The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-06-24
CHAPTER XVI.
AN UNEXPECTED VISIT.

GwendGline had always liked Miss
Winford, though she lad been accus.
toned to regard her as something Of a
mystery, aEd shg now felt touched and
grateful, for the bankers worthy house,
keeper at once grasped her hand, after
exchanging greetings with Aunt Joan
and the rest, and her first words were
meant to convey most delieately her re-
gret and indignation at her masters con-
duct.
Il CHANGED to te absent from the house
! when YOU were subjected to that mean
| and summary treatment, Miss Gwendo-
line, said she, with unaffected warmth,
cor should not have hesitated to tell
Mr.. Marlowe what I thought of it and
him. As it is, I have just spoken my
mind to Kim in way that he won't forget
in hurry, an6 don't care if ho gives
me my walking papers for it, as he has
-Oh, dear me! if you should get into
trouble on our account, my dear Miss
| Winford, I shall feel far more distressed
! than have been, sighed Gwendoline, to
whom the housekeeper's unwonted spirit
edness of manner was matter OF sur
| prise.
-Oh, but you can save yourself from
| being distressed on my account can
take care of myself" continued Miss
| Winford, in the same strain. 1t was a
mean, dastard,y, cruel piece of business
on Mr.. Gilbert Marlowes part-a dirty
piece Of time-serving in the interest of
| hr. CroaK-and l tola MIN as mucn! he
| wouldn't have dared-shame would have
deferred him from such meanness, tyrant
as he is, had Noel been at home!"
DO, proy, say DO more of it. dear Miss
Winford" entreated Gwendoline, whose
face had slowly crimsoned. Il suppose
We have no claim on Mr.. Marlowe; he
has, doubtless, the right to choose his
| own tenants.
But fit of indignation seemed to have
seized Miss Winford, from which she
found it difficult to abstain, perhaps by
| very reason of it's unusualness. She
continued to talk in the same strain, and
much of her cruel homeliness of visage
disappeared beneath the momentary color
that her excitement summoned into her
habitually pallid face.
Then Mr. Alworth reused himself out
of his nap. to bask in some of the ready
sympathy that SIZE diIrused, and now and
then heave in few complaints on his
own account; Aunt Joan was not behind
hand in the general condemnation to
which tue miserable banker was being
devoted behind his back, any more than
was Christie; and at last. even the stall
wsrt Joint owners OF the tempest houting
Gadfy caught the spirit Of the occasion
Paul to the extent of hopelessly en-
tapgling lis fishing g-tack'e afresh, and
Peter, SO far rs altogether forgetting all
| about the fortunes of every sort Of navi.
,, gator for the time-bein
But, ut IaEt, mucn 20 Gwendo:1ne's se-
, cret relief, the visitor rose TO 60.
Good. by and good luck, my dear Miss
Gwendolne!" said Miss Winford, extend
ing her hand for the last time to the young
girl, as they all accompanied her to the
door. "Gut, by the way, there is aLother
thing came 70 say. Ycn know have
/, q nrettty good acquaintance with desirable
families in ard about Highcombe, by this
time, and, if sou are thinking Of sNeE:ns
q situation ne govell1Ss, You must feel
that my services are at your disposal.
Gwendoline thanked her warmly, and
was going on to say that she would PROB
ably have occasion, sooner or later, to
avail herself Of the Iroffere assistance,
when she was interrupted by Miss WIN
ford saying, with sudden dryness:
But, after all. my dear ch Id, are you
eure that you will ever need my help
that something may not arise to obviate
the necessity OF your shaving as govern
| ess at all?"
i can't imagine what you mean said
| Gwendoline. with q puzzled expression.
Are not my father and l poor enough
alre idv, in al conscience? And are not
| l. -, Ia, N
this queer work day world2"
i suppose so, unless they suddenly
cease to be POOR, was the enigmatical
response, accompanied by a mysterious
look, viii h Gwendoline found wholly
uuaccountable. "Odder things than your
becoming Gecently well-to. do, if net
brilliantly rich, have often taken place
heretofore, and may occur again.
And with thee words she again said
goodnight for all, and hurried out
through the garden.
Wait, Miss Winford, wait!" Aunt
Joan called after her. 1T is dark, and
there will he storm. One of my boys
will see you home
No, thanks, Aunt Joan!' came back
Miss Winford's voice in reply, her form
having already vanished out of the gate
| lulO lue llThueSS. 1 du u>Cu ~
out alone, and know every foot of the
way up though the cliffs.
Run after her, Peter, rum" sad Aunt
Joan. The roor thing! Mark how the
lightning fi!shes!'
Peter had already pu- OH his hat anr
jo.ket, with the intention of accompany.
IN. Miss v infor,l i'll case of being asked,
though too bGshful to make the PROPOSE
tion of lis own rolition, and he now
dashed out of the garden and up the
road in the direction she had taken.
He returned, Lowc' er, after the storm
had burst, ana re-enteret the cottage IN
surly humor, to report that he had been
unable to over,ake or see anything OF the
Object of his pursuit
| Aunt Joan expressed q fear les: Miss
Winford might be unable to obtain shell
ter from the storm, but he quietel her
apprehensions by reminding her that
there were three or four small cottages,
besides Jasm ne Lodge, between the
beach and the top of the road, and little
more was thought OF it. =