The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-04-29

carelessly. Jonas Hopper was privi-
legged individual, like the court testers OF
old.
GLOW did you know, old manG" said
he.
"Oh, I dunno! Miss Hartford, she's
been gettin' ready to be married, this
long time" said Jonas, hosting the
Colonel's luggage on the back OF the
wagon. And dressmakers and mllLn.
ers they will talk, you know, though Inn
told Miss Hal took great pains to hide
it."
"Did she2" aside: "The daringr)
"And fine woman she is, Colonel, !"
oficiously added Jonas, as he pushed in
the last iron. .clamped trunk. GA very
fine woman, considerin' her age. I only
wonder she amt married before"
Colonel Blesson opened his sleepy
black eyes.
"Why, who on earth are you talking
about, man7" said he.
"Why, Miss Hal Hartford, to-be-
sure"
"Miss Halcyon or Miss Halliana2"
"There amt no Miss Halliana," said
Jonas. "They're both the same name /;
but we calls the aunt Miss Hal and the
niece Miss Halcyon. My daughter she's
lady's-maid there; and I'd orter know,
if any one does"
"And which of them is it that is 60
ing to be marrieda" breathlessly queried
Blossom.
"Why, the old 'un, of course-Beg
pardon!' hurriedly added Jones, Il
mean Miss Hal. Polly she tells me there's
four-and twenty different gounds or
dered, let alone the jackets and parasols
and ten-button kid gloves tit to make
your bair stand on end"
"And Miss Halcyon-the young lady, "
cried Blesson-''she is engaged toos"
"Not as any one knows on" said
Jonas. THAT all, Coionel9 Got your
telescope bag' Then we'd better be
movin'."
Colonel Blossom pondered seriously all
the way up to Hartford Cedars, oblivious
of Jonas's incessant stream OF talk.
Could it be possiblel No, that was utter
nonsense! And yet
He strained his eyes as they ap-
preached the house. Surely golden
haired Halcyon would be there, smiling
to welcome him!
But no. In her place stood middle
aged charmer, we'll rouged and powdered,
with hair cleaning meretriciously,
and teeth just size too large for the
thin Tipped mouth.
In one hand she held his love-breath-
ing letter; in the other his photograph.
And during that second his heart sank
like lead.
But he did not know-ah, how much
more difficult would it have been to bear
had he done so!-thst Halcyon Hart
ford's eyes were surreptitiously watching
him from the honeysuckle-garlanded
easement beyond.
"Dear Charley" the elderly damsel
twittered, ''you are here at last"
He set his teeth, drew one long breath,
and allowed her to slip carressing hand
through his arm and lead him into the
house, muttering some hoarse acknowl-
edgu,ent of her coquettish smiles.
"rve brought it on myself" he
thought. "And 1 must simply endure
it. The woman isn't to blame-no, she
is not to blame"
"He is hero," Halcyon thought
"yes, hero"
And then she burst into passion of
tears and ran up stairs to her own room.
'sBut now I've got you fairly here, ="
lisped Aunt Hal, more determinedly
youthful than ever, "I'm really afraid,
dearest Cha,tley, that there's great
disappointment in store for YOU"
.sEh?"
The Colonel had sat down in rather
listless manner. Aunt Hal held on to
his hand, still all teeth and smiles.
"And may as we'll tell you at once"
said she, "that I'm already engaged to
Judge Flostroy, of the Superior Court.
Of course, if 1 had known of your at
tachment in time, there's no saying"
"Oh, pray don't let me interfere with
any existing arrangements" said Bles-
son, jumping eagerly up. ''perhaps'
under the circumstances, you will let me
have my photograph back?"
Just then there came ring at the
door below as the maid announced:
"Judge Flostroy, miss, if you please!
Before the slow and ponderous steps of
tie approaching visitor could reach the
room, Aunt Hal had thrust the photo
graph into Blossoms hand.
She had had the little triumph, which
was all she wanted. That little case of
diamonds from Judge Flostroy had set
tied the question.
the luminary of the Superior Court.
Aunt Hal tripped smilingly forward.
"Glad to see you, Judge!" she cooed:
sThis is my old playmate, Colonel
Blesson, just arrived from India. 1 dare
say, Charley, you'll find Halcyon some
where about the house"
"Disposed of in short ORDER" NUT
tered Colonel Blesson. "Great heavens
what have I done to deserve such luck
as thisP"
Two hours afterward the young lovers
sat in the veranda, watching the evening
star rise over the hills, while the Judges
basso profundo voice still rolled In the
sitting room like distant thunder.
"But wasn't it a narrow escapeF
gasped Blossom, holding both Halcyons
hands in his.
Would you really have married her,
Chartley"