The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-10-26

tell YOU another thlng--l have found the
person.
"Ah! Then I shall run away"
She cut short his smile with an i'm
perious glance.
Then You still adhere to it?" ne said,
with forced laugh.
Most firmly! / need not repeat to you
nv reasons-having preached about 1t
ali winter-in fact so much so as to dis
gust my husband, who suspects some
what! My uncle? Is it possible?"
-Oh, nothing serious. you must under
stand. Well, let us resume the subject
where We left it,"
What! 90 over again that tiresome list
of available persons?"
Exactly. Miss Osgood will not do; she
is too blonde-an odd objection for me to
make, by the way; nor Miss Van Name
too thin; nor Miss Gould, in spite of her
millions; nor Miss De Lancy-too much
like the Umberfelds and Thorndykes.
All this is little discouraging, you will
admit, but finally everything clears up.
I tell you I have discovered one-a per-
feet marvel"
Her name?" asked Eugene.
Flora Leland!"
There was silence. Eugene Clevelan
experienced the same disagreeable sensa-
ton that had affected him the day when
he saw the young lady's brother descend
ing the broad steps of their fathers man
sion and saunter down the street.
We'll, you say nothing" resumed Cora,
because you can have nothing to say
because she unites everything-personal
beauty, family, fortune, everything-.al-
most like dream. Then, too, her father
and your uncle are old friends; they are
connected in business matters-at the
bank, you know, and in other ways. He
also owns your old homestead, the place
you loved so we'll, and which will thus
como back to you. Ah, you see how ]
have thought of everything, my friend!
But cannot imagine why we never came
to think of this before.
Eugene did not reply, and Cora began
to be surprised at his silence.
OH" she exclaimed: you may look
long time-there cannot be single OBJ
jection-you are caught this time. Come,
my friend, say yes, implore you'll"
And while her lips said Il pray you, IN
a tone of earnest entreaty, her look said
with terrible emphasis, You must
will you allow me to reflect upon 1t,
Mrs. Ellison?" he asked, at last.
mo, my friend"
But really" said Eugene, who was
very pale, it seems to me you dispose OF
the hand of Miss Leland very readily.
Miss Leland is very rich, and they
court her on all sides; then her father ,s
very proud. He is the president Of
bank-the one from which l was dis
charged, and her mother has peculiar
ideas about husband for her daughter,
while her brother"
i charge myself with all that, inter-
rupted Cora, impatiently.
But what mania you have Tor marry.
ing people!"
always have mania for matchmaking.
But seriously, you will give me few
days for reflection"
ITO reflect about what? Have you not
told me thousand times you intended
remarrying, and we're only waiting a
proper time. and the right chance? Well,
now is the right time, and you can never
find better chance than this; and If you
let it slip, you will repent the rest Of your
life"
But give me time to consult my reia-
tions!"
Your relations-what joke! It seems
to me you have reached full age; and then,
what relations? Your mothers connec-
ton, Mrs. Morgan?"
Doubtless she Is one of them. I do not
wish to offend her."
DO not worry on her account, beg.
Indeed, she will be delighted.
Why should she be?"
Il have nv reasons for thinking So"
and the lady smiled knowingly.
Eugene, to whom little by little the light
fell stronger on the more obscure points
of the terrible enigma proposed to him,
saw the necessity of shortening a scene
which had overtasked all her faculties to
an almost insupportable degree.
He rose.
Il am compelled to leave YOU" he said,
for I have an engagement for this even
ing. But 7 will come tomorrow, If you
will permit" 49,
Certainly. But you will take Flora?'
Good gracious! Yes, if I can get her,
for I really eau see no reasonable objec-
tion."
"A thousand thanks! And you would
like the Senator to broach the subject to
her father?"
Il certainly would if he were here;
but"
Don't disturb yourself, I beg. I ex-
pect him home on brief visit, and, in
deed, know he would come if Tor no
other reason than to oblige you"
He is very good to me-"
He loves you we'll.
'Ihave had substantial proof of that"
You will have further proofs. And
now you will wish to meet the lady.
Leave me to arrange that"
II leave everything to you.
Thanks again, You are a dear, good
boy" and she gave him her hand, which
he pressed convulsively, and Immediately
departed.
1t would have required much keener
vision than that of Sherwood Elliston to
have detected any break or any discord-
ance in the audacious comedy which had
just been played before him by these two
great artists.
The mute play of their eyes alone
could have betrayed them, and these he
could not see.
As to the tranquil, easy, natural dia-
logue, there was not In it word which
he could seize upon, and which did not
remove all his disquietude and confound
all his suspicious.
From this moment, and ever afterward,
every shadow was effaced from his mind;
for to imagine such plot as that in
which his wife in her despair had sought
refuge, to enter into such depth of per-
versity, was not in the Senator'S straight
forward and simple spirit.
When he reappeared before his wife, on
leaving his concealment, he was con.
strained and awkward. With gesture