The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-22

Al
when she came to this new world,
Git were, namely, to do as she pleased.
ust now she pleased to stay and talk
with this young man, for whom she felt
an unaccountable liking. She had some
curiosity to discover his name, and his
reasons for visiting S'conset. In some
way she felt she had seen his face be-
fore.i
While she was thus thinking and
knitting her brow over this vague re-
semblance, he was watching her face
with scrutinizing interest.
Glancing UP, she met his eyes, and
finding its humor contagious, she was
soon laughing as merrily as he.
"We are better acquainted now, he
cried rayly, while she wondered at her
capacity for nonsense. IF you want to
know a person just laugh with them.
That's my theory. Not that should be
laughing, though. Crying would better
| suit my condition in this vale Of tears.
Won't YOU sit down, Miss"
Smith" supplemented Margaret, CIV
| ing him the name she had assumed.
"Smith; you don't look like a Smith.
But I'm glad it isn't Coffin or Folger.
You are not native, know. Please
sit here. You'll find it ever so COM
Portable. Only. triae rocky. Do they
fish in these things?"
In these dories? Oh, yes; 1t is ever
so interesting to watch them"
Well, shouldn't find the pastime so
amusing. Is that how you manage to
exist in this God-forsaken hole?"
E"Evidently you don't appreciate
nature" she remarked, in rather un-
fattering tones, as she took possession
of the seat he offered her.
a'No. I appreciate the comforts or
civilized life more. I'm not romantic
kind Of animal, you see. I'm tired or
this already. Only came this morning,
too. I've been in Nantucket week.
Hauled up there to see an antediluvian
aunt of my mothers. She got it into
] her head that she couldn't exist without
a sight Of my manly countenance,
So"
You had compassion on her?'
@Yes; that was it. 1t is her fault I'm
here to-day. She talked Of S'conset un-
til 1 thought it was second heaven; but
I haven't seen anything here yet"
He added the last word by way Of
| qualification, and gave Margaret an in
! terrogative glance.
Il suppose not" was her tranquil re-
| ply, unless you saw it in dreams. You
| should have chosen a livelier season. 1t
ia perfectly charming in the summer.
Now, things are inclined to be SLOW"
Rather" he agreed readily. Horses
| in the bargain. The brute that hauled
me from Nantucket stopped every five
minutes to get his breath. 1t was
wearying on my patience, I assure you.
| And the old captain who drove me was
more wearying than the horse. The
stories he expected me to swallow were
an insult to my intelligence. I think
this air must breed captains, they are
so wonderfully prolific. Every blessed
man I've met is q captain, or would have
been if the whale fisheries had kept up.
| I've been trying to hunt up the ordinary
sailors"
Perhaps sailors we're not in vogue on
whaling vessels" suggested Margaret,
with utmost gravity Captain Pitman
says"
That's another popularity" he inter.
rupted abruptly, their names. Did you
ever hear anything to beat it? Wretch
edly monotonous to hear Coffin, Folger.
and Pitman, Pitman, Folger and Coffin. I"
There's nothing in a name,'" quoted
Margaret, lightly.
"a mistake altogether. A name means
everything. Take mine, for instance
Brian Leigh. Now, the Brian part
What's the matter"
He might we'll ask this question, for
without the least warning Margaret had
slipped hastily from her seat, on the
boat, and stood regarding him with
curious blending Of perplexity and sur
prise.
"Brian Leigh" she replied, In an in
credulous tone; ''is it really Brian
Leigh"
81 have always understood so," he
answered with laugh and a puzzled
glance at her face. II don't see how
can be mistaken"
II am very foolish" she remarked.
anxious to divert his suspicious, while
she still regarded him rather curiously,
though with a newer and deeper in
terest.
She understood now the strange re-
semblance unexplained before. Some
thing in the eyes and mouth recalled
vague memories Of her father, and this
likeness, faint as it was, served to
awaken new feelings in her breast. She
and unexpected turn of affairs. She
was not given to superstition, but the
coincidence Of their meeting in this out.
of-the-way place seemed too curious 70
be merely coincidence; yet, as such she
must accept it. What would Miss Hilton
say? Should she tell her? No. Should
she tell her cousin that she was the
Margaret who had taken his fortune
from him? No, again; and she could
| give herself no reason for these decis-
| ions.
1T is certainly strange that we should
be thrown together" she remarked to
| herself when she had left Brian q few
minutes later. Il almost wish he would
not go back to Nantucket tonight. If
he should stay here few days might
have an opportunity to study his char
acter. He doesn't seem 10 be much
troubled. No depth OF eelng, I'm
afraid. He acts more like silly college
| boy. ( think 1 was rather silly, too.
| I'm really ashamed Of myself. Well,
I'll await Developments.
Margaret dreamed of her cousin that
| night, and rose next morning still think
ing of him.
| CHAPTER III.
| IN THE SAINTS AT s'CoNSET
4 II.