The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-03-12

To now meet with one whose interest
! it is TO keep them asumder IS very
pleasant to her.
L will help you," she says in a low
tone.
Then Try to induce Miss Delmaine
to give me :: private rehearsal to-mor-
row in the north gallery" he whispers
| hluriedly, seeing Capt. Ringwood and
Miss FiilierS approaching. Hush! Not
another word? | rely upon you. Above
al things. remember that what has Oc-
Cured is only between you and me. 1t
is our little plot," he says, with 4 cur
| iCllS smile that somehow strikes a chill
to Mrs. Talbot's heart.
She is faithful to her word neverthe-
less, and late that night, when al have
| gone to their rooms, she puts on her
dressing gown, diSmisses her maid, and
crossing the corridor, taps lightly at
| the door Of Florence's apartment.
Hearing some one cry Come IN" she
| opens the door, and, having fastened It
again, goes over to where Florence IS
sitting while her maid is brushing her
long SCft hair that reaches almost to
the ground Is she sits.
Let me brush your hair tonight,
Flo" she says gayly. let me be your
maid for once. Remember how I used
to do it for You sometimes when we
were in Switzerland last year"
"Verv well-you may" acquiescaS
Florence. laughing. Goodnight, Par
kins. Mrs. Talbot has won YOU your
release"
Parkins having gladly withdrawn,
Dora takes up the iyory-handled brush
and gently begins to brush her cousins
hair.
After some preliminary conversation
leading up to the subject she has in
hand, she says carelesSly-
by the by. Flo. you are rather cu-
civil to Arthur Dynecourt, don't you
"Uncivil:"
"Well-yes. That is the word for
your behavior toward him, think. Do
you know, | am afraid Sir Adrian has
noticed it, and aren't you afraid he will
think it rather odd of you-rude, I
mean-conSidering he is his cousin:"
Not very faForite cousin: | fancy"
For all that. people don't like seeing
their relations Sighted. I once knew
q man who used to abuse his brother
all day long, but, If any one else hap
pened to say one disparaging word OF
him in his presence, it put him in a
pretty rage. And, after all, poor Ar
thur has done nothing to deserve actu-
al ill-treatment at your hands"
Il detest him. And. besides, it is a
distinct irIsertinence to follow any one
about from place to place as he has fol-
lowed me. l will not SNbmit to it calm
ly. It is positive persecution.
MY dear, You must not blame him if
he has lost his heal about you. That
is rather q compliment, if anything"
Il shall always resent such compli.
ments.
~He IS certainly very unmanly IN all
other WAYS. and must say devoted 70
you. He is handsome TOO, is he not:
and has quite the ;iir of one accustomed
to command in society?"
HAS he paid yoN to sing his praises
asks Florence, with d little laugh; bat
her words so nearly hit the mark that
Dora bushes painfully.
Il mean" she explains at last, in a
rather hurried way. that Go not
think il is COED form 70 single out any
one IN g household where one IS q guest
to show him rcintei rGdeness. You
give all the Ct.ierS acting in this pi2y
ample opportunities Of rehearsllg alone
with YOU. It has been remarked to ne
by two OF three that you purposeiy
slight and avoid Mr.. DynecoUrt."
80 I do" Florence admits calmly;
adding, Your two or three have great
perspicaclty."
sThey even limited to me-" Dora goes
on deliberately, that your dislike to
him arose from the fact that you were
piqued at his being your stage lover, in
Stead Of Sir Adrian
It cost h.. an effort to utter these
words, but the effect produced by them
is worth the effoI
Florence, growing deathly pale, re-
leases her hair fem her cousins grasp,
anG rises quickly to her feet.
Il don't know who your gossipS may
BE-" she says slowly; -bu5 hey are
wrong quite wrons-do you hear?
by dislike to Mr.. Dynecourt arises
from very different feelings. He IS dis
tasteful to me in many ways; but. as
am undesirous that my manner should
give occasion for surmiseS such as you
have Just mentioned to me, I will give
him an opportunity of reciting his part
to me, alone, as soon as ever he
wishes"
I think you are right, dearest" re-
sponds Mrs. Talbot sweetly. She IS a
little afraid Of her cousin, bat still
maintains her position bIavely. 1t IS
always mark of folly to DEFY public
opinion. Do not wait for him to ask
yeu again to go through your play. with
Sirn alone, but tell him yourself to
morrow that you will meet him for
that purpose in the north gallery some
time during the day
every well" says Florence; but her
face still betrays dislike and dislncllna-
ton to the course recommended.
And, Dora, don't think | want my
hair brushed any more, thanks; my
head is aching SO dreadfully."
This is a hint that she will be glad OF
Mrs. Talbot's speedy departure; and,
that lady taking that hint, Florence Is
soon left to her own thoughts.
The next morning, directly after
breakfast, she finds an opportunity to
tell Mr.. Dynecourt that she will give
him half an hour in the north gallery
to try over his part with her, as she
considers it will be better, and more
conducive to the SmoothnesS OF the
piece, to learn any little mannerlsm
that may belong to either Of them.
To this speech OynecOurt makes
suitable reply, and names a particular
hour for them to meet. Miss DelmalHe,
having given a grave assent to this ar
rangemelt, moves away, as though
glad to be rid Of h7r companion.
A few minutes .ftesW:rd Dynecourt,
meeting Mrs. Talbot in the hall, gives
her an expressive glance, and tells her
in low voice that he considers himself
deeply in her debt.
CHAPTER III.
@You are late" says Arthur Dyne-
court in a low tone. There is no anger
IN it: there is indeed oI!lv Il desire to
! EhOW how tedious have been the mo-
! rnents snent apart from her.