The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-09-04
CHAPTER II.

| CllnOrQ lOOkeu TOuRu, anu S1" Wv
ty Nell Claris standing beside the two
boats which he had pulled up on the
bank by her direction.
"I'm afraid it must have given you
a great deal Of trouble. One Of them
was nearly full of water, I know
"Why, yes, it wasn't too easy to get
them I'D, because the bank slopes, and
the earth is so Shiny just here. But
I'm very glad to have been able to 90
you the little service"
1T wasn't little service; 1t was a
great one" said Nell. with look
which Clifford felt to be Intoxicating.
At that moment he heard a souno
like a short, mocking laugh; and turn
ing, he saw the fisherman, with race
full of scornful amusement, punting
away slowly up stream toward Fleet
Castle. Clifford, though he felt. little
uneasy, was glad the man had gone.
Your friends have gone back to
Stroan," said Nell. who had blushed a
little, on her side, when she heard the
fisherman's contemptuous laugh.
"Is that a hint for me to follow their
example?"
"Oh, no, indeed. My uncle said, when
| I told him what you were doing for us,
that was to ask you to come in and
lave a cup of tea with us-if you
would condescend to accept an invita-
ton from an innkeeper and his niece"
Nell smiled little as she added these
| words; and the manner in which she
| uttered them showed so keen a per-
| ception of social distinctions that Cliff
ford was confirmed in his belief that
this girl was ridiculously out OF her
proper element in this wayside inn.
he followed her into a tiny sitting
| room at the back Of the inn, where
they were joined by her uncle, a bur-
| ly, iovial man with a round, red, hon
| est face, who was evidently very fond
Of his niece, although every word each
uttered seemed to emphasize the
strange difference in manners and
speech which existed between them.
Proud to know you, sir" said
George Claris, when Clifford held out
| his hand. Proud to know anybody
nv Nell thinks worth knowing. She's
mighty particular, is Nell. Lor', what
| wouldn't your friend, Mr.. Jordan
there, have given for an invite to tea
in here like this! Eh, Nell?"
Mel, blushed, and turned her uncle's
attention to his tea, while Clifford, IN
some surprise, enjoyed the knowledge
that he had cut Jordan out without
| even a struggle.
Nell herself explained this presently.
when her uncle had been called away
| by press of business in the bar, and the
two young people were left sitting to-
gether, looking through the open glass
door into the garden behind he inn.
"I'm afraid you will think didn't
treat your friend very we'll, after set
ting him to work to pitch that shed
for u.s." she said, with pretty blush
in her cheeks, as she looked down at
the table-cloth, and thus enabled Cliff
ford to see that her long, curled, gold
en-brown eyelashes were the prettiest
he had ever seen.
'T'm afraid he will think so," said
Clifford, with affected solemnity. u
think myself that, after such heavy
work as that, he did deserve a cup of
tea"
Nell looked up in some distress, her
blue eyes brighter with excitement,
and her voice quite tremulous in its
earnestness.
"Ah, you don't knowr' she said,
quickly. II am not ungrateful, but ]
am in a very difficult position, and ]
have to be careful how l treat people.
Don't you know yourself tha: great
mary men, gentlemen too-or they call
themselves so-think they have right
to treat q girl who lives at an inn off
ferently from other girls7 Surely you
must know that?'
Clifford grew red, conscious that the
| girl had penetrated a weak spot in
| Willie's social armor.
well, but
"Oh, you needn't say but" inter
| rupted Nell "You know it is true.
Now 1 don't want to say anything
against your friend; he is very nice,
and very good-natured; but"
You have to keep him in order"
said Clifford.
Eyes. I treat him just as I treat a
lot of these young men who come out
from Stroan just to idle about the
J place; as 1 treated you, to begin with"
And she gave him a pretty little Shy
| glance and smile, which set Clifford's
heart beating faster. II set them all
to work. 1t does them no harm, and it
does my uncle great deal Of good
Since I've been here" and she raised
her head triumphantly, hes been able
to do without man to look afte"
things"
Clifford could not help laughing.
"Why, you're a mascot; you bring
luck wherever you co." said he.
Indeed, like to think that I have
brought it to Uncle George" said the
girl. II may tell you-for everybody
knows it-that just before I came back
to him he was on the verge Of bank
ruptcy. and now," and she shot at
Clifford glance of triumph, "he has
bought another piece of land, and two
more COWS. and enlarged the stables.
and put money in the bank besides
What do you think Of that?"
"Why, think he is very lucky man
/ TO have such a niece" 5aid Clifford.
, more charmed every moment by the