The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-09-28


not sat down in years. It's just like
her, remembering about sitting down
this morning when l am OH my way
to the station to take the train to Lon
don to see my old friend Amelia LewcS.
intending to let my niece drive the
phacton home. But now l shall be
afraid to let Barbara return alone, and
Amelia leaves London for Liverpool at
one. and l would give the world to
see her, as ! may never see her again
for years"
Il am only going around the curve
to the station Reynolds suggested;
Il am ell route Tor the Potters. 1t
would give Me great pleasure to see
your niece safely home"
There is no need in the world Of
anyone accompanying me" said the
young lady with great decision. Eliza
would not hurt 1 fly. I really prefer
driving alone
That is like YOU, Barbara. You are
| always so brave cried Miss Milly.
But remember, love. that l am olCer
| dllll IuOlS 1lCl NoIS III IN - ~
nolds so kindly offers l accept for you,
Barbara, and I insist IN you availing
yourself of his kindness"
You are perfectly right. Miss BlitEe.
1t would not be safe. to say the least.
for Miss Perry to attempt to return
home alone. ami far from inconvenience
ing me. it would be il great PLEASURE"
urged the young man.
He seated himself upon a fallen tree
trunk and slipped tie cover from his
banjo. keeping his eyes fixed upon a
portion OF the landscape where it was
impossible for them t. encounter the
eyes OF Miss AIilly'S niece.
\ moment later 4 particularly viva
| cious Rule. Britannia" entered the
Somnolent country atmosphere. Some
thing in the eXultant strains Of the
melody caused Miss Barbara to gather
her pretty brows.
Eliza. however. vas unfcigne1ly
pleased. At the first notes her ears
t%vitcheG. assuming an upright atti-
tudc suggestive OF earnest attention.
At "Rritons, never she turned
her head and regarded the player with
what appeared to be unqualified APP
prevail. Slowly gathering her forces
together. she rose in ! dignitied manncr
III the first chorus. end drew the Dha-
elton from the track.
The spectators chcered. The guard
shouted a warning. Il genera. scramble
for seats cnsucd, and Miss Milly had
Just time enough to ensconce the new
protector in the phaeton, while she
took the vacant place in the train.
When the last carriage had rounded
the curve and become lost to view with
Miss Milly's handkerchief fluttering
like i white moth from one Of the rear
windows, Miss Perry gathered ~ the
reinS.
do you mean" she said. addressing
the empty air directly in front of the
phaeton, "that you will continue to
force yourself upon ne t&c entire dis
tanca home:'
II promised Miss Biitilc to take you
home in safety. and, of course, I mean
10 fulfil my promise"
But my aunt is gone now with. 4
perfectly easy mind. \ child of two
could drive Eliza, and l really prefer
going alone
Il couldn't reconcile it with my con-
science. You might net with some
accident. and then how could 1 face
Miss Blithe: One lever knows what
will happen-especially in driving eX-
circus horses"
IF you are determined 10 be so nor
rid. the best thing / can do is to get
hnme as soon as POSSIBLE" remarked
the young lady.
For some moments they drove Oh in
silence. When the voice came again
from the left-hand of the phaeton it
had undergone Il change. 1t was posi-
lively humble.
please don't be so hard on me-" it
pleaded. The temptation was really
too much-a whole ride with you when
Id been trying for weeks 10 sec you
and couldn't"
AS the whip hand side had nothing
apparently to adI, the left hand re-
sumai.
"You don't know how sorry I was
about that affair ut the seaside, and
how l suffered after l cooled down. l
admit it was all my fault, and I wrote
to you begging you to forgive me-. But
you scnt the letter back unopened.
Isn't there anything l can do to win
back your good opinion? Id do any
thing YOU say, TO matter what"
You might get out of the carriage
and allow me to go OH alone. should
really appreciate that said the whip
;iand with instant readiness.
Whatever the left hand intended to
say in reply was left unsaid, for at
this point the phaeton stopped sudden
ly. Eliza was sitting down again.
Reynolds fell back upon the seat and
howled. The situation soon proved
too much for his companion also. They
laughed together until Eliza cooked
her ears in establishment.
Good old Eliza" cried the young
man when he had partially recovered.
''She knows a thing or two. She won't
bulge u step until l play Rule, Brit
2nnjG.' and l will never play q note of
il until you invite me to accompany
-nu the rest OF the way
You won't take 4 mean advantage
like tEat, sureiH"