The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-07-25
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}The Odd Filing About It.
By Owen oliver.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

enu OF the 1amt, craDDeQ WTlllAS caule
together, and then I suppose ! fell
asleep. I woke at the sound of Vera
Rutherford's voice.
The oddsthing about it is that I
don't really dlBlikeshim at ALL"
You viii eHhe next that he
doesn't reaH dislike you" said Maud
Leslie, with unhelieviog laugh.
Il am afta sSaid Vera, there is
no doubt aboat t." 1 could have
pointed ont. gTa ;S kubts, but I WASH t
more than ha Fake. Besides I
couldn't be quite sure that they re-
ferred to me.
Did you sal afraid,' Ve:"
@You need quibble over my
words, she answered impatiently.
Gear Old Vep said Maud in a mo-
ment. Here again should have pre-
tended that I had just woke up and
announced myself.
Il bate him" Vera observed incon'
sisteltly.
sd" said Maud heartily. do II" I
could not we'll proclaim my presence
after. these remarks.
iT5 "At least, think DO"
Pm sure 1 do" said Maud posi-.
lively. Il consider him horrible"
lob, Maud. You know he isn't"
9 @He must be, or he wouldn't be so
rude to you!"
"I-I provoke him, you see"
& "That is no excuse at all. Look at
gthe way he contradicted you about
those Tuscan vases, or whatever you
call them"
Il contradicted him first"
"Why shouldn't you?"
.n'Because-he was right"
(which made it all the more annoy
Ing"
"Yes," said Vera, with a sigh. I
wisned I had let her have her own
way. sSK
Never mind, dear. You rcfuted him
about those silly pre-somethinS-or-
other things"
Moo; I didn't. really"
"Oh, but you did! Papa and every
, one laughed about it." Confound
/ them!
.sAh but-I,was sorry, and he knew
it.
"Nonsense, Te~
DIDN'T YOU hear what he said to
Sir Garvfn o'Brien about them after
ward? If you remember
Il don't. 3. l didn't understand a
word ofstheir gibberish, and didn't
want to-" SQuite right, Miss Maud:
women shouldn't dabhle in antiGui-
ties. Then they wouldn't quarrel with
antiquarians.
Anyhow. it disposed Of my theory
completely
Then, why didn't you say it at tie
time
"Prohably he thought me beneath
argument" AS Il matter Of fact had.
for once. made an effort TO be magnani-
nous and spare her feelings.
He is great deal too superior y
stated Maud. | felt myself biushing.
He really knows Il great deal" sug-
gcstcd Vera. timidly. l made up my
mind not TO quarrel with her any
more.
".A lot of antiqTatcd rubbish of no
use TO any one" scoffed Maud. |
could feel that she was tossing her
head. lack calls him the lumber
room" Jack is a young ass.
Il dent agree" said Vera. hotly.
"Tack iS-'
NO, he isn't" He's very nearly en-
gagged to .1aud.
Il charming and intelligent fellow. l
was going to say.
NASTY little story-tcllcr." I thought
they were going TO quarrel, but they
didn't.
We'll, III admit the learning OF
Your Mr.. Norton" said Mabel. when
they had done laughing, "but--'
He isn't my Mr.. Norton" Vera OBJ
icc;cd. There was further pause. If
M:rd had gone l should have felt in
clincd TO come out ard place MI. Nor
ton" at pretty Ncra's disposal. but
Maud didn't 60.
DO YOU really ike him, old Fe:'
she asked.
"Only just a little.'
Sure
Il can't sec what you Ike in him. y
protested Maud. imna,ientlE. Ties
forty. 1T least" Thirty-scyen only
Miss Maud.
II don't care if lie is He looks
young"
Hes full of ccrccit.' That really
WAS 4 mistake.
"Oh. Maudia! OF course. he can't
! belp knowing that he knows things
"Rubbishy antiquities! l beg yonl
nardor. dear old girl, for attacking
your Subject but they are. Anyhow
| I don't believe he knows half SO mufl
! about them as you do
"That." said Vera. lis utterly alb
7 do not deceive myself upon
point"
have been studying antiGu
twenty wears. She has da
Their, fer Two. Her friends(
suadrd hrr that she was an ii
and she had posed 4 little I'd