that very
much. And now, Mr.. Palmer, I advise
you to return to town as soon as pos
sible, while I hang out the rest of my
washing"
"And you won't forgive me, Ruth?"
"Well, really, I've quite forgotten
what I have to forgive you for. But,
there, forgive you, if that will do you
any good, and wish you pleasant our.
nev back to your city friends"
If evet city gentleman walked off a
front porch after an interview with an
elderly rustic maiden, utterly routed and
discomfitted by that elderly rustic
maiden. Jack Palmer was that city
gentleman. He could not have felt more
discomfted even if he had seen Miss
Corbett, with transquil little smile how
e'ing about her mouth, 60 placidedly
back to her grass-plat, pick up the
clothes pin she had dropped to answer
hi| knoc and to let him in, and proceed
to fasten a handkerchief to the line
Herewith.
Jim Farlow spicd his old chum COM
ing back and went to the door of the
shop. "Hallo," said he; ''what lu k2"
But the other never answered. but strobe
by, his iaanty manner all gone, without
word or sign.
"Ha! ha, no! no "shoutcd the black