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

trangely auecteQ Dy talS sweep Ieal1-
sstion of mans capacity for a double
existence. For it was not so much
That something new had come into his
life. as that something old had been
returned to him. To love Katherine
lad been no fresh lesson he had found
her at first sight familiar, and the
tense of "right" in her had been the
Earliest sensation she inspired. Ad-
fration and affection followed quickly,
Dut he was certain the instant and
primal idea of his heart was that kath-
crime was anteriorly and inalienably
his own.
AS he stood feeling the sweetness
of this right, but not in any way rea-
soning about it, Jessy came to him.
"Where is Katherine?" she asked.
ssKatherine is mine forever" he an
swered, with the selfish irrelevancy of
q lover; for he had not yet been able
to consider Katherine with reference
to any person but himself.
"Well, then, Mr.. Mowbray," said
Jessy, eff you will take my advice you
will 90 and talk to Katherine's mother.
She is just most important person.
This is your happy hour, and all its
work will prosper. So do make the
most of it.
He went instantly to Mrs. Brathous.
She had just put on new summer
gown IN which she looked exceedingly
pretty, and she was in that charming
mood which a consciousness of good
looks inspires; so Mowbray was one
of those welcome guests who come
just at the right time. She made him
feel that she was glad to see him, and
he lost not one moment III opening
his case. He seated himself before
her, he spoke with an eloquence
which denied all objections. In q few
minutes he was holding her hands
and begging her to stand by Katherine
and himself against all odds. She
was not very easily persuaded. She
said Wintoun had looked on Katherine
as his future wife for nearly seven
years. She spoke of the laird's long,
unwavering determination to unite the
two estates by marriage. "For, Win
toun is his heir" he said; "and Win
toun-Lands and Levens-hope are no
mean patrimony." Mowbray, how
ever, had words far beyond her rea-
soning; he talked with his heart and
she grew silent. Then the tears came
to her eyes, and at this favorable mo-
ment Katherine entered the room and
slipped within her mothers arm and
laid her cheek against her mothers
breast.
Mrs. Brathous stopped and kissed
her child. She had begun then to
give way. And Mowbray's alteration
of the girl, his impetuosity, his de-
termination to take no denial were
irresistible. Undeniably, also, his
beauty was a silent but powerful
friend, for there seemed to be nat
ural fitness in the marriage of a man
30 handsome with girl so lovely. At
tho last Mrs. Brathous surrendered
Internationally.
eft is enough, Mr.. 'Mowbray," she
said. 'I am convinced by something
beyond your words. Ny heart is with
Katherine and you, and I will stand
by you to the very uttermost.
Then she stopped forward and
kissed the young man, and with the
kiss took him fully to her love and
trust.
After this happy settlement the day
went to Love and to Love only, for
the generous mother set the whole
household to this happy key. While
Katherine and Mowbray wandered in
the warm, sunny garden, she talked
to Jessy of the affair, and with her
own hands spread more festive
table.
"We will let them have q day or
two in paradise, Jessy," she said,
''for the laird will pull their happiness
to pieces as soon as he finds it out"
But for once good fortune was on
the side Of the lovers. Wintoun went
that very day to Dalkeith to assist at
the marriage OF friend, happily
oblivious of the stranger who was in
termeddling with his own marriage.
And the theological fray was more
fierce than had been anticipated; be-
fore each man of both clergy and laity
had said their say, four days had
elapsed, and even then return was q
little delayed, because the laird had
bought Galloway pony, and man
was to hire who could ride it over to
Levens-hope.
So 1t was Saturday evening when
Brathous reached home. He found
nothing to mar the peace and happi-
ness OF his return. Mowbray had
gone to Edinburgh to buy a betrothal
ring, and he intended to remain over
the Sabbath in the capital. Wintoun
was sitting with Mrs. Brathous and
Katherine, giving them an account of
the wedding he had attended, and all
three were in pleasant mood of well
come. Besides which he had the
further satisfaction of feeling that
throughout all his journey he had
seen no finer house, no more beauti-
full garden, no more admirably kept
farm than his own.
Sabbath increased his self-satisfac-
tion. The elders who had not been
to Selkirk were anxious to show him
attention. He put larger Offering
than usual in the plate, and was glad
he had done so when the minister
made an allusion to tie Selkirk meet
ing, and to their delegate, the laird of
Levens-hope. Then on Monday the
very thing happened which Katherine
had foreseen-Mowbray came to