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

planned the uses OF the articles of Office
furniture to her, especially exhibiting the
great fire proof money vault, inside and
out, with good deal of pride.
why, it's roomv enough Tor dungeon
In there!" said Adele, when they had come
out of the vault, and were standing, apart
from the rest. in the narrow passage on
which it opened. Why are the great iron
doors hidden away in this cramped place,
instead of opening right out on the Office?
I suppose these rear windows separate us
from the conservatory. One might peer
through them, and know of all the trees
ure that was being stored away"
But the window-panes, you see, are
thickly coated over with paint" said
Noel. AS for the iron doors opening in
! this way, can't tell YOU of the original
object. The vault was built long before
was born"
The lawyer alone. in drawing up ths
forms in accordance with certain amend
ed memoranda handed him by Mr.. Mar.
lowe, seemed to remark the dimunition OF
the amount settled upon the lady; he had
known Of the original intention, and,
moreover, the change was apparent
enough in the bankers rough notes, where
the written number ten" had been rather
freshly substituted for twenty" as prefix
to the Thousand. But even he made no
verbal comment. He merely looked odd.
ly, first at the banker, who seduously
avoided his scrutiny, and then at Bon.
court. who returned the stare with lazy
| indifference; and then went on with his
writing, with an air of total unconcern.
The papers were at last executed, and
the business at an end.
Did you tell Miss Winford about the
tea?" Mr. Marlowe asked Of Nosl, rs the
party were quitting the Office.
Yes. She promised to have it ready
by half-past FIVE. and it is now nearly six,
But here is Miss Winford."
They we're all standing at the entrance
of the rear passage, leading through the
conservatory. AS he spoke, and as the
rest of the party turned in that direction,
the housekeeper was seen standing there.
She might almost have stepped out from
In among the plants and fower-pots that
were crowded directly behind the painted
over psnes Of the rear Office window, had
hiding.place been afforded by them
which, however, did not seem possible.
Il chanced to overhear Mr.. Noel's last
words" said Miss Winford, with slight
+ courtesy. Supper will be found awaiting
you in the. grapevine arbor."
What q shocking Disagreement you,
housekeeper has undergone!" whispered
Adele to her lover, as the party were pass
| ing into the garden.
Eyes, poor, dear woman!" replied Noel
But can remember her only as from
my earliest recollections, and therefore
only think of her goodness.
at this juncture, a second mysterious
disappearance of the lawyer WAS no ed.
But even MI. Marlowe only remarked,
this time, that, if Croak did not turn up
before the table was cleared, be should
90 home hungery.
They found the table laid in the arbor,
and more substantially provided for than
had been looked for.
The coachman, and q green grocer g
small boy, both freshly white-aproned for
the occasion, were in attendance. There
was more varied and generous accom-
paniment of wines than had often accord
ed with the bankers ideas Of hospitality.
A soft sea wind was cooling the air, after
the heat of the day, and the repast was
soon agreeably under way.
When the dishes were being removed,
and fresh wines, with cigars for the gen.
tlemen, brought on, Noel remembered
something of interest in the country
newspaper that he wished to read to
Adele and Boncourt.
Il must have mislaid it," said he, after
vain search Of his pockets. "Ah, now
reprember having LAID it on the table in
the p1icc. will run and get it."
Never mind, ut present. SAID Adels
detaining him, by playful gesture OF
her fan. 1T is growing too dark for you
to read, without straining your handsome
eyes. See: the fre-fies are beginning to
twinkle in the gloom. want some, mon
ami."
Some what9" said Noel, with puzzled
look.
Some fre-Hies, to be sure; some fire.
flies, and flowers, too! quick! catch and
Gull them for mel"
He saw that she was in earnest, so, like
the dutlful lover that he was, he laugh.
ingly arose and was so on chasing through
the garden, hat in hand, in pursuit of the
6re-fies.
He was presently, however, willing
enough to delegate this interesting pas
time to the servants. whose nimble efforts
proved much more successful than he
own, and to turn his own attention to the
flower gathering, exclusively.
In little while Adele had lying on the
table before her heap of pretty blooms.
together with large number of the cap.
tured fre-flies, which she further se-
cured from instructive rambling by i'm
prisoning under an inverted wlLe-glass,
after which she gravely proceeded to
make use Of her acquisitions in a very novel
way.
us there no other fairy-like caprice that
I can gratify?" cried Noel, laughing.
Shall I not order the walks to be strewu
with tahlo-salt. for sleigh-ridirg, as was
done for the Pompadour, or some othe,
favorte, in the royal gardens?"
1t is hardly necessary, till have ex.
hausted this one, she replied, smiling.
Meanwhile her delicate fingers we're
busy with the flowers and the fre-fies, to-
sether with numerous slender grass
spears, which, after moistening or gum.
ming with sweetened wine, she utilized
in some deft but mysterious way in bind
ing insects and blooms together in fan
tnstic forms, and by which the fre-fies
were caused to emit their phosphorescent
pulsations much more brightly and in
cessantly than if left to their natural in
stinctS.
At last she crowned her fair head with
o wonderful chapiet o. interminglinG
mowers ana insects, the latter glltterlng
like veritable gems of fire, and lighting
up tho soft blooms that surrounded them
with clear and starry lNster.
How wonderful !" exclaimed Noel, in
unaffected admiration, while even the
banker grew interested, and Boncourt
looked on with lazy complacency. WAS
look like princess of elhand!"