The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-01-18

"This Mr.. Mowbray is not very
much older than I am"
"rhen tits Richard Mowbray's son.
Dear me! How the days go by!
Look to the dinner, Jessy; the young
man will eat it with US. I will give
you half an hour, my dear"
.Jessy was glad of the interval. She
carried the trout to the kitchen to be
broiled, and then ran to her room to
change the gray winsey she wore for
something pretty in silk and plush.
She made her black hair trihe more
fluffy and pinned her gold brooch in
her lace at her throat. And with her
brighter garments she put on bright
er spirit, a more hospitable manner
and intent. Yet through all her
toilet she was thinking of Katherine
wishing she would come-wondering
what Mr.. Mowbray would think of
her-speculating as to what Katherine
would think of him-inventing little
romance in which certain Jamie
Wintoun interfered considerably-and
feeling, to a large extent, all the ex-
citement of her imaginations.
Then she fastened downstairs and
found the dinner on the table, and her
father and Mr.. Mowbray just entering
the dining-room. They were talking
politics, and the elder man was quite
excited.
"You are just deaf and blind
Tory, Mr.. Mowbray," he said, "and
your father was one before you. You
cannot discern the signs Of the times
any better than the Tories of two
thousand years ago could. Go to Ga
lashiels and bide among the weavers q
wee. They will give you something
to think about"
"It is matter enough for thought,
sir, to see the men who marched the
Border for centuries take to a loom
and shuttle. ButI cannot understand
how it was possible to make Radicals
and Socialists out of them"
"Man, they were aye that and moth
ing else. Generations ago their fore
fathers anticipated the pleasant theo-
ries of Mr.. George and Mr.. Hyndman,
and had persuasion that all property
was common by law of nature, and
was therefore liable to be appropri-
ated by them In fact, the Border
men have always favored the good old
plan that
"They should take who have the power,
And they should keep who can."
And the minister. smiling, helped
himself to another goodly portion OF
broiled trout. The sentiment called
for an example, and he gave it.
So the wordy warfare went on
throughout dinner until the quiet,
dreamful old manse had the aura of
town hall at election time. All the
political and social struggles of the
day and hour filed the little room,
and Jesgy heard, as afar off. such
stimulating, irritating names as Glad
stone, Salisbury, Parnell, Labouchere,
until this restless atmosphere of the
present was suddenly invaded by a
voice from the restless atmosphere
of the pasta clear, sweet voice sing.
ing an old Border lilt:
For a. that, and a. that,
And twice as much as a. that,
Well harry the cattle and malt and grain,
And over the Border hame againP'
At the first line there was q sudden
silence, and a smile flashed over the
minister's disputatious face. Jessy
looked OF him and she, too, was
smiling. Mowbray glanced from
father to daughter, interested and
curious, and the merry voice came
nearer and nearer. In q few moments
the door of the room opened, and
Katherine Janfarie stood in it's place,
like picture in frame. The song
was yet upon her lips and the music
of it on her face.
Mowbray felt his heart leap, and he
rose to his feet. It was an uncon.
scious and involuntary homage, for
the girl was marvelously beautiful, an
exquisite little creature, with face
fresh and radiant as a new-blown
flower, eyes like two stars, and lips
that were made to kiss. Some fine
instinct had taught her to robe her
self this spring day in the very colors
of the spring. A dark-greenish dress
of scottish cashmere fell straight to her
feet, but the plated vest was OF pale
primrose silk. She had in her hands
little basket of rushes filled with
fresh primroses, and she looked like
On angel of the flowers.
But the loveliness words describe
so tediously was an instant revelation
to eyes and hearts, and Katherine had
not crossed the room ere Richard
Now bray was conscious of some new
element in his existence. Through
all his being the full tide of love swept
like a fateful fire with irresistible
surge and flow, and he was carried off
his feet-far beyond his reason-by
its unforeseen impetuosity. Even
when the minister spoke her name to
him, and he was conscious that she
was at his side and looking into his
face, he was not able to collect or con-
troll his outward manhood. The fire
she had kindled in his heart radiated
from his eyes, aud she dropped her
eyes beneath their gaze, and was
vaguely troubled and yet pleased by
the mysterious shock they gave her.
A moment or two of embarrassment
followed the meeting, but the minister
quickly relieved it with very COM
monplace remark.
81 thought you had new pony,
Katherine" he said, "and I was sure
you would be just distracted to ride
him over here"
"I had also new hat, sir, and the