The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-02-18

will not distrust me any more; but
shall be watched now all the time. That
won't be pleasant"
I cannot find any words to say how
felt; the ''lie tree'' was putting out its
crop surely. I just put my head on
Fred's shoulder and sobbed.
"Poor little grill You shouldn't
have made me confess, Nanny. Yet,
after all, it is best you should know.
Mother always said that secrets between
man and wife were practical divorces,
and I think so too"
Oh, how my heart sank!
'sBut take courage, little wife," he
on. 81 have done nothing wrong, and
tho thing is bound to come right in due
time"
III could have said as much for my
self But I tried to seem brave, and
laughed a little at some poor joke he
made; and then 1 had to 60 into the kit
chen and set some raised biscuit for
breakfast.
thought and thought all the while I
mixed and kneaded them of anything but
what was doing. I knew we'll what I
ought to do, but I did not want to do it..
1t was no use. I knew Imust; but what
with anger at myself, and cowardice, and
absolute terror of telling her, had little
sleep, and the biscuit were kneaded
down very early that next morning, and
were lighter than usual in consequence.
1 remember every little thing so we'll that
happened then. I thought Fred never
ate his breakfast SO fast, and the dishes
seemed to get Themselves washed in no
time. It was eleven o'clock before I
knew it, and now I must 60.
I put on my things and went. Mrs.
Arkwright was at home, and just as
pleasant as ever. said, in very trem-
bling voice, Scan I see you alone for o
few minutes, Mrs Arkwright9"
"Certainly, my dear. Come up into
the1ibrary; the Colonel is not in, and no
one will interrupt US.
So We went up stairs and sat down on
the lounge, and I began. Oh, how I
choked at first, and pulled at my bonnet,
and looked everywherel but at last did
it. I had to say little prayer in my
heart before I could. Then I told her
everything-about how i'll I was, and
how baby died, and how we got behind
hand, though I did do my own work and
mcnded up Fred's clothes as long as they
would bear meuding, and did my own
sewing too; and I could hear her hold
her breath, as if she tried not to speak !;
and then told her what I did to the
clothes, and what Fred said, and then
what he heard Colonel Arkwright say.
"And oh, dear Mrs. Arkwright, won't
you, won't you please tell the Colonel
they were not new clothes, and Fred is
all right, and" Then, I could not help
it, had to cry. But she was crying too,
with both her arms round me.
"You dear, brave little woman, you
make my heart ache" she said. 81 will
make it right for you, of course; but,
dear, shall have to tell the Colonel all
about it to explain"
"Oh, yes, want you to. I don't want
any more lies or dcccivings. I've had
too much. should have told Fred all
about it this morning, only I knew he'd
feel so sorry for me aud think about it
all day."
So Mrs. Arkwright kissed me and
comforted me and didn't give me any
advice. Isupposc she saw had got my
lesson by heart. Well, ! did tell Fred !;
it was easier to tell him, for it was be-
tween daylight and dark, and he couldn't
see me cry, and he had both his arms
round me. But he did choke when he
tried to say something, and only got out,
"My precious little wifc!"
Next day there was directors meet
ing, and Fred was made teller. Colonel
Arkwright was the first to tell him and
shake hands. Then Fred said he looked
at him with such funny wink of his
eye, and said:
"By Jupiter, Parker, your tailor is al
most up to Jacobs, and your wife is
little brick. You're lucky fellow"
don't think it was at all nice for him
to say that, but he isn't as refined as Mrs.
Arkwright.
hope, think-yes, I believe-that
I never shall lie any more, even to help
Fred. don't know, though.-Harp@r'd
BasGr.