The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-03-22

Richard. We are rich. Isl any mat.
ter which of US has the money? If I
was the minister's daughter, without
a penny of tocher, am sure you
would gladly marry mel"
"God knows I would, most gladlyl"
"Do you think, then, that I am less
unselfsh?"
"Your guardian"
"Will make trouble under any cir.
cumstances. He says that if I do not
marry Mr.. Wintoun by the end of Sep
tember he will send me to school or
make me chancery ward, or do some
other improbable OF disagreeable
thing. am not afraid of him; yet I
must affect to acquiesce, or else face a
sea of troubles and annoyances. Can
you be back before that date?"
eff am alive, will be back"
81 shall then be within sixteen
months of my emancipation. Is six
teen months too long a bridal trip in
countries where he cannot follow and
interfere with us?''
my love! My love! How happy
you make me!'
"You understand, then? I will be
your wife when you return. I do not
care whether you are squire or master.
I do not care for splendid wedding.
Jessy and I and you and the minister
are enough. Mamma will give us her,
consentand her blessing, and the bless
ing or banning of Mr.. Brathous will
make 10 difference. Do your part,
Richard, do it honorably, as you wish
to do it, and whether it leaves you rich
or poor, you will be just as welcome to
me-"
"You dear, brave girl! I feared you
would"
"No, Richard, you did not fear I
would fail you in the least. You know
better. AS for Mowbray, lit is yours,
I shall be glad for your sake. If it is
not, we will buy lovely site and build
up far finer home. Be true to me,
darling; that is all I ask"
They fingered until mid-afternoon
in the lonely wood, saying over and
over the same fond words; giving
again and again the same strong as
surances. But at last Mowbray knew
that they must part. There were no
tears and no lamentations; Katherine
was cheerful to the last~Woment, and
she sent him away %Ifh a heart tuned
to sweetest accoSN with her own: And
all things now seemed possible and
all things ySndurable, for La felt sure
that whatever he might lose, Rather
ins/was his forever. She had heard
his story without one doubt; she had
faced his poverty with her
wealth, and where his humility had
feared to ask for anything she had
planned happiness for both.
The journey across the Atlantic was
a summer sail, mere pleasure trip on
the water. He had only one annoy
ance, the sense that, time was flying
fast and he had so far to go and so
much to do. Yet the spirit Katherine
had inspired enabled him to enjoy the
marvels of the new, great wosldwhich
he saw and felt and which encompassed
him round about. His insular con-
ceptions of what was vast received
wondrous enlargement; for he felt
thas Europe had only shown him the
world in miniature, but thatin America
he had the archetype of all his dreams
of greatness.
IT am not astonished Thomas Now
bray gave up his rights in the Old
World for his franchise in the new
one," he thought; and the further he
travelled tho more confident be became
of his own position as Squire Of Now
bray. >.
All the way down the Mississippi
Valley his ideas expanded, his mind
enlarged; he searched his memory
continually for new words to express
his emotions. But when he breathed
at last the wondrous air of Western
Texas and tasted the freedom of its
life, he had not doubt or fear left.
For his fear had become an indiffer-
ence.
eff Thomas does want Mowbray,"
he thought, she can have the place
and all that belongs to it. Katherine
and Texas would be joy enough for
one mortal. We will make our bridal
trip here and choose some noble loca-
ton, with wide horizons and lofty
skies, and so build in paradise. Oh,
how the Flower of Gala Water would
bloom on the borders CT these honey
sucked creeks, pontooned over with
lilies!"
And the idea so enamored him that
he almost hoped his brother would
have a hankering for the gray, old
house of Mowbray, with its homely
air of Northern lands-would remem-
ber fondly the little river flashing
past it in swirIs of broken water full
of good bull trout; and the rounded
hills on which the plaided shepherds
watched patiently their flock Of wan
dering sheep.