The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-25


ing those lung, dreary winter evenings
when she and her mother sat in silence
opposite each other, for Mrs. Vane never
invited any company, and gave her
neighbors but scant welcome when they
came of their own accord.
Jenkins boy" was ready with the
boat, a small, ferret eyed youngster,
with an intensely freckled face and a
furtive, sidewise glance, which Murlel
always distrusted; and as they glided
out over the water, already dyed with
the orange reflection of sunset, in the
direction of White Reefs lighthouse,
Muriel leaned her chin in her hands
and thought of rir. Clifton.
What would her mother say if she
knew it all-that Paul Clifton loved her
that he was coming to ask for her at
the maternal hands the very next day.
sit will be of no use," she thought
sadly. 'tMother will say no. She de-
sires me to marry Squire Sedley, who
is bald and deaf and twice my age, and
who only wants me because his house
keeper has struck for higher wages and
he thinks wife would be better econo-
my. But we can wait, Paul and !. We
will wait"
And then they ran up alongside the
tall, spectral cylinder Of the lighthouse,
for the tide was high and landing was
comparatively easy, and Muriel sprang
lightly out Of the boat, looking up at
the fiery eye in the lantern above.
"Give me the bag and the basket,
Tommy" said she. Steady with the
boat now I'll be back in one minute. "
So the orange glow had burned down
into deep red radiance, and the dusk
shadows OFF the New Years eve were
creeping over all the CLASSY surface OF
the sea- 80
Aunt Dora was at home. In fact,
Aunt Dora never was anywhere else.
Her own society, little az other people
cared for it, was all sufficient for her
self.
"Oh, it's you, is it?" said Aunt Dora,
as unconcerned as if she lived on dry
land and was in the habit Of seeing
company every hour in the day. She
was darning stockings by her own espe-.
cial little lamp, and the teapot already
simmered on the hob for her tea. "Any-
thing the matter? Because I couldn't
leave the light if it was ever so"-
"No, nothing is the matter, % said
Muriel ST have brought you a note
from my mother. Something about the
pattern of bedquilt, believe. And
some chickens and apples and bag of
fresh hickory nuts. - i.
Aunt Dora read the note once, twice,
three times over. Then she regarded
Muriel in sinister fashion from under
her thick, black brows, while the girl
played unconsciously with the cat
"Humphr' said she. "Yes, I'll go
and get the pattern u
She was gone some time-haf an
hour, at least, as it seemed to Muriel,
and when she came back, the girl start
ed up. a.,
"It is nearly dark, :" she said. "I
must make haste home"
swell you needn't be in such a fur
ry'' said Aunt Dora, with grim
chuckle. "I've sent the pattern by Tom
my Jenkins. He's half way to shore by
this time"
Muriel uttered little shrek.
"And how am to get homer" she
cried.
"You amt to get home at all, !" said
Aunt Dora "You're to stay and spend
the New Year with me. That's what
your mother said in her note.''
"But shall not!" exclaimed Muriel,
stamping her foot vehemently. II must
90 homel Iexpect company tomorrow. "
"Sit down and be easy-doP' said
Aunt Dora. "Must is for the king. I'd
like to know how on earth you re to get
home, with only one boat at the steps,
and that padlocked tight, with the key
snug at the bottom Of my pocket"
And Aunt Dora laughed a hard, dis
sonant laugh that was like the croak Of
raven.
For a moment Muriel gazed wildly
around like a newly Gagged bird, then
she burst into tears and sobs.
"It is all stratagem Of mother 81"
she cried, wringing her hands. II
might have known it, I might have
known itp'
And that night at the White Reefs
lighthouse, with the melancholy sea
tapping the foot of the tower and the
wind whistling around the steady glow
Of the beacon, was the dreariest that
Muriel ever spent in her life.
."You amt good company tonight, ="
said Aunt Dora, glancing at her niece
ever and anon between the stitches Of
her darning.
because you have deceived mep'
cried Muriel.. "You and motherP'
"Humph I" said Aunt Dora. "It's all
for your own good. You'll thank us one
Of these days. Girls oughtn't to have
their own way"
But Muriel only wept on and refused
to be comforted.
She went down to the foot Of the
tower, the next day, and sat there, her
cloak wrapped about her shoulders, list
lessly gazing ont on the sparkling floor
Of the deep.
lis that boat coming?' she asked
herself. with one man in it? Is it
coming here. I wonder?"
Nearer and nearer came the boat,
rocking lightly on the surface Of the
waves, and presently Muriel started up,
with cry of joy. 4
For it was Paul Clifton waving his
hand to her, as he came ever nearer and