The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-23
CHAPTER XIII.
Sand ~Eeling-Part I.


The tide is in a fitting condition for
the fishing expedition to start soon
after 9 o'clock; and, by some kind
of process of natural selection, the lit
tie party from Fief-de-la-Reire at once
breaks up into pairs. Jean Marie and
Margot, barefoot and armed with a
short kind of reaping hook, the regu-
lation %sand-eeling weapon, start on
ahead. Aunt Hosie, similarly equipped.
follows next, with Pere Andre. Then
come the legitimate lovers, experience
ing, if the depression of their manner
speak truth, more difficulty than COM
mon in finding pegs whereon to hang
the sweet banalaties of sentiment.
Daphne and Mr.. Broughton, slowly
sauntering, gayly chatting, secure in
the knowledge that they at least are
not legitimate lovers, follow last.
1t is one of the lowest tides of the
year, and scattered all across the
broad, white sands Of Quernec Bay are
groups of sand-eelers; the women pro.
yided with lanterns, and keeping, while
yet they may, to terra frma, the men
and lads waist deep across the eur.
rents, in their eagernesS to reach the
sand-eel banks of best renown before
their fellows.
The night is perfect, balmy as noon.
a faint breeze stirring from the east,
and illumined by the most glorious
Milky Way, a road of very silver,
spanning the whole arch of purple
heaven. By and by rises the MOON,
just behind the isolated tower of Ga.
brielles, and then-who shall say how
these things happen? Daphne discov.
erS that Sir John Severne has become
her companion, while the figures Of
Cousin Felix and Miss Hardcastle be-
come at each moment more indistinct
in the far distance.
Severne for her companion. and for
the last time-to-night, for very certain,
the ending Of their friendship! Well.
for a space they keep to commonplace
small talk, like two Indifferent &C.
quaintances looking forward to ses
each other tomorrow, and every sue.
ceeding morrow throughout the year
Daphne Chester knows, as we'll as
though the experience of q dozen Lon
don seasons had taught her, that for
people placed as they are placed, 81.
lence must be fraught with danger.
She knows this; she foresees. fills in
every pause dexteriously. Sir John
shall make no avoWal, shall utter no re.
grets to which Clementina Hardcastle
might not listen unpained.. So far hcl
resolutions are Of adamant. Unfortu.
nately, Severne has formed resolutions
also of adamant, and tending in a,
somewhat opposite direction to her
own.
You will be quite sure to write to
me, Mrs. Chester"
Severne waits for no opportune
break, chooses no safely negative
phrase with which to lead up to the
question. He puts it abruptly; just
after Daphne has rem arked that the
cousins are wandering from the way
wherein they should so, end as a mat
ter of duty must be followed and sci
straight.
"Broughton and Miss Hardcastle on
a wrong track? Oh, they will find
their way back to a right one, depend
upon it. without our assistance. Yes.
you will write to me, I know. You
have given me your word already that
you will do so. Still, it is pleasant to
hear good promises repeated twice
over"
You would not want the letter re-
peated twice over! Why, Aunt TLeo
dora says I don't talk English by gram.
mar rules, and as to writing"
"And you think I would ;a"Te your
letters, sentence by sentence, & die.
tionary and Lindley Murray at my
side?"
To be continued.