The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-02

Agnes Upton. Three out OF the four
must still remain bachelors and mem
hers of the club. 1t is well, therefore,
that there should be no hard feelings
betwten us. We should remember
that. thouch we are rivals in love, we
are brethrt Il by choice. Alter looking
the ground over with great care, we ex-
pect YOU, Mr.. President, 10 decide
which one of the quartelte shall remain
in The field. Arbitration is great
modern principle, and may well be en-
ployed in such a case as this.
i agree with Brother Chapman" !
said.
He has spoken WE'LL" remarked
Barnes.
AMI 50 it was settled that our presi-
dent sh ruld take upon him the settle
ment OF the most stupendous complica-
ton that had ever agltated the
pea ace:ul circles OF our club. But it
was with heavy hearts that my friends
left my rooms that night. They all
seemed to teel that the future promised
to be stormy and our president, as he
walked slowly through the hall. looked
depressed and anxious.
! returned to my lonely parlor, lighted
a c. G # and watched the titful frolics OF
the dying blaze. l had not intended to
confess my love for Agnes Upton to the
club. but had been forced to that step
in selr-defense. In fact, had hardly
dared to acknowledge to myself that
the passion which had seized me at the
ball. had grown in force during the sue
ceed.ng fortnight. But SO it was. l,
who had given up all thoughts OF matri-
monv, now ionged passionateli to make
a life companion Of Agnes Upton. A I'd,
behold, had three rivals!
I sat in reverie until the clock struck
two, but the more pondered the prob
lem the more l became convinced that
when four men love the same woman
not even the worldly wisdom Of such a
man as our President can beget a sat-
isfactory outcome.
CHAPTER ".
Acnes Upton had an interesting ex-
peritnce during the next two weeks.
Although Oar committee had been dis
charged, I}arnes, Chapman and myself
were not obliged to desert our new
friends, and not day passed that one
Of US, or perhaps all OF us, did not call
at the Upton mansion. Our President
was also very assiduous in his atten-
items and even went so far as to take
Agnes and Mr.. Upton out driving twice
or thrice.
The Uptons, OF course, did not realize
that there was any bond between the
new admirers Of Agnes. Five members
OF the club had become intimate with
the Ultons, but the existence OF our or
caniz alton was unknown to them, and
when We met in their drawing-room
there was a coldness in our manner
towards each other which disarmed
suspicion. This GOODNESS was in part
affect and in part the outcome OF the
fact that tour Of us were rivals for the
hand of Agnes.
Une evening we were all asked to dine
at the Cptons'. Fernshaw was pres
ent, and turned red when he saw our
Pres dent enter the room The young
man had been out Of town for some
days and did not know that the head OF
our club had become the arbiter OF his
fate.
Mrs. Upton, who, by the way, had
never been cordial to me, frowned when
she saw how warmly was received by
her step-daughter. Agnes and / had
become good friends, and she treated
me with more frankness than she did
my rivals. Whether this was an en-
couraging fact had not been able to
determine. Timeo Danaos ct dona
ferentes. For "Danaos" read women. !"
4 WAS separated from agnes at din
ner. and was obliged TO make myself
agreeable to an elderly woman, who
talked continually about the English
nobility and seemed 10 have been read
inc Burke's "Peerage" before she left
home. Fernshaw was seated by a
pretty Gebutante, but kept mis- eyes fixed
constantly on Agnes, who was making
herself fascinating to our President
CHAPMAN and Barnes w%re showed
under somewhere on the other side OF
the tatle.
There were several handsome women
present, but the face Of Agnes was be-
yond all rivalry.
she is q queen, I exclaimed alb
stractedly.
No, no-a Duchess" returned the
matron at my side, looking at me as
though she considered ME Woefully lg-
norant. l don't know to whom che re-
ferred. ut l remember d vaguely that
she lai .een talking about some Amer
lean girl who had married titled Tor
eigner.
MIR. Upton was in high spirits. He
was not witty conversationalist, but
his eordiality a. host made up for a
certain lack Of tact apparent in his
manner. -
you have been away, Fernshaw:"
he remarked. Glad to see you back. "
Thank you," said Fernshaw coldly.
His poetic face had taken on OF late a
cynical expression, as though multi
tude of rivals had changed his views re-
rhrdinC the value of existence.
ITO BE CONTINUED