The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-28

riers, farmers and cattle-drovers all
the year round, while in the months
Of July and August its little bar was
thronged with the denizens Of the
Mile-end Road, who take their pleas
ure in brakes, with concertinas and
howls and discordant songs.
A few late visitors of this sort were
in the little bar when Clifford and
Otto entered. But there was no sign
of Jordan. Both the young men
looked with curiosity at the woman
who was serving behind the bar, a
portly young woman with ready
tongue, who in her sturdy build and
large coarse hands, as well as in the
weather-beaten look Of her complexion
betrayed that she was accustomed to
fill up her time, wheH work was SLACK
inside the house, with outdoor labor
of the toughest kind.
When the two friends came out they
looked at each other in disgust.
"She isn't even young" cried Otto.
Nearer thirty-fve than twenty-five,
I'll swear"
"And her voice! And her detestable
Kentish accentr' added Clifford.
"And those high cheekbones, and that
short nose! It's a type I loathe-the
type Of the common shrew."
II shouldn't have thought it Of Jor-
danw murmured Otto, in pity tenn
pered with indignation.
"But where is the rufian himself?'
asked Clifford, stopping short. do
you think we are on q wrong scent,
after all?"
IF it were anybody but Jordan, I
should say yes" said Otto, deliberate
ly. But his susceptibility is so colos.
sal that see no reason to doubt even
this"
Nevertheless he following Clifford.
when the latter turned baeH toward
the little bridge.
There's a cottage" said the more
humane King, "a little cottage by the
roadside. Let US see If we can dis
cern q petticoat in the neighborhood
Of that. We may be doing the poor
chap an injustice, after ALL"
But before they reached the cottage
the attention Of the two young p-en
was arrested by tine sound of a girls
voice on the left, just before they
reached the bridge. 1t was a voice so
bright, 80 sweet, with ;uch a sugges-
tion Of bubbling laughter in its tones,
that they both stopped short and
looked at each other with faces AZ: D.
rcmorse.
That's Nell" said Otto.
1--WE have done him a cruel wrong"
murmured Clifford.
And with one accord they bent their
steps in the direction Of the voice, and
after getting over wooden paling by
the roadside, scattering colony Of
fowls on the other side, and making
their way over the rough grass beside
the river where the boats were drawn
up which carried excursionists to
Fleet Castle, they came upon wood
en- shed, and strong smell Of pitch,
and two human figures. The one was
Jordan, coatless, with his straw hat
tilted to the back of his head tar
brush In one hand and tin can in the
other, engaged in the humble but use
full task of covering the cow-shed with
new coat Of pitch.
But his two friends scarcely glanced
at him. 1t was the other figure that
absorbed all their powers or visior-a
slender girl in print frock, with a
white cotton blousd and an enormous
straw hat. This !7as the Neil VINO
wasted the time Of half the young
men of Stroan, and who would have
wasted the time Of half the young
men Of London If they had only once
seen her. A beauty Of pure Saxon type
she was, with the opaque white skin
which the sun does not scorch or ced-
den, with rose-pink cheeks, child's
pouting mouth, and big blue eyes that
made a young man hold his breath.
Her hair had turned since childhood
from f1axen to deeper tint. and was
about her an air Of refinement as well
as modesty which could not fail to as
tonish a stranger who found her in
these strange circumstances. She saw
the newcomers long before poor Jor-
dan did, and she watched them aD-
proach while the unfortunate artist
tOiled on at his ingloriouS task.
Perhaps the girl had seen the three
young men together; perhaps it was
only feminine quickness OF wit which
made her jump to the right conclu-
sion.
II think there are some friends OF
yours coming this way, Mr.. Jordan"
she said, in voice as refined as he--
appearance and manner.
ho Nor4;nro1