The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-08-27
A WOMAN OF SPIRIT.
BY LILY TYNER.


gun to feel quite reconciled to my wild
owhood. The dear man had been ever
generous during his life time, as we'll be-
came one more than thirty years the
senior of his wife, and, dying, had left
me we'll provided for. There was my
city house and my rent roll, my various
securities and my cottage by the sea.
Many young woman had greater cause
for discomfort. So I reasoned aud forth
with determined to cheer up and take
more active interest in life. was down
at my cottage for the summer. My
chaperone was with me, but I began to
long for companions of my own age. It
occurred to ME that I might ask some of
my girl friends to come and stay with
me. 1 picked out two of my bridesmaids
and wrote them. Not long after I re-
ceived two letters and was overjoyed at
their contents. One was from Edith
Westcott, a Boston friend. 1t said:
"Your most kind letter received. It
will give me great pleasure to 60 to you
next week. I will let you know by tele-
gragh. Mother wishes to be remembered.
Your most loving FRIEND" etc, etc.
The other was from Charlotte-or
Charlie, as she liked to be called-Fos-
ter. 1t was to the first as prestissimo is
to allegro:
"You dearest darllngl l will fly to
you. am dying to tell you of all my
latest triumphs. 1 will talk you to death.
1t seems century since we last met.
Meet me day after tomorrow morning.
Your own," etc., etc.
Edith was two years Charlotte's senior,
but it was not all a difference in age.
However, they were both children of for
tune and my very dear friends. And
how they would brighten up the cottage
I could very we'll imagine, for the cot
tage was little sonbre, though I pride
myself on its general arrangement. The
interior was just as could wish it. A
wide passage through the center; good
sized room on the right, with polished
floor for dancing and a piano; back of
this the dining-room; on the left a sit
ting-room, rather luxuriously furnished
for the seaside; back of this and con-
nected by doorway draped with q por-
there of antique lace, small library
reading-room, well stocked with summer
fiction and the like; beyond this break
fast-room. The upper chambers were
mostly sleeping-rooms.
spent the afternoon seeing that
everything was properly arranged and
next morning went down to meet Char
lie Foster.
':Is Edith coming2" she asked, al
most the first thing, for I had written
her should ask Edith.
eyes," I answered; "shell arrive
later"
Ibid you know she is engagcd2"
''To be married2 No; to whom? and
when2"
II dent know him." said Charlie,
tossing her pretty head. "He is Mr..
Haskell-of Boston, of course"
Charlie was perfect little beauty"
She stood about five feet two inches and
weighed 125 pounds. Her eyes were
hazel and danced like sea water in the
sun; her hair was q splendid mass of
golden chestnut. She was q precious
lump of vivacity.
-Four days after arrived Edith West
colt. Edith was very tall and slender,
exceedingly pale, with black.lashed,
serious gray eyes. Her hair was black,
without thread of color. She was the
quintesscnce of grace, moving deliberate
ly, laughing softly and speaking always
in low tone.
=. We three were happy enough during
the first few days, chatting together about
old friends and old times. Then solici-
tude came to me. Edith, found, had
some peculiar notions of her own. Be-
ing engaged, she discouraged even the
slightest attention from gentlemen other
than her betrothed. Of course there
were many young ,nen in cur circle OF
acquaintances, but perceiving Miss West
colts lack of interest they would natur-
ally all turn to Charlotte, and I feared
that Edith would presently find it very
stupid in consequence.
"Why don't you write Mr.. Haskell to
come down?' finally ventured to ask
her.
Edith colcred delicately.
II believe 1 WILL" she said, and Mr..
Haskell, whose first name was Harold, in
due time presented himself at the beach.
He was a charming blonde of thirty-fve
or more. I liked him very much; so did
Charlie.
"Oh, Edith" she sighed. "What an
elegant fellow! Rich, too, isn't hef
You're lucky grill"
Edith's betrothed, in turn, took great
fancy to Charlie. She had such buoy
ancy, such glowing health. He could
not keep his eyes from her.
There! I might stop at once and let
you guess at the sequel; but you would
probably not guess it quite right.
Some things come to pass curiously.
It did not trouble me, as time passed,
that Mr.. Haskell evinced great liking
for little Charlie. Perhaps did not give
it much thought at the time, though
afterward remembered that he danced
with her good deal and was very fond
of her singing.
Nor do know what Edith thought.
only know of the awakening.
A month had gone and Haskell was
still at the beach. One morning fVe o.