The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-11-05
Continued.
CHAPTER XIX.

Continued.
As you please. Gilmer." replied the
gentleman whose powers OF observa.
tion were thus rudely aspersed; but
my dullness has permitted me to no
tice what marked attention Mr.. Price
pays to Miss Marsh; and that il SUBJ
feet ON which ] have heard nobody
speak. Look at them now! BY Jove.
be Is putting ring on her finger"
Wrong again." said Mr.. Gilmer:
che IL taking one or"
looked to the corner where Mr..
Price and Miss Marsh were standing
apart from the numerous small groups
into which the assemblnge was broken
up. The Inst speaker was right. To
my utter mystincation saw Mr.. Price
withdraw q ring from one Of the fin
gers Of Miss Marsh's left hand, q pro-
ceeding against which she seemed to
protest. But my rival succeeded In
obtaining the rins. though apparently
not without offending the lady; for
she TUNED from him In chilling man.
ner, and. walking across the room,
Joined her sister.
What could this mean? It looked
iike-nay. It must have been-a lovers
quarrel And yet how strange! Surely
no lady. and least Of all Constance
Marsh, would object to return to \
gentleman q ring which he no longer
desired her to wear; and It IL equally
certain NO gentleman would be SO un-
gracious as to press q lady to return
q ring which she desired to retain.
could make nothing Of It. and by
the blank looks Of my uncle and his
companions I concluded they were
equally at q loss.
"what do you say to that, Tru-
mani" asked Mr.. Mather. after q
pause.
Nothing" answered uncle Sam. 30
coldly that nobody cared to pursue
the subject further.
A minute or 90 afterwards our little
group broke up. Mr.. Rosenberg and
Mr.. O'Connor going over to Miss Ken
nedy and Miss Juarres, while uncle
Sam sought Miss Marsh. leaving me
with Mr.. Gilmerf and Mf. Mather.
I watched my uncle very closely.
and noticed that he questioned his
sister-in-law. She related something
to him; and while she was speaking
her mood seemed compounded Of vex-
alton and amusement, for at ONE mo-
ment she would frown and stamp her
little foot impatiently, and at another
break out into q merry laugh. Uncle
SANS face. ut hrsr serious, gradually
relaxed into q broad smile as be lis
tened, and Indicated q man relieved Of
some anxiety.
When he returned, he asked me to
take q seat by my aunt "She would
like to speak with you." he said. "and
cow is q good opportunity; see. she Is
alone. Go over there and sit down
By her"-a surprising request, for
Knew that my uncle had not exchanged
4 word with his wife Tor ut least an
hour. However. was only too
pleased to obey him; and for the next
ten or fifteen minutes enjoyed an
interesting chat with my amiable
youpg aunt; which occupation, agree
able a. 1t was. was yet more agree
ably interrupted by Miss Marsh, who
came and sat down by her sister.
Come her. DEAR" said aunt Ger
trude. as she made room for her SIS
ter on the settee; where have you
oeen all this long timer
"Ob, hiding away from that horrid
man." replied Mis- Marsh in tones Of
snmistakabls annoyance Herface was
aushed and her lips slightly parted.
and she was tanning herself with
vigor suggestive Of anger.
Hush! here 10 q friend Of Mr.. Price,
said aunt Gertrude. looking at me.
No. not at ALL" asserted; Il know
sery little Of him. and don't desire to
know more"
The sisters exchanged glances. Il
am glad Of that for your sake" said
Miss Marsh. He bothers me dread
fully whenever he comes here, and to-
day he has made me downright crc e."
How was thatT" inquired aunt Ger
trude.
He has q diamond" said Miss
Marsh-'a large, beautiful stone. be-
iieve, but I haven't properly looked ut
it-which he Is going to have set In
o ring for me. told him plainly that
I had an the jewelry required, and
would prefer not to accept It; but he
wouldn't heed my refusal. and asked
ME twenty times to lend him one Of
my rings as q guide to the size Of my
6nger. Finding really wouldn't do
90, he caught hold Of my hand unex-
pectedly, and drew from my finger
that little dress ring set with seven
pearls which poor dear ma used to
wear"
Oh, how / would have gloried in 60
ing to the Rev. MI. Evan Price. and
after demanding and receiving back
the ring he had taken from Miss
Marsh. administering condign thrash.
Ing to that relapsed humbug. But
such q course was not to be thought
Of, for Mr.. Price could have thrown
me out Of the window with the utmost
ease.
Never mind; he win return 1t to you,
Connie" said my aunt.
mo doubt; and the other ring that
{ don't want with II. But know
what to do with It." added the young