The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-10-02
IN THE OAK WALK
Ry EMMA A. OPPER.

only for morning stroll to the Oak
Walk-black silk enveloped, as to the
skirt, in shimmering lace.
Her little black bonnet set of her talr
face and yellow hair; her long Suede
gloves were as yellow as her hair, her
parasol white and lacey. -,
"Your cousin is very handsome" said
Mary Lane to Mr.. Olney.
In her heart there was shocked dis
approval of Miss Perry, but her cousin
was not the one to conide 1t to.
"oh, yes, Mag's pretty!" Mr.. Olney
rejoined, turning languidly to glance at
her Che did everything lazily). "But
she's not my cousin, you know. Mags
step-father's cousin is my aunt"
"Oh2" said Mary.
She raised her old fashioned brown
parasol. 9,
"Allow me-" said Mr.. Olney, and
took it.
Mary Lane smiled.
It amused her that she, a staid little
country .schoolma am, should be the
recipient of the gallantries OF silk
hated, eye-glassed young man from the
city.
But it did not so much amuse her that
Miss Perry should be the recipient OF
Phil Thompson's gallantries.
She was Indignant with everybody.
With the Waltons, who boarded her
self and Phil Thompson, Phil's parents
being away on a visit. Why had they
taken any more boardersG Miss Perry
and her mother might have summered
elsewhere very well.
With Phil himself. In spite OF the
innocence of his wide blue eyes, Mary
had thought Phil rather level-headed.
Now what was she to think?
But most of all with Miss Perry.
What right had she to do ito put
forth her finished charms for the undoing
of 9 defenseless country youtha to trife
with his honest heart like a cat with
mouse2
Mary Lane was wrathful.
ssNo, Mag's not closely related, you
see," Mr.. OIney was saying, in his not
UNPLEASANT drawl. eBut I consider it
nv duty to look after her, rather. That's
why I'm here. I thought I'd run down
for day or two and see what Mag was
up to-"
It was evident what Mag was up to-.
She and Phil were far behind now, under
her white parasol.
Rlr. Olney laughed lazily.
ssI rather think it's good thing l
came, you know" he remarked. IL may
be in time to rescue Mr.. Thompson. You
see, Mags terror, Miss Lane. She
doesn't mean it, but on my word she
can't help it,"
"What7" said Mary, coldly.
"Flirting, you know" said MIR. olney,
yawning. II don't know how it is, you
know, but she cawn't see fresh fellow
"a new one, I mean" he substituted po-
without trying to get his scalp.
On my word"
No reply from the schoolma'am. sne
was burningly silent.
He was making fun of Phil, Of course !;
that was plain. But that was not the
worst. 1t was so then; she was amusing
herself with Phil. Mr.. Olney had seen
it. Poor Phil! and her poor self, not to
be able to say one word, to place one
straw against the current!
GAS many good shots as Mag's made,
though" Mr.. Olney added, rehectively,
eshe hasn't suited herself yet. She
knocks down fellows fast enough. but she
don't pick 'em up when she's got 'em
down."
.., "You see the turn just ahead2" said
Mary-she did not propose to listen to a
rehearsal of Miss Perry's triumphs.
"That brings us to the Walk. 1t Is an
avenue of oaks, which gives it its name.
Come UP here, and you can see the river,
said Mary, mechanically.
.. IA charming view," said Dir. Olney,
adjusting his eye-glass. "Ah, Mag and
Mr.. Thompson are upon us!'
They were, at last; Miss Perry with a
pretty smile and gracefully dangling par
asol, Phil with somewhat dazed look
on his handsome, honest face.
"lt's done!" Mary thought, bitterly.
cit is too late! Oh, she should be
chokedw
"What view" Miss Perry was cry
ing, with clasped hands. "see the river,
Marmadukel Blue from the sky, and
still as glassl"
Beautiful" Mr.. Olney assented.
"And this long avenue-did you ever
see anything like it, Marmaduks"
Marmaduke never had.
81 thank you so much, Miss Lane, for
bringing us!" Miss Perry cried, herself
beautiful in her gay enthusiasm.
.sNot at all, said Mary.
Miss Perry's thanks were intolerable.
Phil-poor Phil-if she could save him
But Miss. Perry stood near him-Was
smiling at him.
"What are those flowers down there2"
she demanded, brightly. "Violets al
ready2 I must have them!"
They were dozen perilous feet down
tho steep bank, which sloped to the
river.
But Miss Perry gazed brilliantly at
Phil and Mr.. Olney. .
"We couldn't get them, Mag" said
Mr.. Olney. "We'd break our necks."
g.. stShamel" cried Miss Perry, blithely,
and cast down her parasol and gloves.
ssLaggards, I'll do it myself! Go hide
your heads!"
She vas Il. the brink of the bank. Alr.
Olney caught her wrist.
,ssYou'n kill yourself, you know, Mag, "
he drawled.