The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-16
A Tender Conscience.
BY AGNES CLIFFORD.

magnificent solidity of build which had
earned it, he had found the young man
less heavy than he had supposed. The
classic suggestiveness of his head and face
did not prevent him from being an ap-
parently simple young Roman of the nine
teenth century, with fine, lanlbent,
open eye, and something ingenious and
almost appealing in all his mien.
1t has been said that Benedict Payton
was inclined rather to like him. But
this was before the moment when, like
flash of lightning, it came home to him
that the Marchese Scverini was his rival.
Then all this changed. After all,
Georgiana was only a girl, and girls were
easily f1attcred by the devotion of youth
full noblemen with proiles like Greek
gods.
Benedict Payton wished that he had
never followed her at all; wished that he
had never come abroad. He hung upon
the outskirts of excursionists as they
scattered among the ruins, and looked
over the Campagna and extolled the view.
For Payton there was only two objects in
creation just then: Georgianas light,
slim figure in its perfect costume, and
the Marchese Sevcrinis stalwart form by
her side.
He was not usually so impressionab!e,
but it seemed to Payton at that moment
that life could hold no further joys. He
resolved to leave Rome on the morrow
perhaps to return home altogether.
After coming to this decision he seem
ed to gain some composure.
He no longer followed those two figures
with his eyes. He turned, in spirit of
bitter defiance, to pale, fair-haired girl
who had sat by his side at luncheon and,
though he scarcely remembered her
name, devoted himself vigorously to her
for the remainder of the afternoon.
Meantime this was what had been
transpiring between Gcorgiana and the
magnificent young Roman.
s'Mees-ah, you seem so cold. 1t is
deeseecult-I don't know how you say
to speak to you"
s'I do not know why it should be diff
cult to speak to me, Marchcse," nervous
ly.
ssIt is deefeecult for one who-NAo
fofes you, mademoiselle.
That which she had dreaded had come
at last and Georgiana shrank back.
"Oh, please, p,ease-don't!" she
hastily murmercd, with an averting ges-
ture.
"You will not listeu-a to me3 You
see was rightl' The handsome young
Romans face betokened deep despair.
He turned very white and his eyes had a
hunted look. Gcorgiana's heart bled
within her.
ut is very hard for me to speak to you
so," she cried in trembling accents,
"but l cannot do otherwise. am sorry
you have fixed any thought on mc-you
Il can only hope you will soon forget
me" she concluded, clasping her hands
in her carnestness.
Severini shook his head mournfully.
"We are not like zat. We have
stronger passions stronger emotions.
We are not like re Ecaglish-ze Amer
icans."
Suddenly he raised his downcast eyes
and looked at her.
''You will not care for me, you will
not have-a my lofe-because of your
compatriot who came little while ago
because of the gut Monsieur-M.
Benedict" and before she could reply
he exclaimed: "Ah, yes, know"
"I-you are mistaken. Mr.. Bendict
is only q FRIEND" stammcred poor
Georgiana.
But Severini was not to be deceived.
As they went back to the others he
spoke but once, and that was to say:
"He will never lofe you as I do. 1t
is impossible. Ze American men arc
very cold. I know-yes, I know-that
he must lofc you, but it will be not like
me-"
That evening the married lady under
whose chapsronage Georgiana found her.
self observed with all possible discretion
that she thought the Marchrsc Sevenni
was becoming very attentive.
'He-hc proposed to me to-day" said
Georgiana, who felt horribly miserable
and consciencc-stricken and longed to
confde in somebody.
"And you refused lim?"
Anod for reply.
"Well, he has fine name, you know,
and he is very, very handsome. And
you might have had enough for two, for,
of course, he squite, quite poor. Still, I
suppose you know your own affairs, dear.
Has-has Mr.. Payton anything to do
with your decisionl There! that is very
prying of me. Quite inexcusablc. : For
get that ever asked you"
But the good lady had had as much
answer as she needed in the violent blush
on her proteges cheek. She resolved to
keep her eyes wider open when Payton
next came.
But several days went by and Payton,
who had been so assiduous that it really
looked as though he had come abroad
simply to be with Georgiaaa, did not ap
pear. Some one said that he was about
to leave Rome. Georgiana began to
grow pale and thin. She was wasting
away. Her chaperone, who was thor
oughly kind hearted person, finally re.
solved to broach the subject plainly and
there resulted an admission on Georgl-
ana's part that she believed Payton did
care-a littlc-for her-perhaps, but
that he had probably resolved never to
come near her again because he might
think she had determined to marry Seve
rini's good looks and title.