The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-06-17


meath thel voluminous tucklngs OF lts
nspkin, and his hands firmly grasping
his knife and fork in an upright position
ut the sides Of his plate, you were alto
-ssether wrong in your supposition that
You were expected by either my daughter
or myself this evening, Sir. No, sir;
Hs are both in the habit of inviting
persons to join us at table, sir, instead
of permitting them to invite themselves.
sir!"
-Since when?" stammered the lawyer,
staring as though believing the old gen.
Heman had taken leave of even his poor
remnant Of senses, but nevertheless be-
ginning to gulp his tea.
-Ahem! Since-since-but the exact
period Of our disenthrallment. sir-I may
say, of our elevation, sir-is Of no con-
sequence whatever" continued Mr.. AL
worth, coming out Of his ENHANCEMENT
With lofty flourish Of his fork, which
ehanced to still have a slice of bacon
sticking to it. No, sir; not at all, Sir.
We can very we'll dispense with your
company this evening, sir; In fact, We
aye, sir, solely, entirely, IN toto, 40 IN
fra. from this time hanceforth."
He finished with another flourish, this
time with his case-knife, to whose point
squantity Of butter was still adhering,
and then, dropping both knife and fork,
he Strengthened himself back in his chair,
inserted his thumbs in the armholes of
his waistcoat, putfed out his breast still
more formidably, and gazed out over his
napkin at the wondering lawyer with
7ordly indifference.
Croak set down his teacup and wiped
his lips with the back of his hand, as he
turned to Miss Alworth with : half-star-
tied. ha f-inquiring look.
Bless mo! is he often thus?" he
Easped. My poor child, how pity you!
Was it Boncourt's champagne, think you,
or some of the new-fangled Yankee
l1inks?"
You are in error, sir, sail Gwendo-
Zine. turning beseechingly to her father.
Drinking to excess has never been n
failing Of my fathers. lie is now simply
4he victim Of mistake-a very great and
,grievous misapprehension concerning re-
lations between certain gentleman and
nyself."
She pronounced the last words with
slow emphasis, while looking Mt her
father with e,rnest significance; but he
was fairly under way on his false tack,
and would not be brought to by al
Aoe Wdsheu ualteileS tuut Coulo Ue III muS-
ferel.
Tut, tat! Relations with a certain
Dsntieman.' indeed!" he repeateh scorn-
fully. Why not say with certain noble
man-with q certain peer of the REALM
with certain dukes grandson. at once?
That will settle this vulgar old skinfints
pretensions, without further ado. Don't
be appalled, at the magnifcence of your
own future, my girl. Pile on the titles,
shake the plumes OF him, Gorgonize him
with the coat of-arms, blind him with
the Squapderall Quarterings! He'll not
bear up under it, I'll be bound, but sink
of to his belongings, like the gray rat
he isl"
Here Mr.. Croak, who began to under
stand the new drift of things, hurst into
q sort Of hysterical cackle, which, how
ever, qu ckly turned into anger as he arose,
trembling. from the table.
.Ha! ha! ha! he! he! he! begin d
see through it now. Why, yoa misera.
Bile, demented old jelly fish! is it possible
thai Your imbecilityc n have jumped yor
into n b delirium? And you would dare
70 apply this language to me, would yor
Ito me?"
-Dare? Ha! hal ha! The word has
certain richness. Croaky, depart--take
yourself otf-evapornte! Back to your
feilow-b lrachians of he legal scum. ane
thers croak. swell. pull aud Ooze at pleas
ure: and not upon the order OF your
70. can 70 to tie devil, sir" pputter:
nd the LAWYER, in q white rage. AMI J
shall only 80 hence when l shall have
spoken that which I Came here to say