The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-09-03
An Old School Diplomat,
BY AGNES CLIFFORD.

Mrs. Fredericks held q letter in bel
hand. She had been reading it-with'
out glasses. Would she ever have any
OF the infrmities of agel Her puffs and
curls of snowy hair under the ornamental
"coiffure" of lace and ribbons, her gold.
headed cane by her arm chair, seemed
simply to be the effective properties of
well-mounted play.
"In short, Lena, have resolved to
marry you to this young man-if be
suits me-"
Firm, calm, crisp words, spoken in a
voice correspondingly clear and mistress
of ITSELF"
;. .'Grandmamma--"
|; "Don't interrupt, child! T know ev-
erything you could possibly have to say.
have not lived in the world seventy
years for nothing! Yes! Yes, know.
'You have never seen this young man ;
you don't know whether you can love
him, etc. All that is nonsense! If you
don't know him now you will know him
tomorrow, when he arrives. If you don't
love hin now you will love him-well,
perhaps not tomorrow; but next day.
I have shown you his picture. He is
handsome; he is of suitable age. be-
ieve in young people marrying when
they are young. Henri Bowen is three
and-twenty. You are nineteen. Very
suitable. Very suitable indeed. Put
on your blue gown and look your best.
As for young Bowen's uncle, Captain
Charter, you need not feel intimidated
because of his coming. He is a grave
and silent man; he does not occupy him
self with young girls. He rests on his
laurels now. He was a favoritc with
many women; but when a man enters
middle age he drops those things. No;
he will probably not notice you one way
or the other. Young Bowen and your
self can come to an understanding un-
molested by his presence. The Captain
snd will entertain each other. We
shall have many things to talk of. 1
knew his father we'll; well-now go,
am tired, I have chartered too much"
Mrs. Fredcricks turned her cheek, cool
and smooth as an old ivory, to the touch
of Lena's fresh lips.
"Good night, grandmanma."
A radiant sunset after cloudy, sultry
day, fresh breeze springing up from
off the sea, large, old, shaded house
reached at last after long drive and
day of dusty railroad travel-these were
grateful things. But still more grateful,
thought Captain Robert Charter and his
nephew, the picture that confronted
them in the wide, cool, old drawing
room, with its windows open to the sum-
mer evening, when, the stains of the
journey removed, they descended the
winding oaken stair in the centre of the
house and were greeted by their hostess.
Upright, near her grandmother's chair,
in her blue dress, with her fair hair in
q halo about her face, stood Lena, like
Madonna.
"Welcomc, gentlemen" said Mrs.
Eredricks.
Young Bowen had preceded his
uncle-a boyish, muscularly knit young
Hercules, fresh of color, confident of
nien.
81 knew your mother WE'LL" said the
old lady. "And you, Captain Boba"
;: Gently her fine, pale, still pretty hand
rested in that of the tall, dark man. He
bent over it, and softly, deferentially
brushed it with the long, black mus
fache, whose military sweep seemed to
harmonize with the bronzed hue of his
serious face.
! "Welll well!' murmured the old
lady. "Just like your father, Captain
Rob. He, too, had the manners of the
old school. What does the rising gen.
Grafton of to-day know of the correct
way in which q gentleman should pre-
sent himself before q lady? Particu-
larly an old woman like mea No offense,
young man," turning to young Bowen.
isDoubtless if you were to kiss any ones
hand you would prefer to kiss that of
my granddaughter her. Don't mind my
chatter. What else caa an old woman
do but talk Of the past and its Gus
toms2"
>. The Madonna, her delicate oval face
disappearing under pink cloud OF
bushes, received upon her timidly-
extended fingers the salutation thus au-
thorizcd by the terrible old lady.
:. sDinner is served" then said the
latter. "Give me your arm, Captain.
Our young people can follow"
:, uGrandmamma talks as though Cap
'taip Charter were as old as she is"
Thought Lena, on Henri Bowen's arm,
sand am sure he is not old at oil. l
don't believe he has one gray hair in his
head"
Henri Bowens first remark she did not
hear and she had to ask him to repeat it.
s.NIrs. Fredericks, your granddaughter
is charming" said the Captain, after
dinner.
The two younger people had gone out
into the grounds.
"Captain Charter, formed my grand
daughter myself" retorted Mrs. Fred
ericks, dryly.
The Captain laughed.
"You are right. That is reason
enough. You have made her charm
ing girl; you will make her charming
woman. For some man she will make
an adorable wife and, in her later years,
she will be what you are now"
"No, not quite" said the old lady,
serenely. Elena is woman made for
love. was woman made for rule, for
command. 1 am tyrant. Oh, know
I .l>aAnn "a hn houn raf tc