The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-04-19
CHAPTER VI.

to be a necessary defence against his
uncle's tyranny. For the laird, hav-
ing, as he thought, succeeded in COM
pelling his family to accept his plans
for their and his own interest, became
very authoritative, and fused and
fumed about every petty circumstance
and was more and more difficult to
manage, as Mrs. Brathous made more
frequent demands upon him for money
for Katherine's bridal outfit. Every
check brought forth dispute. Every
ornament was 'senseless extrava-
gance." He was worried by the dress.
makers in aud out of the house, and
by Katherine's inexplicable good
spirits, and more still by Wintoun's
determination not to discuss with him
those small details of the expected
event which seemed so important to
the laird's nature-the kind of wine
and wedding cake and wedding cards,
the people to be asked and neglected,
the length and route of the marriage
tour, etc.
On the morning of the twenty-fifth
of September, Mrs. Brathous was sit.
ting in her room, despondent and
worried to On extreme degree. Her
easy, sanguine disposition had led
her, thus far, in the daily anticipa-
ton of something happening" for
she had supreme reliance upon that
good fortune which looks after people
who trust their affairs to it. But in
five days a. document must come,
which would be social shock up and
down Gala Water. And if Wintoun
deserted her daughter for Jessy Tel.
fair, and Mowbray, for any reason, did
not keep his appointment, she felt
that the chagrin would be intolerable,
and her husbands anger so just that
for once she would be unable to meet
him with her usual weapons.
One of those sudden sick fears that
frequently attack the heart just be-
fore all reason for fear is taken away,
had smitten her in the night, and she
had anticipated the looks and words
of all her acquaintsnces, the gossip,
true and untrue, that would ring
from house to house, the passion OF
rage that would knock Brathous
against every human creature; the
ministers calm reproaches regarding
his own daughter-really, that morn
ing sho was feeling as if she might be
q very wicked woman. And Kather-
inc did not appear at breakfast. She
had "gone for walk" her maid said !;
and Mrs. Brathous gratiied her lord
by a very sincere anger at the girl and
her unconventional way.
"Drabbling her skirts and shoes in
tue dew, like q milking-maid," she
said, fretfully. "It is absurd"
"My dear, she is the Flower OF
Gala Water" said Brathous, satiri-
cally, "and needs the dew"
The remark turned the lady's wrath
upon the speaker, and, after dis
agreeable meal, she had retired to her
room to think things over, until
finally she felt half inclined to make q
clean breast of the whole affair.
About ten o'clock Katherine en-
tered the room like streak of sun
shine from Iran. She was dressed
e1quisitely in pale-blue, with white
ssters in her hat and at her waist.
Her starry eyes, her delightful smile,
her rosy face, her air of perfect happi-
ness, were, for the moment, irritat-
ing.
"Oh, Katheriney" cried Mrs.
Brathous; but she got no further.
Katherine was kissing the complaint
off her lips.
"He has come, mammal" she
cried. eve are going to see him!
Get dressed, mamma; well help you!
He is waiting to see mo! Every mo-
ment is an hour"
tDo be sensible, child. Do you
mean that Richard Mowbray has
come? Where is he?"
"He is staying with jamie Win
toun. Will you please believe that,
of all things? Jessy got jamie to meet
him at the train and take him to Win
toun as his guest"
"Katherine, what shame!"
'No; Jamie and Richard have to be
brothers, and they may as we'll begin
ut once. Jessy and I could not have
our husbands hating each other"
Then Mrs. Brathous laughed, and
began to get interested.
'You see, also, mamma, my guard
ian willn ever think oflooking for Rich.
ard ut Wintoun; but he has been at
the hotel at Galashiels every day, late
1y, asking for him. Jamie found that
out, and told us, and so Jessy said
You must meet Mr.. Mowbray, jamie
]ove, and ask him to stay at Wintoun.
And when sho had whispered to Win
toun, jamie nodded and smiled and
met him last night at the midnight
train"
"Jamic is an angel of light, Rather
ine."
''He is q very good man. Jess!
kissed him for being so good. MOI
generally good for compensation.
"How are we to get to Wintour
House? And I will not SO by the
lnanse, for Doctor Tclfair's face hurt!
me. When lie finds out about Jessy
7 shall shut myself in my ROOM"
"Jessy is here, and the pony-car
riage is waiting. You can drive, man
ma."
Then the toilet went rapidly for
ward, aad tho laird was astonished tc
see his wife como downstairs in til,
sweetests of moods and dressed for (
drive.
eve are going to ride over to Win
toun, Alexander" she said, "and VI