The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-03-08

| you 90. lou KNOW you 90.
Come, Katherine;" and though the
laird stood up and struck the table
with his closed hand, and even mildly
8 wore little, the ladies went calmly
out of his presence, leaving him with
out single promise, and with very
positive sense of defeat.
But the opportunity to explain and
defend himself was an absolute neces-
sity of his nature, and he was sorry
now that he had written to the minis
ter. It was above al things desirable
that he should have his good word
and support.
However" he mentally concluded,
'I will just ride over to the manse.
will go on my Barbary mare with
my man in the Levens livery behind
me. Telfair will give in bit to that,
and when 1.-The Laird of Levens-
hope-say few words with ring OF
apology in them, the minister will be
glad enough to put the ofense away
with whaff of the hand or a polite
word OF the like of that. For it is
true as Gospel that the minister is
just nobody without the laird be.
hind him."
He put on his tightest-ftting riding.
coat and his Dent saddle-gl called
his Barbary mare and his man Archi.
bald, and rode proudly down the main
avenue. Before he reached the big
gates he met the minister's man with
the minister's letter. 1t was blow the
second and rather harder to meet than
his wife's defence.
"Such like letter." he muttered
when he had read it through. 'The
man writes to me as if I was very
sinner. The comely humility of a
Presbyter' indeed! A more prelatic
spirit could not be found in a High
Episcopal. I am Just distracted with
the insult. Levens-hope in his parish
and spiritual jurisdiction Humph!3-
m'f-m'f!" and snorting out his def
ance of this truth he turned his finely
caparisoned animal to Wintoun House.
he found Jamie in precisely the
mood he desired. The young man
was feeling hurt and wronged, and his
uncle's sympathy was sweet and his
l,omises comforting.
cit is all in your own hands,
jamie" he said, "the woman you love
and the estate which it would break
both our hearts to see rouped and
Sold"
"I will do anything reasonable. un-
Gle, but I do not like to give Rather
inc pain or annoyance of any kind"
katherine does not know her own
mind. She has no idea of what is good
for her. No girl at her age has.
Fathers and mothers and guardians
have to watch them as if they had the
death fever. At nineteen years Of age
the whole generations of women go
demented about the man of their
choice; they always have and they al
ways will. It is kind of crisis; get
them over it and they take gratefully
the sensible husband selected for
them. You have been too kind with
Katherine. Be more masterful. Make
her take good fortune from your
hands, and when che is married she
will come to her senses and thank you.
I had to take the mastery with her
mother. I have to do so yet, jamie.
T had to do it this morning" he added,
with mendacious self-complacencY
that did not impose upon his nephew.
II was thinking of going to Swift
erland for few months. I have heard
that climbing glaciers is cure for
love-"
"And leave the ground to your rival?
I wish I could give you some OF my
spirit. On the contrary, be Mt Levens-
hope early and late. Keep every priv
ilege you have gained with tight
grip. Tell Katherine you want to be
married in September. Speak of Paris
and Rome and st. Petersburg and the
North Pole, if it suits her for a we'd
ding trip. Send her rings and brooches
of all kinds. Get the whole country
side talking of your marriage; most
women would rather die than have
people say their wedding was broken
off. Man, jamie! If you let that fell
low, Mowbray, steal your wife, you
may just as we'll give him your estate;
and if you let Wintoun slip, I am not
likely to trust you with Levens-hope."
"Do not threaten, uncle; I need
neither threats nor promises where
Katherine is concerned"
TO BE CONTINUED. 7