The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-04-12

up, and was ready to be informed anu
directed.
Just as he was sitting down to lunch
m old gentleman distantly related to
the Wintouns called upon him, and
jamie was bound, both by his inclina'
tions and his interest, to be hospltable
and attentive to him. So he was much
delayed by the visit, and the afternoon
was we'll advanced when he left Win
toun House. Between it and the
manse there was the little wood, and,
as the day was sunny, he took the path
through it. 1t was path absolutely
private, and only used by the family
and friends of Brathous, so he had nc
fear of meeting strangers there; and
yet it was most likely to be the road
taken by Jessy if she was going to OF
coming from Levens-hope.
Half way through the wood he saw
Katherine sitting under the group Of
pine-trees. Her pink dress made q
rosy flush in the green shadows; he1
hat, with its white ribbons, lay beside
her; her bright brown hair was braided
in q ,oronal above her brows. Jamie
could not resist the opportunity fate
had provided. He went to her side
with the eagerness of man who has q
pleasant surprise. Katherine smiled
him q welcome.
"I am waiting for Jessy," she said.
"She was to meet me here about five
o'clock. The minister. is going away
for few days, and Jessy will stay
with me. jamie, you have been quar-
reling with your uncle again. He
came home in an awful temper. You
quarreled about me, too. 1t makes
me wretched."
"He is 30 interfering. What right
had he to fix our wedding day."
There was minutes silence, and
then Katherine said:
Jamie, suppose we take our affairs
into our own hands. Suppose we
agree this hour to be absolutely truth
full with each other?"
lit will make me happy, Katherine.
Uncle told me Mowbray had gone of
to America; he inferred he had been
forced to go-that he was not the man
he pretended to. be. Are these things
SOP"
II will tell you the whole story,
jamie" and sitting erect and looking
her old lover full in the face, she ex-
planned to him the circumstances
which had taken his rival to Texas.
"Did he do right, Jamie?" she asked.
eyes. He did what I should have
expected him to do. He has stolen
your heart, Katherine, from me, but I
am not cad enough to deny him the
beauty and the good qualities he pos.
sesses. Yet, oh, Katherine, I wished
you loved rue as you love him!"
"I do not love you, and I cannot
love you in that way, Jamie. What is
more, you do not love me as Richard
Mowbray loves me. I am not sun,
moon. and stars, heaven and earth,
life and death to you. I am to Rich
ard. There never was time when
my coming into the room made oil
the room sensitive to you; when my
voice made you smile and cease speak
ing; when my touch made music
through your being, as the touch of
fingers on the harp-strings do. You
and I have never been in love with
each other. Why should we pretend
We have?"
"oh, Katherine, lis that true Of
me?"
"Quite true, my friend. You adj
mired my beauty; your vanity was
flattered by Jack Netherby and 9TH
ers asking when you were going to
take the flower of Gala Water to
Winton House, by rhymsters making
silly doggerel verses like
up and down gaed jamie Wlntoun,
Proud and happy he weel may be,
To win the Flower OF Gala Water,
BeautyAnd boast OF the North Countreop
but even if you were proud and happy,
you never loved me-"
"Have you resolved, then, not to
marry me?"
"Yes."
"And to marry Richard Mowbray?"
eyes"
Then jamie looked sad and trou-
bled. He believed himself to be suf-
fering very much. He had some re-
mote, vague, swift passing idea. of
taking her rather roughly to task, aad
vowing never to give her up. But it
was ON idea without vitality. He let
itgo. The modification of her deser
ton was the thought that made him
flush, and nervously bite his under
lip; but even this had some compen-
sation. His uncle would suffer in
the public gossip for more than he
would.
"You are thinking of what people
will say?" inquired Katherine.
eyes, there will be talk without
end. I do not care much. It's no
ones business but yours and mine"
Jamie, have you courage to take
the horns of this dilemma in your own
hands-to be. my friend--to be
Richards friend-to help US escape
your uncle's interference" Then she
took his hand and said, coaxingly:
Jamie! I need your help. Think
that I nm your little sister. For my
sake will you Try and like Richard?
He is such q noble, generous, truth
full man."
II never said or thought different.
But it is not fair, Katherine, to ask
me to like the man who has stolen
your love from me-"
Let TINT pass. Will you help us?
No one CON help us as much as you
can"