The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-02-22
HE FLOWER OF
GALA WATER.
CHAPTER III.
a sLOVE ESTORY..i
.SBY AMELIA {. BARR.
1- QnrdH
CONTINUED.

CONTINUED.
He looked at the pretty, bright girl
tanding before him, and he could not
help admiring her. He also liked her
lecture. It brought flush of color to
his cheeks and very pleasant warmth
70 his heart She was the incarnation
sf hope and resolution; and her trig
weed suit, her soft derby with its one
eroct eagles feather and her gloved
hands seemed to express to him the
Idea of enterprise-of something to be
done.
ct will act in whatever way you
think best, Jessy," he said; 'that is,
will do as we'll as I can. I do not
know how Uncle Brathous will take
ny call. He told me to leave his
house, and he has not sent for me
again"
"Are you waiting for a gracious
word from this son of Nabal?' He
has not such a thing in his keeping.
But I warrant he is longing to see
you, for the number of people who
care for his company is very small in
heed. Beck and bow a bit to his
iordship; there is no shame in humor-
ing spoiled man for your own ends.
And in order to see Katherine you
must see Brathous. Put your pride
In your pocket and tell Katherine you
have done it for her sake. You may
be in real love, Jamie, but it is clear
TO me you do not know the first thing
about making real love-"
"What is the first thing, Jessy?"
"Ask Katherine that question and
look in her face the way you are look
ing now and she will maybe answer
you. Such a coat as you have on!
Such old slippers on your neat little
feet! You ought to think shame of
yourself, jamie, for none can look bet
ter than you can if you take the least
trouble TO look WELL"
':I wish Katherine thought so.
Mowbray is a very handsome man. "
"He is different from you, but he is
not handsomer. He has brown eyes
and you have blue; he has black hair
and you have brown. You are both
slender, and you are the taller. It is
q matter of taste. Most women would
think you the better looking. T am
sure you have the best heart and the
best temper. T dare say also, if it
comes to the main argument, you have
the longest purse. It is not lady-like
to bet, you know, Jamie, or I would
bet on you"
ct ought to wait for the minister's
return." =
eft is not necessary. I will make q
proper excuse for you. Father will
talk to Tom Tytler for IN hour if they
get to socialism, and somehow even
the Bible leads men there nowadays.
can amuse myself with the piano."
and she gave him bright nod of dis
missal, and began to sing, with q
mocking lamentation:
"Oh, Love, you've been villain, since the
days OF Troy and Helen;
Wien you caused the fall OF Paris, and Of
very many more"
He went away laughing at her i'm
peachment, and Jessy did not finish
the verse. Her face grew sombre,
even sad. She lifted book, opened
it upside down, and pretended to
read. The agitation of self-conscious-
ness made her uncomfortable; and
she knew that she had been playing q
part.
"I do not care much for jamie my
SELF" she said; then she suddenly
flung down the book and went into the
garden. The tone of her own voice
frightened and informed her, for there
was undoubtedly in it that curiously
unsatisfactory ring which may always
be heard in the remuneration of the
unaccepted.
As she walked restlessly to and fro
Bhe saw Wintoul so out of the court
yard on his finest horse, aud she stood
still and watched him ride at steady
gallop over the hills.
"He is good man and he has sem
sible mind, though he is never in the
Clouds" she thought. "Poor Jamie
If he only had wings and q little sacred
fire, then Katherine might love him.
What has Mowbray that he has not?
Just that sacred fire that glows and
warns and makes woman's heart
like wax before its flame. I am glad
Re did not look at me-nor sigh for
me-maybe I would have caught love
from him, too"
Evidently Wintoun had not this
sScred flame to impart to Katherine;
indeed, Jessy had often noticed that
he was cold and ill at ease in the pres
ence of Katherine. And this morning
he was subjected to peculiarly adverse
influence. The laird, indeed, vel
coined him with unmistakable pleasure,
but the laird had been very unpleasant
to his wife and stepdaughter all the
morning, and both of them regarded
Wintoun's unexpected visitas golden
opportunity fer revenging his uncle's
bad temper.
They therefore received the young
man with formal politeness which was
chilling. Mrs. Brathous asked after
his cold and his lungs, and then be-
came absorbed in Katherine's en-
broidery. Katherine gave him her
hand and O few sympathetic platitudes
and returned to her consultation about
colors with her mother. Then the
2airG made some contemptuous re-
marks ABOUT women, and Mrs. Brath-
ous left the room, while Katherine
bent lower over her work, aud Win
,toun was miserably conscious of his