The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-01-25

be of bullocks," said Katherine, with
an air of disappointment. "Let us 60
into the house and sit with my mother.
And yet what perfect afternoon tits
for a walk!'
They were at the wide entrance
gate, and at Katherine's tone of re-
gret both turned and looked back
over the mountain-path they had just
trod. 1t was flushed with the most
delicate tints of green. There were
tufts of primroses where the meadow
was the dampest, and the air was full
of fragrance from the yellow blossoms
of the broom. The wan cold water
flashed and rippled with translucent
tints in the bursts of sunshine. The
ousels were fitting from stone to
stone, the linnets lifting in every
bush; and all over the grassy parapets
by the gates there was mist of blue
bells nodding in the soft wind well
core to spring. The loveliness,
freshness and the sweetness of the
scene went forever into Katherine's
memory, blending itself magically
with the face and voice of the stran-
ger who had walked by her side.
Slowly the girls went through the
garden together, stopping to admire
the white powdered auriculas and the
budding lilacs, and lingering long by
the pond, that was shadowed by the
large white thorn, for it was just
breaking into wonder of snowy bios
som. The house of Levens-hope
stood in the midst of the garden. It
was built of rough, weather-beaten
stones, touched here and there with
moss, and it was old enough and lone
some enough to be the habitation of
all the ghosts and dreams Katherine's
fancy gave it. But the interior had
an air of heavy, old-fashioned comfort,
frightened with many modern ele-
gancies, making it altogether satisfy
ing and even picturesque.
The girls went leisurely to a parlor
on the second floor, long, low room
with many windows and bright fire on
the hearth. Here they found Mrs.
Brathous. She was sitting in COM
Portable wicker chair, with basket of
tangled silks and worsteds onther lap.
As the girls entered she smiled and
pointed to them.
"Iwish I had been born good,
methodical creature" she said, with
a long sigh, ''for I would need to be
a very saint to unrsvel this weary
tangle and keep my temper the
while"
"Have you finished your screen at
last, Mrs. Brathous?" asked Jessy.
"I have, my dear. Some day also
I will finish my cooking book. You
say at last very wisely, Jessy,. for
little duties must give way to great
ones, and the writing of book or the
working of screen are things that
can keep, but wasteful servants require
to be watched and guided every hour
of the day. Did you meet the laird
as you. u.came through the garden?"
"He is gone with the minister and
an Englishman to see the Jersey
cows"
"An English gentleman?
eyes; the son of an old college &C.
quaintance.
"Then I must set by my worsteds
and look to the cake-basket and the
pantry-shelves."
She rose with the words and began
to put away her sewing materials.
Katherine looked lovingly after her
mother, who was an exceedingly pretty
woman, small and plump, and very
becomingly dressed in a plum colored
silk gown and little white-lace cap
tipping the abundant coils of her dark
brown hair.
"You might put on lighter frock,
Katherine" she said. Jamie Win
toun will be sure, someway or some
how, to find himself here, and then
there will be four pairs of feet for q
reel or two"
But though Katherine went to her
room ostensibly for this purpose, she
did not fulfill it.
"You could not look lovelier, Kath-
crime" said Jessy.
And Katherine touched the CASH
mere softly, and remembered that she
had put it on that afternoon fresh and
new. And dresses have their des-
TIMES. In this one she had spent the
most wonderful hour of her life, and
she would not alter ribbon or add a
brooch. Neither would she reason
with herself as to the "why" of this
resolve. The dress had had happy
beginning. To make question about
it might spoil all.
cit just suits you, Katherine" con-
tinued Jessy. cit Jumps to the eyes,
as your gowns usually do. So differ
ent to Clare Heriot's, which always
have secondhand look. Let us 60
into the garden. We can saunter
about in the sunshine until the laird
and the others come to US"
So Katherine replaced the sailor
hat, and threw around her shoulders
little red cloak, and as they went out
together Jessy said:
"There must be poets around taking
notes, for it was but yesterday read
O verse that was surely inspired by
you, Katherine
"'First, small cloak OF faded red;
Then soft dress of laurel green;
Then q beloved brown-rippled head,
With fair, sweet face the curls between
I wonder if I made it up myself; for I
tell you, Katherine, you turn every
one either into a poet or lover"
Then Katherine would have kissed
her friend, but the laird suddenly came
round private hedge, and the minis
ter called to his daughter, and Now