The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-03-19

ure for her new home, Cleve Randolph
had sought her society constantly. and
with lovers eagerness.
But suddenly he came no more, nor
did he send any explanation Of his
seeming neglect.
They had parted last after o merry
party, when he had walked back with
her to her own door.
It was a walk which would remsin
vivid aud thrilling 10 her memory un.
til her last heartbeat should be stilled
forever.
The old moon. an opal crescent,
swung low In the west. The big
white stars glowed like sparks OF liv-
ing flame. The subtitle smells and
sounds Of spring were all about them.
And they loitered on their way, silent
with excess Of ecstacy; while the
stony street, with its walls of brick
aud iron, was AL enchanted path
through wonderland Of delight.
At the end Of that rapturous walk,
for the first time In all that happy
winter, he drew her close within bis
arms, and kissed her responsive lips.
my own, my best and dearest" he
Whispered.
And to Rilla, the most solemn be-
trothal VOWS could not have been
more sacred than that ki.s. She be-
Iieved that It had sealed them to each
other for all time.
And from that hour she had never
seen him and never heard from him.
Now, rs she knelt there weeping In
y, ot >f
that kiss shamed her to the soul.
or course he had never really cared
for her! Very likely he had been
amused by her simplicity in believing
that he was serious in his seeming
partiality for her!
Oh, how could she meet him again
and endure the agony of it? Would
he notice how changed she was ?
How mean ana shabby were the gar
ments which useo to be 80 fastidiously
elegant?
The pain Of meeting him might be
less acute II she could only make her
self beautiful and dainty In hiS sight ?
A girl could compel . man 10
respect and admire her, even IL he
does not love her!
She wondered ut herself that her
mind should recur to that trifiing mat.
ter Of self adornment when her heart
vas 90 tortured, her life's desolation 80
complete aud 80 bitterly realized.
She was learning, poor child, that
il Is trifies, that 1t Ia the most frivolous
coucerns Of the world, which some
times lure us from our sorrow, and 80
keep the heart from breaking.
"Hs Is Horatia's lover now. and !
suppose cannot avoid him entirely.
and I cannot let him see me looking
TOO shabby" she said to herself for
lornly, as she at length opened the
door 10 her little closet which contain.
ed her depleted wardrobe. but my
black silk gown 10 nice yet, and per
haps can evolve an Easter bonnet
out of my own ingenuity and plenty
of excellent odds and ends. My taste
In such matters isn't bad, II ] do LAY
It myself"
A fragment Of rich black velvet, q
scrap Of palest pink satin, and q
quantity OF expensive black lace, COM
pose the materials from which she
produced the urgently needed bonnet.
But 1t was O very creditable work
and Rilla viewed It with pardonable
satisfaction.
"Only I must have an aigrette, OF
something OF the sort" she thought
rerplexedly, land I have nothing no.
less I use that silver butterfly.
1t was her one and only gift from
Cleve Randolph.
But II he does not love. II he never
cared for me, as / must believe, he has
forgotten all about It,, and it isn't an
expensive article" was the thought
which quie,ed her delicate scruples
about using II 30 conspicuously.
The ornament was Of filagree silver,
set with bload red Bohemian garnets,
aud much larger than the butterfiy's
natural size.
Poised above bunch OF delicate
pink oxalis flowers, 1t made an ex-
quisiie decoration for Rilla's Easter
bonnet.
But she Uas not at all eagpr to dis
play her pretty headgear among oil
the grand millinery which frightened
the sombre old church on that Easter
morning.
II dare say you would be anxious
enough to 20 II nobody wanted you"
Horatis grumbled. "But you are to
carry my wrap and umbrella, and that
settles your freak of staying at home"
Horatia had never ventured before
to demand q maids service Of her
Young relative, and for an instant
Rilla's great, limpid gray eyes flashed
fire.
But after all, what did 1t matter
What did anything matter since love
had failed her?
She stifed the Indignant refusal on
her lips. And although she sighed q
little rebelliously, she picked up the
articles and then followed her cousin
from the house.
IL expect CIeve, the dear fellow, will
oyertake me. One Of his most de.
IiRhtful attentions was bis fashion oI
meeting me OH the way, and walking
with me to church," said Horatia,
who could recall q single event OF The
kind.
On this occasion she did not get a
glimpse Of the young man until after
the services, and then he showed nc
inclination to approach her. nor any
sign that he was aware OF her exis.
tence.
He stood little apart, his face
strangely pale, and his blue eyes fixed
upon q tall beautiful girl, who seemed
curiously eager to reach the street, and
wore an Easter bonnet ornamented
with silver butterfly.
1t was upon the ornament, In facl
that the strange and passionately in
tent look was directed, for the girl's
face was turned from him.
Suddantv ho aiarfas} forward with