The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-06-20

IL.
claimed, ''forgive my intrusion, but L
saw you come out, and l have fol-
lowed you, because II have some
thing I-I--must tell you"
"I-I-trust there is nothing the
matter" remarked his lordship, look
ing embarrassed and conscious OF a
vague sense of alarm.
"I-I-cannot deceive you. A
great deal is the matter. And-it has
oil arisen out of our-our-foolish
mistake last night. I-I-have just
had a dr-dreadful interview with
that-that-odious Lady Slanderson!'
"The de-oh, I beg your pardon.
Blt-but-do you mean to soy that
she discovered ou-our-mistake?"
"She-she-thinks that she has
found out some-so mething dr-dread'
full about u.s."
And poor Mabel, unable to restrain
her feeling any longer, began to sob.
"Oh, dear! Pr-pray don't distress
yourself, Miss Wentwarp."
,"Oh, Lord Petersfeld, don't
know how I shall tell you the-the
shameful things Lady Slanderson said
to me. But-but-in justice to you,
as we'll as to myself, I must. lit
seems that she was upstairs last night
at-at most unfortunate moment,
and that-that-she saw me sl-sllE
out of your room-without my shoes
on!"
"Good heavens!" gasped his lord
ship in a tone of evident dismay.
"What a."
"And also," Mabel went on hur'
riedly as if anxious to finish her pain
full disclosure, "she waited up there,
spying in the dark, and saw you slip
out Of my room without your shoes
on!"
"But, surely" began Lord Peters
field.
"I-I-told her the truth, inter.
posed the girl. 81 explained every
thing. She-she-scofed at my
version. She said she would-would
publish the scandal to the four winds
of heaven. oh, Lord 'Petersfeld, |,
what is to be done?"
''But, surely" stammered Lord
| Petersfeld, who was naturally in 6
great state of mind, ''people will &C
accept our version rather than that oi
this vile scandsl-monger!"
"Alas," sobbed Mabel, 81 wish
thought so. You see, Lord Peters
field, I cannot help recognizing the
very unfortunate state of appearances.
She will say that if-if-we had-any
anything to conceal We should, Of
course, be ready with an explanation.
and that even at that our explanation
is lame and improbable. Besides,
she will enlarge and exaggerata and
and tell-falsehoods, until-oh,
had rather have died than have had
this happen!"
The viscount was silent for a min
ute. A sudden idea, born of the cir
cumstances, had flashed across hit
mind. He had never thought of Mabel
in this light before. He would moi
have done 80 now unless the situation
had forced it on him, but as he looked
at.her pretty, woeful face he realized
that it was not such an unwelcome
light in which to think of her after
all.
"My-my-dear Miss Mabel, II
might. for all that Lady Slanderson
knows to the contrary, have-have-
acquired the right to-to--take your
your slippars to your room"
: sT--T--what do you mean, LORD
Petersaeld?"
;s'Why," replied his lordsnip, blush
ing and stammering, eff + were--were
engaged to be married to you. Miss
Mabel, it.w-would make a--a--ditfer
ence wouldn't it?"
"Oh, no, Lord Peters6eld! No
that, not that" she cried, starting
away. .-ssEs4a
Couldn't you s-stand me at at
any price, then?"S gasped the viscount
painfully mortified.
ooh, yest Il lit was not that.
should--l mean I could not let yor
sacrifice youfself to--to--save my re
putation."
''It wouldn't be much of sacri
fce," said his lordship. ''tDo you
know. I am rather glad now that this
---this--unfortunate situation ha:
opened my eyes? It--it--shows me
something I didn't realize before. ]
Lob, Mabel, will you?"
''He is noble man, mamma, said
the newly engaged girl to her mother
a few hours later. "He-he-says he
didn't realize that he loved me till
this morning. And I did not realize
that-that-I loved him. If I had,
would n-never have played that horrid
practical joke upon him about his
his pumps. But when he-he-
sp-spoke to me I knew in moment
that that did love him. You will
| -will-never tell him that I meant il
originally for stupid hoax, willy
mamma, desr?" ....r
"Don't be afraid of that, NIB
Your old mother will not give YOU
away. It was risky sort of joke
wasn't it, though it has had the hap
piest results, as it seems TO have
opened both your eyes9"