The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-09

monition to the summer idlers at Fair
Glen that it would soon be time to re.
turn to the city, to the desk for work or
to the drawing-room for that unceasing
round of pleasure which is to people who
are in society weary duty.
Mrs. Warringham grew anxious to be
home again. With the nervousness Of
yaletudinarians she began to fret about
her stay in the uncomfortable cottage,
and ascribed to the faults Of the dwelling
all her ailments.
Some of the guests had already de-
parted 1t was accordingly decided that
the Warringhams should go by the first
of the following week, II Mrs. Warning
hams state of health would permit eX-
posure to the fatigue of long railway
Journey; for she had during the last
few weeks grown very weak indeed.
1t was understood that Mr.. Spofford
should accompany the ladies.
Jack felt himself in a peculiar pre-
dicament Almost three months he had
come into daily contact with the girl he
loved. and yet he had not asked her the
question the answer to which would be
Of such importance to him. At tho
same time he felt reasonably assured, ex-
cept at intervals when his courage failed
him, to have found favor in the eyes OF
his chosen charmer. And yet he could
not bring himself to speak the words
Welt might he curse his modesty-or
cowardice, as he called it-in moments
of self-reproach Why, it was ridicu-
lous! Jack Spohord, who had always
taken pride in his pluck, who could ride
the widest horse as good as any man IN
the country, who at college had oeen
considered champion at football, AFRAID
to ask little girl simple question!
Poor Jack This same ridiculous mod.
esty did him one good service-it put OF
the bitter hour of disappointment.
Miss Beckford treated him one day
like the other, with never changing
friendliness. She liked him as friend
of hers and, perhaps still more 80, as
friend Of Ralph. Never for moment
did she have the faintest suspicion that
Jack returned her feelings with i'm
measurably more than equal ferVor.
For this young mans modesty prevent
ed him from ever showing the slightest
trace of warmth, which might have put
her on the right tack. Jack was not
by any means the typical ardent lover
for whom the conventional maiden that,
iyy-like, pines for an elm tree to cling to
is supposed to sigh.
But now, when the day Of departure
from this mountain valley was but q few
more days distant, Jack felt that he
would have to come to conclusion.
When they had gone back to the city. he
would have far less opportunities to
take the awful step than now. For he
would hardly expect to see her every
day, except, perhaps, at balls and recep-
tions-the worry worst places for conver-
sation that is destined for the ear
Of Just one person, whatever the novel
lists of the routine sort may say. Here
ut Fair Glen he was with her almost
from morning till night, and yet he had
not availed himself of o hundred oppor-
tupities that had been thrown in bis way.
Something must be done at once.
That he saw quite clearly. But ne felt
at the idea like the boy with the swim.
ming masters line around, standing
hesitatingly on the board from which he
IS to take the uncomfortable plunge
into the water.
Finally he concluded that he would
invite Miss Beckford for a walk to
favorite place of hers, about two miles
up the river, where the rocks formed
picturesque grotto in the midst OF
the most beautiful pr!meval forest
There he would tell her all. Al
ter he had thought over the plan. a
little, he found it charming, quite
romantic-a declaration of love in a sylvan
bower, far away from the profane crowd.
WHY, I'm poet, he said to himself, and
smiled merrily ct the idea. he paid eX-
ira attention to his toilet that morning,
and stood before the ooking-gass longer
than was his wont. He could observe
with satisfaction that he looked very
presentable in his flannel shirt, blue scarf
with the ends futtering in the breeze,
knee "pants "-he did not ride bicycle.
but had taste enough to fancy short
trousers. and need not feel ashamed o.
the shape Of his limbs--and the broad
brimmed straw hat with ribbon that he
had begged from her. With tuck a;
his moustache he mentally declared him.
self ready for the fray. But his heart
would not stop beating quite impertl-
nently as he walked the short distance
from the hotel to the cottage in which
the Warringham ladies lived.
Hattie showed at first some hesita-
ton, for her aunt felt very poorly that
morning. But when Mrs. Warringham
herself insisted upon her going she &C.
cepted Jacks invitation very readily.
1t should be remarked here that Mrs.
Warringham and Mr.. Spotford were on
very friendly terms now When Jack
saw her the first time after the ominou!
message he had brought her he was con-
siderably embarrassed, but as she never
alluded to that occurrence by word or
mien, he was soon at his ease In her
presence.
Ina few moments Hattie had donned
her bonnet and light summer wrap, and
soon the two young people were seen
leisurely walking on the shady path
that followed the windings OF the brook
up to the grotto.
It was one of those days In September
whose warmth, after an interval OF cool
er weather, once more recalls the heat
of July. When Hattie and Jack had
walked this path for the first time,
in June. they had picked yellow
yiolets and blue veronicas on the wa
ter's edge, while in the deeper shadows
OF the wood they found magnificent or
chids and on occasional open sunny plots
wide-awakes and anemones. Now the
seed capsules were 'ripening where all
those blossoms lad shown forth from
their curtains Of foliage. The only flow
ers to be seen anywhere now were asters
of a dim violet color, or here and there
few sunfowers that seemed to be max
ing preparations for speedy death
If lyrical mood Is awakened by the