The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-03-28
A NOVEL,.
Gr Mre. elizabeth G. Wiaser.
tceryrsh,. 3se: ard 1898. uy ROBERT Eossrns ssxs,
Isabella CASTELhR.l

~
constraint, at which Polly had blushed
and laughed, and then shaken her
pretty head. The next time such an
allusion had been made Stanley had
merely smiled, as "the easiest way
out of it," he told himself; and after
that his marriage with Polly Hamil-
ton, although not formally announced,
became talked about as matter Of
course. Mary Hamilton was very
happy in her engagement, and her
happiness flowed on all about her, and
she had taken herself quite seriously
to task for her neglect or Bertha Seton.
To remedy this she had first returned
the latter's call, and then, accom-
panied by Dolores, had made her
former intimate friend long visit. On
this occasion Miss Gaye kad been
present, and Notwithstanding the un-
complimentary opinion she had e1-
pressed of the charming Olive, Polly
Hamilton even included her in the
warmth of her new feelings.
Nothing could have suited Olive
Gaye better. She was at pains to
respond to Polly's polite advances
with all the tact and grace she pos
sessed, and the result was that the
four young girls very often exchanged
visits, and soon fell into the custom of
informal evenings together, which
we're nearly always spent at Polly's
house. because it was there that Clar-
ence Stanley made his call; and, as
hostess, Miss Hamilton was constant
~ cat home"
"Fate and I walk together, hand
in hand" Olive Gsye had once said,
in moment of supreme egotism; ; but
now, as often before, there seemed to
be some excuse for the remark. She
had wished to meet, Clarence Stanley,
and she had then wished for oppor-
tunity to study him at her leisure and
under the most favorable circum-
stances; and now the very cards she
would have chosen seemed carefully
selected and placed in her hand,
while she had simply to play them
out, one by one. l.sE Fl.
II hope Miss Seton and Olive
Gaye are not coming tonight, Polly?"
said Stanley, one evening, as he ac-
companied his fancee from the din
ner- table to the drawing-room. ,stI
think I should like to haveyou to my
self occasionally"
"Oh, Clarence!'' exclaimed Polly,
pleased by the sentiment, but fearing
that she might have to disappoint it,
IT am SO sorry! Ithought you liked
them" ia
Il like Miss sefton well enough.
Her friend IS one of the deep kind.
/ don't like that sort of woman"
Strange, now" said Polly, "I felt
like that myself the first, time met
Olive; but T got over it long ago.
She Just adores you, Clarence; she is
never done praising you,' and, she
added naively, 81 think that must be
why have grown to like her so
much. But she speaks of going to
Newport soon, and then we won't see
so much of her. They are coming in
tonight, she and Bertha, and they
are going to bring q friend with them,
a Mrs. Helmholtz. Such q beautiful
woman! Hark! That may be them
now."
And as she spoke, there was the
sound of the outer door opening and
closing, and then a buzz of girlish
voices, among which Stanley recog-
nized that of Olive Gaye. He turned
away impatiently and walked to the
farther end of the room as Mary Ham
ilton advanced to meet her friends.
But Olive Gage quickly followed
him and, slipping her hand within his
arm, drew him, an unwilling captive,
back toward Mary. Bertha and q
third--a tall, slender woman, whose
face was turned from him, but the
Hines of whose graceful neck and
shoulders smote him with recognition
like an electric shock, even before
she moved slowly round and bringing
her face toward him, exclaimed
sharply: -
"Carlos! My Carlos!" T. .