The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-23
By MISS ANNIE EDWARDS
CHAPTER XII.
Latent %JealousieS.

Love. Well, on thai point the less
said the better, perhaps" remarks
Aunt Hosie, dryly. Jealousy, tits evil
15ent is a sentiment out Of date. A pair
Of old-fashioned sweethearts will soon,
IL take it, be objects for a museum, and
IsWhat was courtship? a question for a
competitive examination in archaeol-
pgy."
Three days have elapsed since the
dinner party on board the Liberia and,
Through the lozenged windows of the
| Misses Vansittarts' parlor the western
sun shines upon the unwonted sight
of a company-expectant household;
shines upon Daphne, her fair arms
barred to the elbow as she piles up
dish after dish of strawberries and
flowers; upon Aunt HoSie, somewhat
flushed in the face, and holding little
paper parcels of the best, seldom-used
silver in her hands.
'The queer thing is" she proceeds.
|pausing of a sudden in her work, and
booking significantly across at her
~niece's face-"the queer thing is, that,
having abandoned the old-fashioned
illusion Of love, young women should
retain so firm and eager a faith in the
iold-fashioned institution Of marriage!
but these contradictions are the mark
of the age People sneer at their
BIBLES and are firm believers in Plan
ehette. Oblige me, Daphne, by ar
hanging your flowers so as to bring
kIr. Felix Broughton as little before
my sight as possible. At ffty-siS
years old'-whenever Aunt Hosie is
ht all out of temper win the World
Ibr its goings on, she makes these kinds
opf raids upon her own age-"at fifty
Six years old n ought to know, to
have grown callous to every new de-
Eelopment of human folly. Unfortu-
hately, I have not done So. An eye
Elassed dandy, monosyllabically toler-
bnt Of the universe, myself included,
Dis what I cannot abide"
For the last time the principal actors
En- this small, drama have agreed to
meet together. Sir John Severne,
called away on settlement business by
$his lawyers, will quit the island to-
morrow morning. Felix Broughton
is to start for Paris q few hours later.
THE Liberia, wind and. wave permit
hing, will leave for conger fishing off
Chaupie's toward noon In another
four-and-twenty hours Daphne Chester
alone will be left-left to live out the
bid, blank, s~elf-colored life Of Fief-de-
ka-Reine, to hear the motiVeless fall
lDf the waves, watch the rose leaves
hutter and die around the sun dial;
left to stagnate, as she used to do be-
fore Severne's coming had brought
back human warmth and vitality into
The sluggish currents of her existence.
"An old wom:n's opinions signify
nothing" pursues Aunt Hosie, as she
distributes round the forks and spoons.
Fan old woman's opinions signify
hothing-hanpily for Mr.. Broughton-
80 long as young and pretty girls are
content to listen to the words Of wis
dom that fall from lis lips. Although,
how a person is cultivated as Miss
Hardcastle. not to speak Of yourself
you are listening to me. Daphne?-how
Eoung women, d%estitut: neither Of
parts nor education, can hold out the
encouragement they do to an empty
headed creature like Cousin Felix
passes my comprehension"
I should premise that during the past
three days Felix Rroughton and Miss
Rardcastle have, through n seeming
accident or another, fingered away the
greater portion of their time at Fief-
de-la-Reine. Aunt Hosie has, in con-
sequence, had ample opportunity for
verifying her judgments in the matter
pf modern love-making and modern
iovers. The drift Of her remarks will
suffice to show in what direction these
Judgments tend.
Felix Broughton may not be a Sol
pmon," says Mrs. Chester, IF he were,
don't suppose he would care to talk
DO me. AS for his eye-glass, I cannot
BEE that short sight is a proof of shall
low brains. Besides, how good he is
10 Paul! Always something in his
pockets for the child-always."
"Don't take the unnecessary trouble
If accusing yourself by these excuses"
Interrupts Aunt Hosie. coolly. Daphne
Chester is no more in love with Mr..
Felix Broughton than Ciementina
Hardcastle is in love with Sir John
Severne. 1t would be quite impossible
for me to find stronger language in
which to express myself"
Daphne hides her face away behind
he shelter of a bowl she has been Law
SHY filling with roses, pinks and hon
eysuckles.
"Miss Hardcastle is to become Sir
8 ohm Severne's wife some time in Au-
Eust-oh, there is no doubt about it,
eune Hosie! The dresses are ordered,
he color of the bridesmaids bonnets
lecided IN. For aught we can tell, it
may not be the fashion for engaged
people to pay open attention to each
bther."
1luhlah hatuAe 10 tue ldaulou d.
ways" cries Aunt Hosie, suddenly
abandoning her tone of banter. do
Eou think, if Miss H%ardcastle loved Sir
ohm Severne, she would tolerate his
ukewarm attentions for a day? Do
Fou think she would not show jeal-
busy-yes, I dare use the word-hon-
st, natural, commendable jealousy, of
walks by sunrise, walks between 5
nd 4 o'clock on a June morning, with
5 woman as young and we'll looking
s YOURSELF"
ID -. H.. l1-. 4h.,,sI 49,. 1oIo.