The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-04-16

turning. would give Cora another sea-
son In the French city ere they re-
turned home.
Harold Graham had a sister. a Mrs.
Montague Glendenning. his only near
living relative. who. IN spite OF the
censure of her brothers carelessness.
believed him the handsomest and most
perfect gentleman the world contained.
next to her husband. She argued
spiritediy and well to prove him
blameless. and her love for Alicia was
as warm and whole-souled ps that
she held for her brother.
Consequently, residing just out OF
Paris in a delightful house. In Bijou,
Mrs. Montague Glendenning consid.
cred 1t her bounden duty and pleasure
to bold a grand reception to her hosts
of friends. that 50 they might meet
these friends OF hers from over the
water and break the solitude that
hangs about strangers In such a bril-.
liant city.
Her plan proving even more Of q
success than she had hoped. this re-
ception was but the first Of series
Of brilliant entertainments for the
benefit of the charming American
family and their friends. Cora, OF
course. was quite reckless as to the
number of her admirers; and Marion.
In her blonde repose, set on this guy
sister as a lily sets or a rose; while
beautiful. impulsive Beatrice. with
Althea and Kathryn. made up rs de.
lightful a group rs one could desire.
Mrs. Field often refused to join theff
gayeties, declaring that she would be
worn to skin and bone II she attempt
ed TO follow their life; but Mrs. Glen.
denning. more than pleased with Ale
cia's relatives, was ready to act as
chaperon for the group Of American
beauties.
Alecia, in her recent grief. could not
join these numberless dissipations,
and spent much of her time with her
mother. in driving about the city and
examining the public buildings.
So the winter passed. and summer
came with lingering along charming
shores and In the outer villages:
slimpses into the shriveled mysteries
Of Egypt mingled with quotations
from Shakespeare from the pretty lips
of the girls and the escorts. who
formed delightful party to travel
with the Fields; and, as the second
winter came upon them, 1t found them
once more in Paris and the whirling
world Of fashion.
Alecia during this time had regained
her old brilliance, although there was
IN undercurrent Of sorrow that gave
added charm to her manner and con.
vercation. She mingled more with
the social life this season, and there
were those who whispered that the
beautiful American widow might &c.
cept more than one suitor. were she
so disposed. But Alecia's heart was
still her husbands, and her worldly
knowledge saved her many friends
who might have been turned from her
had she given them the opportunity
Of offering her more than friendship.
She could be reserved as well as at
tractive. these men learned, and few
Cere changed from warm friendship
BY words Of love.
So far. nowhere had the Winthrops
crossed the path Of the Fields, and FOR
this Alecia was grateful.
Not that she had forgotten John
Winthrop-her husbands enemy. as
she called him in her thought-for for.
getfulness of him meant forgetfulness
of her old memory. She did think Of
him. Still, Alecia Graham never spoke
of John Winthrop. Her friends would
have scorned to bring his name into
their happy LIE. Silence settled over
his place In their memory. But silence
did not denote forgetfulness.
Beatrice had neither forgotten nor
forgiven him. although she. too. new.
er spoke Of him. She and Gregory
Bensonhurst had been faithful in the
correspondence agreed upon between
them during the stay abroad, and to
him Beatrice poured out her walls of
wrath against the man in words few
but fierce. Gregory Bensonhurst
often smiled over these bits of o fierce
spirit In the warm-hearted girl whom
he loved-for that he love- Beatrice
Field he discovered during his close
friendship with the family at the time
of Harold's failure. There was SO
much that was lovable and womanly
and tender about ner that this I'm
placable hatred toward John Winthrop
vas mast comprehending