The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-11-26

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things I slowly returned to my room to
prepare for the excursion to Tarry.
town-which luckily I had not done be-
fore. for my uncle's practical illustra-
tion Of the way was to deal with old
John Adams would have wrecked the
toilet Of Suffolk farm laborer.
At half.past ten aunt Gertrude and
Miss Marsh entered the drawing room.
where I awaited them In some trep!da.
ton, for knew that my uncle had not
seen either Of these ladies since he had
arranged for me to accompany them
to Tarrytown. and 1t was quite posi-
BILE that they might depart without
me, or that my company might be less
agreeable to them than my uncle had
represented. These fears were at
once dispelled by aunt Gertrude. who.
coming forward to greet me. assured
me Of the pleasure. with which she
had Just learned that was to be their
companion for the day.
I expressed my thanks, and at the
same time my surprise that she should
know of this, for I was sure that she
could not have seen her husband SINCE
I saw him leave the house.
"Oh, you don't quite understand"
said aunt Gertrude. laughing. my hus-
band il now Mt his office, and he has
lust been talking to me by telephone"
Both ladies' were dressed ready to
depart, and looked very charming. par
ticularly Miss Marsh. who stood near
to the open door. giving sundry pats
and twitches toa refractory rose which
could not be easily induced to repose
In the bosom Of q white muslin dress
to the satisfaction Of Its mistress. As
I observed this beautiful but silent
girl waiting while her sister and I
were talking. ! did not think. and
could not then have believed that It
was she moved uncle Sam to furnish
me with an introduction to Mrs. Van
Rensselaer,. That knowledge did not
come to me till long after. A vile Is
lavish Of confession from which
maid would shrink.
The journey to the dock In my un.
cle's carriage did not occupy many
minutes. Arrived there We at once
went on board my unele's yacht-a
small steamer. exquisitely designed
and superbly fitted. floating palace
In miniature. The hour appointed for
our departure had not yet arrived. but
steam being up, and the captain. un'
derstanding that our party was COM
plete. the gangway was at once raised.
and the Iroquois slowly steamed out
from among the trading steamships by
which she was surrounded and bore
round into the North River.
September and October are the most
pleasant months In North America.
Then the fierce glare Of summer has
subsided. and the air Is dry, clear and
exhiIarating. and the foliage assumes
q beautiful golden tint. In snch sea-
son journey aF the Hudson River Ii
a very delightful experience. The
American Rhine. as the Hudson Is
sometimes called. IL inferior to the
German Rhine in nothing but histori-
cal associations. though even In this
respect II is not destitute. PERCEPTIONS
banks. rising to a height Of from 800
to 500 feet. for the most part thickly
wooded, among which here and there
nestles q picturesque village or elegant
mansion standing in its own highly
cultivated grounds, enchant the eyes
Of the stranger for many miles along
It's course. Speaking for myself
must say that remember few II any
days In my life upon which have ex.
perierced greater pleasure than was
mine on the particular thirteenth Of
September Of which now write.
That the companionship Of my Con.
stance q had already once or twice so
addressed. Miss Marsh and she had not
demurred to the style). had much to
do with my satisfaction must be imme.
diately admitted. Aunt Gertrude.
with admirable tact. had begged Con-
stance and me to excuse her continu-
ing the perusal Of an interesting book
which she had brought with her, and
we (heaven bless our charity saw At
to graciously grant the desired pardon.
upon which she took seat at the aft.
and vouchsRfed Us no further notice
until our arrival at Tarrytown.'
The few hou,s remaining to me In
America were rapidly wasting away.
and I felt that could not tell Con.
stance Of my resolve to return ut once
to England without at the same time
informing her Of the reason for my
sudden departure. This now pro-
ceeded to do. Having already acquaint-
ed her with the story Of the sequins
did not have to again 60 through that
wearisome recital. but merely related
uncle Sans view Of the case and the
advice which he had given me.
And must you really leave for Eng
land 80 soon as the day after to-mor.
row." asked Constance. looking up al
me reproachfully. why. Ernest. dear.
you have only just come here"
II am sorry I must" replied, "but
will stay in England only SO long as
II takes to recover those sequins. and
win then return to you by the first
steamer"
"why. you may never recover them!
How much are the old coins worth, all
of them. wherever they are:" inquired
Constance.
almost a hundred and seventeen
thousand pounds" answered.
"Oh. / don't understand that" said