The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-23

meant So I've been practiclng riding
ever since, whenever 1 could get away
from Aunt Beck aud Uncle Joshua,
and"
"Nlrs. Dappleton Amcs is in the draw
ing-room, ma am" said the white-capped
maid, appearing with an oSydized silver
card-receiver in her hand.
And Mrs. Blythe checked her daugh-
ter's condolences at once.
"Lydia," cried she, "I'm surprised at
you! A great girl like you scutfllng and
romping around the country! 60 back
to Shady Plains by the very next train,
and try to behave more like a lady.
Why, you must be fourteen at least!'
"Seventeen, mamma" confessed the
culprit. 'But aren't you going to give
me the hundred dollars?
II have not got hundred cents!'
impatiently cried Mrs. Blythe. "And if
had, wouldn't give it to you, you
naughty, il-behaved, romping-Ics,
Matilda, tell Mrs. Dappleton Ames that
I shall be down directly, and bring some
tea and buns for-for Miss Blythe be-
fore the next train goes.
But when Mrs. Dappleton Ares had
finished her call, and Mrs. Blythe came
back, the bird had flown. Lydia, deeply
wounded and resentful, had promptly
returned to Shady Plains.
s'That old gipsy must have been
humbug, after all, thought the despair
ing girl. "Oh, what shall I say to
Uncle Joshua2 Why was mamma so cold
and cruel to me? Oh, dear, am very,
very unhappy"
''Shady Plains" shouted the con-
ductor.
And as Lydia crcpt sor-owfully out of
the train, something bright, like fallen
drop of dew, scintillated on the floor at
her feet. She stopped to pick it up. 1t
was diamond scarf-pin in the shape
of horseshoe.
esquire Carhart's company must have
dropped it," said Lydia to herself.
ooh, how it sparkles! If it were only
mine! For I am sure it must be worth
more than hundred dollars" ;"
She glanced furtivcly at tall, broad
shouldered young fellow who had been
seated in the train few seats beyond
her.
"He never looked around" thought
Lydia. "I'm glad of it, for he must
have known that had been crying. But
must give this back to him."
With light, swift step she fastened
to overtake Squire Carhart's city guest.
"Please, Is this yours?' she said,
holding up the glittering half-circle.
~ found it on the car floor close to
where you were sitting"
He started and raised his hat.
"It is Mr.. Wotton's neice, isn't it,"
said he-"Miss Lydia? Yes, it is mine,
and I'm thousand times obliged to you.
must have fastened it in very carelessly.
And I value it very highly, too; it was
a gift from my father"
sIs it worth q great deal of moneys"
asked Lydia, lifting her sea-bluc eyes to
his face.
"About hundred dollars, Isuppose."
"I wish it was mine, said Lydia, with
long sigh, as if she were thinking
aloud.
"Yours7 Why, it isn't lady's orna-
ment."
"Oh, not the pinm Lydia fastened to
explain, "but the money-the hundred
dollars. Good-by! Here is the carriage
waiting from Carhart Court"
"Will you let me drive you as far as
Wotton Farm2" asked the stranger,
courteously.
Aud tired Lydia willingly acceded.
The upshot vas that when she entered
her unclcs presence, she gave him
bank bill representing the price OF the
"prize colt"
"Where did thee get this money,
child2" solemnly asked Uncle Joshua.
"I-I borrowed it," confessed Lydia.
"Don't ask me any more questions, un-
Gle. I'll pay it back if I have to pick
blackberries at four cents a quart all
summer"
81 hope thee will give up this hoydeI-
ish BUSINESS of scampering about on
horseback, Lydia, after this" severely
spoke Aunt Rebecca.
"But, aunt, the old fortune-teller told
me that my fortune would one day be
made by t."
Lydia stopped abruptly as she remem-
bercd how the diamond horseshoe had
glittered on the floor at her feet that day.
Her color rose, her heart beat.
"Ihee must remember, Lydia" ad-
monished Aunt Rebecca, "that all di-
viners and fortune 'tellers are snares of
Satan"
eyes, Aunt Rcbecca," murmured the
girl.
But from that day an inscrutable
change came over the whole character of
her life.
The pleasant summer sunshine had
faded out of the land. The Saratoga
hotels were closed; gay Newport was de-
serted.
And Mrs. Blythe, sitting in the yellow
light of her jonquil silk curtains, was
smiling over a card which Matilda had
just brought in.
"Dear Algy!" she murmured. II
knew he would come!"
She glided into the white and gold
drawing-room, all gracious cordiality.
"You recrcant cavalier!" she smiled.
"Ive half q mind to scold you, and
yet"
"Do I deserve that title?" Mr.. Vane
asked. "For you are the first person to
whom have told the great happiness of