The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-03-06

81 thought mamma naQ Senb LOT me-
saw you talking with her." said Love-
day, turning away, but slowly.
You will give mo ono waltz2" asked
he. staying her in spite OF herself.
She hesitated, glancing involuntarily
at Auberon with trace Of anxiety,
which Accrington instantly OWNED as
the wish to avoid doing anything which
might not be to Auberon's taste.
ut is but a little thing for careworn
man like me to ask from your buoyans
youth, that you should give me back five
minutes ct my by-gone days OF happi-
ness!" said he wistfully. "Shall you
dislike 1t so much?"
"No, no, no. no.. faltered she, abashed;
II shall waltz with you for my nexs
partner" And with that he let ner go.
In a few minutes Merrion Rae was
disengaged, and Accrington seized the
opportunity.
"Her grace sent me to amuse you,
Queen of Scots, he said, airily, leading
her for promenade
IL am Quiescent," returned the lady,
absently; "do your best
"Fair queen, I beseech your add"
G'Tis yours, Sir Colonel Speak,"
u love lady,"
sEh bicn! So do most meE."
.Alas, have rival"
impossible. Who could rival Colonel
Accrington?"
Sweet demoiselle, you are pleased to
laugh at me; yet am in trouble"
aDid YOU not offer to amuse me?"
"Trne. Well. you may laugh, yet help
me. and will be tontent."
II help you. Is it poSsible?"
sAre yoa not as wise as you are witty
AS good as you are pretty? You GER
tainly can, II you will, do much to extri-
cate re from dilemma"
"Ah, now am dying to aid you, your
dattery is so sweet. Only show me how
i can be of use to you."
Suppose a cavalier, much like that
dark browed fellow Accrington, loved
Aurora like"
"Mlss Dellamere, for instance" inter
posed Merrion, laughing mischievously,
as he stopped and looked at her. "Oh,
l have not been blind, dear Colonel, and
I wish you every success.
THANK you, Lady Merrion; now I
shall tell you the obstacle. Suppose
this lady was half promised, by the par
ents, to a young man who loves her.
(Mcrrion started and changed colorl-
abut only with a fraternal love-" pro-
ceeded Accrington, who had not lost
this sign of emotion. "for his whole heart
is evidently given to another, end that
other"
aHa! ha! ha! quite a Comedy OF Err
rors,'" laughed Merrion, defiantly meet
ing his significant glance, though her
brilliant face glowed with rich bushes
"And now, what part can play in all
this? Or have you yet to come to that
point?"
"And that other" resumed Accrington,
boldly, "has only to accept LIS atten-
tions for few days, during which she
may be endeavoring to teach her own
heart to respond to his. Thus the first
named lady will feel herself free to love
me, and all will end we'll" -
"But By what caprice do you contide
all this to me?" demanded the high
spirited girl, who would rather have
perished than permit any one to guess
The state of her heart toward A,nberon.
3Ah, well-perhaps only to amuse
you'll Let Us talk of something else,"
said the Colonel, carelessly. And quite
convinced that she understood all that
Was necessary, be soon led her back tc
her friends. -. :: -.r.'-
trington and Loveday Dellamere.
He slid his nervous arm about her
waist, his left hand clasped hsr finger
tips delicately, firmly. Thsy foated
round among the others, light as shad-
ows pickering, and upborne by the wild
measure Of q waltz z-whirlwind. His
warm breath on her brew, bic dark
eyes softly shining down upon her. his
gentle strength supporting hers as II
one will governed their motions. A sim
gnlar sensation gradually took posses
sion OF Loveday, as II she was being,
borne out Of herself. feeling as dreamy
and delicious as !nexplicable. Perceiv-
ing by the relaxing of her seli-poise his
growing power over her, Accrington
softly tightened his clasp Of her waist,
stole a firmer hold Of her hand, and,
timing his movement to the long-drawn,
longing notes Of the next musical bars,
he bent lower over her, and allowed his
dark eyes, charged with unutterably
beseeching tenderness, to feed upon
hers. All his soul stresmed forth In
that enraptured gaze. 1t could not
startle or repel her, 1t was SO very hum
bic and imploring, and there was the
music, passionately wooing her for him,
telling Of his sorrowful past, OF his soli-
tary strangerhood in his own native
land-wooing, wooing her to believe In
1o~ Eref
And Auberon had only loved her as Q
sister, while she-oh, shamel to yield
one thought to him who had no love for
herl
Loveday's maiden pride was waking
with her knowledge that Accripgton
sought her out from among all these
other fascinating ladies; she had looked
forward with blind trust to Auberon's
return, when he would tell her that he
loved her, and claim her heart IN re-
ward.
He had not spoken Of love; he had
been just as tenderly fraternal as Ut old.
and no more; and she had borne the
sharp surprise proudly, hid her smart
and waited the future patiently; but
lately she had become aware OF Merrlon
aae's strange heightened beauty and
fascination when in Auberon's presence.
and with lov-,'s jealous quickness, had
guessed her secret.
And to-day, closely watching, she had
seen Auberon's interest seemingly quite
absorbed in her; he and she had been
together so much and had been SO bril-
liantly responsive to each others salllee
-ah, foolish little Loveday, why should
' ,,,,o ,aliaf n