The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-03-12

JOHN WlNTHROP'S DEFEAT.
n Nouel
JEAN KATE LUDLUM.
pp1nieur. RonxRT BoxxLn's SoSf. 1893.

"Oh, but we're not away from II.
Althea," moaned poor little pretty bess
Catherwcod, with reproachful eyes.
We're just right in the very MIDST
OF It.! I'll never again come do"n 10
the sen in summer-never, never. nev-
er! It's too dreadful"
you'll forget all about 1t tomorrow
when the sun shines" said Leland.
comfortingly. in nm undertone. bur
you're not to forget, wicked little
Bess. that you have given me your
promise tonight"
"Oh, dearr' she cried, w-etcheGly.
dear, dear. dear! II you'll keep me
safe through this. Lane Leland. I'll
never be bad to you again! Ill just
love you forever and ever! mn so
afraid"
WELL" he said. calmly. II shall re-
mind you Of this, II you do forget.
Bess. I cannot be patient forever, you
know"
But she could not quarrel with him.
for she was too terrified. and only
lifted those great black reproachful
eyes Of hers TO his with q grievet.
curve to her red lips. that gave him o
deplorable feeling Of base ingratitude.
and caused him to be infinitely tender
to her for that time.
Il am not q fatalist-no." said Ale
cia. smiling. in reply to Althea's re-
mark. 1T isn't that, my dear. but II
there Is need for him to so would
not keep him. would not have him
a coward. you know. even to save his
life"
That's like you." said Clara Brad
ley. softly. Il never saw another
woman to equal you. Mrs. Graham!
But I'm not brave, and ! don't want
to be in such a horrible storm. Just
think Of our being cut of from home
by all that water. with no way Of get
ting there should We wish. and the
hotel liable to be washed away"
"There Is the lighthouse" said
Alecia. quietly. If the worst should
come-which isn't probable-we could
60 there. you know. That wouldn't
be washed away"
"Oh. but you don't know" protested
Miss Clara. fretfully. And. besides.
we would all be blown into pieces be-
fore we could set there. I tell you it's
awful to be here In a storm"
IN not let you come then. next sum-
mer. Clare" said Ninette. roguishly,
IN tell Uncle Hallett what coward
you are. and he'll cut you OF from
his will without 80 much as enough to
buy q bonnet, and then what will you
do"
What do care about bonnets:" re-
torted Clara. with fearful eyes. lin
such a storm as this. Ninette Bradley :?
But you will be mean. mean girl II
you tell Uncle Hallet anything. nev-
er do"
Her sister laughed. They all knew
sufficiently well Clara Bradley's PAS
sion for bonnets.
"Oh, this is simply dreadful! cried
Miss Catberwood. starting to her feet
with her hands over her ears. her
face deepening in pallor with fear. as
a peal Of thunder crashed overhead.
shaking the building. and thundered
on and across the water into the far
distance and was still. THE lightning
Is bad enough. but 1t isn't anything
compared with the thunder. You
ought to be ashamed to laugh and
talk about bonnets in this storm, you
wicked girls"
We'll, it's very nice to have bonnets
in clear weather. anyway" retorted
Kathryn Franklin. And we're not
wicked to talk about them. you little
craven"
Everybody Is so unkind to me-"
said Bess. pitifuliy. with quiveriHg
lips that brought her lovers heart to
still deeper subjection. because I'm
afraid Of thunder. l can't help II. l
didn't make myself. II had. maybe
Id have made myself more like you.
Alecia. or like Kathryn"
Poor little thing" said Alecia, kind
ly. with quick sympathy. us she rose
and crossed over to the girl. her hand
touching lightly the curly dark head
rs she stopped and kissed the soft
cheek nearest her. Poor little thing.
1t Is unkind to be unk!nd to you"
And you're such a dear" whis-
pered Bess. impulsively. catching the
soft hand from her head and dragging
1t down to her lips. You're such
dear-and so beautiful. Mrs. Graham"
Lane Leland looked shamefully jeal.
Gus Of all ;lis privilege. and Bess.
knowing this very Well. even In her
fear could not resist being the least
bit wicked.
1T Is so nice to have people COM
fort one instead Of teasing" added this
small tyraEt. with her red lips and
great eyes and eloquent face lifted to
the beautiful woman above her. az
she held the caressing hand between
her own two hands. 1T Is SO sweet
Of you. Mrs. Graham. to understand
just little me-
Just Little Me was wicIedly under.
standing CT what was in her lovers
heart. He had taunted her with being
cruel and forsetful. and. although she
needed his colnparionsh!p and strength
too much 10 quarrel with him. she
could repay him cor I'll sights most
cruelty.
Probably Mrs. Graham understood
that quite rs well rs Miss Catlcrwood
herself. Anyway. she laughed us she
pat,ed with her other hand the two