The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
LAUNCE.

bSoSIllS win q RiSh lluC iAS houNlSOiltC
face of Launce, the boat-house keeper,
q he sat on the edge of the long plat
foru., with his iishingline dropped in the
water.
The sad look in his Smoullcring dark
eyes did not bcspeak much enjoyment of
his occupation AS he jerked his line
from the water, landing a shining beauty
beside him, shadow fell along the plat
form, and q girls light step came after
Il.
"Nhat success, Iaunce Have you
enough YETI You must bring them at
once, for the supper must not be de-
layed," said sweet but imperative
voice.
"Would the consequence be so terri
bic if the Count Won Bruner should not
get mis- supper as soon as he should want
It 2" asked the dark faced Launce with
smiling sarcasm, as he arose and took up
the basket of fish.
81 cannot say: only Aunt Wilmine is
anxious that everything should be ready
when the carriage arrives" she replied
impatiently. "Give me the basket;
will take them myself"
"Wcll, here they are, my lady; and
It is hopeful am that the Count will not
get fshbone in his throat, said Launce,
with half cynical laugh, as he held the
basket toward her. When she reached
to take it he caught her small hand in
his, and pressed kiss upon it.
The girls face grew crimson with
anger She snatched her hand away,
utter;ng with vehcmence:
"How dare you, presumptuous fel-
low"
"Vour words are true, Gretchen. It
Is presemptuous for me to love you; yet
cannot help doing 80. will not again
offend you" lie put the basket down
Ut her feet and looked rcgretfully at the
beautiful face, transformed with anger
and wounded pride
"If tell Aunt Wilminc OF this she
will send you away Immediately. She
Is calling me now. and has no doubt
witnessed your bold at How oan
ever forgive youI" she said with increas-
ing anger.
"You will forgive me sometime,
Gretchen. Tell your aunt l am going
away to save her the trouble of sending
me. Dutch JAMS can take my place. He
can fill it better than l."
He watched her with his dark sad
eyes, as she went silently away, her step
less light than when she had come a mo-
ment before; then he went into his little
room, which was part of the boathouse,
and prepared his simple meal, as was
his custom.
An hour later, seated ut his small win
dow. he watched Gretchen and the
wealthy Count i'on Bruner strollipg
through parterrts of flowers. With a
feeling akin to JEALOUSY, he saw the
Count pluck the rarest rose to place in
her golden hair, as if he were already
master of ''land and lady," which he
fondly hoped to lie, if the fair lady
would accept the suit he came to plead
with her ambitious aunt.
Launce sat looking at the great man
sion long after Gretchen and the Count
= had gone in. The lights from the archcd
windows shone through the lace cur
tains, and Gretchen's pure, rich voice
aoatcd across the distance in that, pas
Eonate song: ''Thou art so near and
yet so far"
Gretchen's song ceased. Suddenly,
Launce aroused himself. He went into
small inner-roon>, and took from a peg
on the wall an OIL lcathcrn bag, then
having lighted a candle--sat down to
examine its contents. There was but
little to look at: en- old, worn violin, that
bad been his faith er's, and large wallet
alled with old letters written in Italian.
I lnnl oF oo,,orl,. khn,
until he came to one not quite so yellow
rs the others. Five years had passed
since he placed this letter in the old wal
lot. The remembrance of it had faded
year by year, until it seemed like vague
dream.
Something within his heart tonight
had recalled more vividly the memory of
the time when his father lay dying, aud
had given him this letter, telling him
when he should be all alone in the world
to do as the letter directed him.
Launce was too young at that tine to
do more than earn scant livelihood :;
preached himself that the command Of
his dying father that might lie the
means of restoring him to family and
title, which his father had lost through
wilfulness-had so long been disre
garded.
He studied the letter closely for long
sime; then he replaced the papers and
put his few articles OF apparel %nd what
money he had into the old Lag EIavi g
sxtinguisled the light, he took the VIC.
Lin and sat down orce more 1T The little
window
Months had elapsed since ita strings
had responded TO thc touch of his fingers.
With !hc qucknc<s If an expert ne tuned
the chords to harmony then lot himself
in a sad, wriid improvisation, az he hid
eIien hcar,i his father do in l,is sad b ,lrs
when they wee together.
The liz his wc:c out in the drawing
room OF the great house. and GrctcEer
had gone to her own apartments. Tic
gibbous moon hung high above tho
mountain top, and shone like ouverng
sil .er on the lake. Wild, sweet zephyrs,
that seemed to como from some strange
sphcrc, swept through the vines that
hung at her window.
And now. while she stands there.
stst sound is thai, swelling and dying
On the night wind<' All, those trains
Now flied with love, again with passion
ate despair, they float and qui"cr IN the
moonli ght, then, waited through the
tasem nj. clvc!op Gretchen in s sublime
eaduCce.
- - y -. - yzsE 49, =. 8 y