The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-06-27

my dear, you Will uaNo 81 hooP oAA
YOUR talents for home use; fortunately,
we have daughters. But, I'm afraid
you'll have to be looking for another
governess."
"Just what I have been thinking!
However, I shall wait till the present
one gives warning. Dolores has not
yet told me of her engagementto Lord
Harold"
"And he seems to have quite for
gotten his object in coming to Cali
fornia. Has he any news yet OF LORD
Clarence Stanley?"
"Oh, don'tspeak of him! He never
will, that's all fearful mystery. But
I can't explain-I dare mott isn't
my secret, Travers, therefore 1 must
keep it to myself" -,
"For goodness sake do, then!" said
her husband, with devout earnestness,
'though, if you do, it will be the first
time"
Mrs. Travers sighed deeply, and
turned away with closely compressed
lips. Dolores had explained :great
many things to her, and they had both
concluded that for the sake of Polly
Hamilton, neither of them could speak
to Lord Harold of the man who called
himself Clarence Stanley, "though,
even if he has married Miss Hamilton,
the secret will be out sas soon as
he claims his title in England.
How T wish Dolores would let me
take Travers into our confidence. l
would like to look at the whole mat
ter from a mans point of view"
She walked to the other side of the
wide piazza and stood looking over
the prospect of distant mountains and
undulating valleys, now sere and yell
low from the dry heat of summer, al
though flowers, both wild and cultl-
vated, were in full bloom in every
direction.
"It is too early yet to hope for
rain," she said, aloud; fearing If she
kept silence that her secret-which
she was quite frantic to share with
her husband-would, by the very
pressure Of that desire, escape from
her keeping. "How fine the young
orange trees on that level slope near
the base of Old Saddleback are look
ing; I can feel the odor of the bios
SONS as far off as where I am now"
Mr.. Travers smiled at this transpar.
ent effort on the part of his wife to
keep from talking on a more congen-
ial subject.
"Well," he said, "orange blossoms
will be quite in order, according to
your present surmise; and I am glad
the bridegroom is not likely to be that
rather luny protege of yours, Van
Tassel, though must admit that the
fellow more than earns his keep
He has excellent abilities, and since I
have put him on rs kind of overseer,
the workmen, both white and yellow,
in every department of our ranch, at
tend to their business in most sat-
isfactory manner"
"Do they really, now, Travers"
exclaimed his wife. II am very glad
to hearit! But it was quite absurd
in both of us-you and me-to imag-
inc any such nonsense in regard to
Van Tassel. Poor fellow! He was
complete wreck when Dolores took
him in.charge. He had been in the
power of horrid man who had hyp-
nc tized him, and by means of his un-
ca any influence over him could make
him do almost as he pleased. Oh, it
was horrible! The very thought OF
such thing frightens me; and the
poor fellow is now as completely un-
der the influence OF Dolores; but hers
is all for good. She makes everyone
better and nobler."
| Mrs. Travers turned, and saw the
professor approaching them, quickly,
but without any appearance of excite
! ment; and the few months during
which he had been engaged in regu-
lar and interesting work, and under
the soothing and elevating influence
of Dolores Mendoza, had, in
deed, make a new man of him.
Mrs. Travers observed that he was
growing good looking; and though it
was ridiculous to think of him as
possible lover for Dolores, there was
no reason in the world why some wom-
an would not yet fall in love with the
| amiable little Professor Van Tassel.
"It is for the senorita," he said,
holding up letter as he reached the
veranda; and coming toward Mrs.
Travers, he extended the letter toward
her. 'See, Madam, the post-mark
shows that it is from New York, and
the handwriting is that of lady; and
T am sure there is only one lady in
New York who would be writing to
Dolores Mendoza.
"Oh, Mr.. Van Tassel! Yes, indeed,
you are rightl' exclaimed Mrs. Trav.
ers, sharing his thoughts Immediate
| ly. "And she will be SO glad to get
that letter. So very glad! Can't you
take it to her at once? She is out
walking with Lord Harold. They
have gone toward the trees. You
know where. The haunted syca-
moresw And she pointed toward the
avenue of roses and Towering shrubs
through which she had seen the lovers
disappear in the direction of the up
per end of the long, wide canyon. II
am sure you could overtake them, for
they were walking very slowly"
Van Tassel needed no urging, and
bowlng hastily to Mrs. Travers, he
turned in the direction she had indi-
Gated and walked rapidly away, nor
did he moderate his pace until he saw
before him the two persons of whom
he was in quest. Lord Harold Moray