The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-03-01

with Mowbray and Wintoun went over
the hill for Jessy, and the result was
precisely what Mrs. Brathous antici-
pated. Jessy and Wintoun walked
back together, and Katherine and
Mowbray turned aside into Leven's
wood to see saint 8 well ; and then they
were delayed by the roaring of no
toriously lll-tempered bull, and could
not reach home until an hour later.
For it had taken Mowbray all that ex-
ira time to pnt the circle of gems on
Katherine's finger and to tell her how
long and dreary the two days had
been without her.
The delay, however, made the laird
very angry, and he did not scruple to
scold Katherine for it on their return.
'sIt was not Miss Janfarie's fault,
sir" said Mowbray, quickly. "Pray
do not let your position as host make
you blame her in my place. I asked
Miss Janfarie to show me the saints
we'll. Neither of US is responsible
for the furious animal you keep so
near the high-road and whick-permit
me to say-ought to be shot at once"
"Mr. Mowbray, you are stranger.
Your ignorance is your apology. As
for Katherine, and he looked an
grily at the girl, who stood with her
hand in Mowbray's hand.
Then Mowbray's dark eyes flashed
a defiance which the laird might have
quarreled with had not Mrs. Brathous
stepped between them with her charm
ing smile.
'Mr. Mowbray, Jessyis waiting for
you. Katherine, you are keeping
jamie waiting for you. And if you
want me to play reel, you had bet
ter make haste while am in the mood
of being good-natured."
In spite of her merry words there
was look of anxious depreciation in
her eyes, which both Katherine and
Mowbray respected; for she knew with
what magical speed suspicion grew in
her husbands mind. He had enter
tanned doubt, twenty would follow,
and confirmation be close behind. So,
though her fingers struck out the
tingling notes, and the light feet of
the happy dancers kept time to them,
she could see the anger and dislike
brooding in her lords white, weak
face; and when he suddenly left the
parlor she knew he had gone to his
room to walk himself into passion of
injury.
1t was upon her the storm fell.
"Near midnight" he cried, when
she entered the room. ga woman of
your age dating and dancing till such
hours!"
"Why not scold the minister? He
thought no harm Of our dating and
dancing.".
"He didn't? Then ne ought to have
reprimand, and will see that he
gets it."
81 hope you will" :,
There was threat in the ''hope"
which was provoking. The laird
felt it.
katherine behaved herself shame
fully" be continued.
"Let Katherine alone"
81 am her guardian.
sI am her mother"
'sShe was making love to that Eng
lishman. I saw her."
"you know nothing about love-mak-
ing"
MADAM! Madaml I-II"
"You know nothing about it."
"I made love to you"
"You did not. If you had even tried
I never could have married you. You
asked me to be your wife, and agreed
because ycu were Katherine's guar
dian-and I thought it would be as
well to watch the guardian"
"This is intolerabie! I will not
bear it,"
TT is the truth. You will have to
bear itr'
cit is shameful! shameful! shame
full"
cit is shameful that I have to in
vent excuses for your bad manners
every time we have company. There
is no use in storming and smiling,
Alexander.
81 will not have that Englishman in
my ouse'again. Twill order the SER
wants to turn him out"
"You, yourself, asked him here. If
any servant turns him out, I will turn
tho servant after him -
GA nobody! An adventurer! Oh,
dear met What dreadful thing it is
to have kind heart!"
"You said he was the son OF your
friend. If he is an adventurer, what
right had you to introduce him to my
daughter? A fine guardian you are!
And as for your kind heart, no one
ever was or ever will be better of it.
There is no use sitting up to worry,
Alexander. Every one in the house is
asleep, and I am going to my room"
81 shall not slsep wink. How can
I with such goings on?"
"You will sleep we'll enough. You
might as well. Nobody will mind your
staying awake. Goodnight"
But in reality he did not sleep
much. He was troubled and anxious
about Wintoun's affairs, for after Alex
ander Brathous he regarded James
Wintoun as the person ofmost import
ance. He was his sisters son, and be
looked upon him as his own heir. His
with Katherine was the pet
project of his life, for Katherine's
money would redeem Wintoun-Lands,
and besides this Katherine was one of
the best blood of the Border, and her