The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-09
By MISS ANNIE EDWARDsl
X.
The Liberia.

The Liberia.
Miss Theodore is thrown into a per-
feet iutter of surprise and agitation on
hearing of the sudden stroke Of good
fortune that has befallen Daphne.
An invitation to dine on board a
Sacht-a large steam yacht, too-Mai-
ire Andre, shipping his potatoes at the
new harbor, saw the Liberia enter the
roads, and has already brought full
particulars of her rig and tonnage to
Quernac. Quite impossible to say what
an introduction Of the kind may lead
to.
, Although as far as introductions
Co." says Theodore, Il entertain no
manner Of doubt that our papa was on
terms Of intimacy with the Jorning-
ham family. I %recollect, as though it
were yesterday, hearing him speak OF
them-Jorningham, was it, or BlenSln-
SOD? some name, at all events, or the
kind-and in his youth there was a
question, even Of his marrying one OF
the daughters Of the house. Now, just
to complete the ,chain Of condolences,
we must look up Lady Lydia"
One Of Theodore Vansittarts harm
less extravagances is an annual shil-
ling Peerage; a volume you would
think, not much in request at Fief-de-
ia-Reine, and yet from whose columns
of thickly strewn dates, capitals n
authorizations Theodore manages TO
extract the keenest interest Of her eX-
istence. AS long as we remain living
human creatures we cling, Of necessity,
to some ideal of happiness. Miss Theo-
dora's ideal to the last will be a famll-
iarty with dukes, lords, honorables,
and a knowledge of the families into
which they may choose to marry.
Looking up her subject with a de1'
terity born of habit, her finger soon
rests upon the page that sets forth
Lady Lydia Jorningham's credentials.
"Jorningham-Lady Lydia Tabitha
daug. Of the sixth Earl Of Killaloe,
born 1854, mar. 1875, Peter George Jor-
bingham, Esq"
And then the vital question Of aris-
tocracy set at rest, comes the minor
one Of how Daphne shall be conveyed
to the acme Of her approaching gran
deur. .
Daphne will do one Of two things"
says Aunt Hosie, with her accustomed
%trenchancy: walk to the harbor, q
matter Of close upon .our miles, with
the thermometer at seyenty-eight, or
ride there in the spring cart. For her
complexion's sake, if Jean Marie has
finished br.se-ing the upper field AUNT
Hosie's agricultural phrases are Of a
strictly composite order), and If Maltre
Andre has no better use for the mare
I should advise the spring cart"
1.-THE spring cart" echoes poor Theo-
dora, almost with tears "Well, WE'LL
before people Of ones " class, l sup
pose. n may afford to make a show
of poverty. If -1r. Jorningham's wife
were the daughter Of a cotton lord, we
must hire the barouche. Lady Lydia
will look upon the spring cart in the
light of an eccentricity."
Accordingly, shortly after Z o'clock
the "eccentricity" stands ready before
the porch; Jean Marie in his meeting
house black; Lisette, the stout, old
Normandy mare, who does the united
work of Ialf a dozen peasant farms,
in her best harness.
Daphne is dressed in q plain Holland
suit, and the straw hat trimmed with
white ribbon that she wear on Sun
-. ~ 4ho -s11orn ahuroh. hnr QdQrn.
ment a little nosegay Of Glove pinks
O in her waistbelt. As she turns to
nod a last farewell to Paul before
starting, Aunt Hosie cannot choose but
think-a new romance ever present be-
fore her mind-of that evening four
years ago when the girlish figure
tripped forth through the summer twi-
light, the girlish heart, credulous of all
things save wrongdoing or deceit, went
forth to meet its doom.
ut was a matter Of certainty that
people would find us out in time" OBJ
serves Theodore, gazing regretfully at
the conveyance which is to bear her
niece into the sacred neighborhood Of
an Earl's daughter, marveling visit
fully if any one could mistake Jean
Marie for a gentleman's servant out
of livery! "Likelier than not Lady
Lydia birmingham will invite some OF
Dnr family to accompany them when
they leave, and if I am wanted as a
chaperon, little as I like the sea, I shall
feel it a duty to go. Of course one
would want a yachting suit" muses.
Theodore. But a dozen yards of serge
ut one-and-siXpence and a couple Of
pieces of this fashionable white braid
would not be ruinouS."
"Me 60, too" cries Paul with n Of
the fine intuitions Of his age, connect
ing the word yachting with burnt al
monds. "Me so with Mamsey and the
grand Mussieu blonde who loves Mann
sey and little Paul"
The grand Mussieu blonde is no.
where to be seen when the spring cart
and it's occupants-hot, dusty and un-
aristocratic-reach the harbor. In his
place is Severne, with a baot and row-
ers ready in waiting to convey Mrs.
Chester to the Liberia.
Daphne jumps down, nothing
ashamed, from Jean Marie's side, and,
turning to Sir John, asks at what time
a dinner party that begins at eight is
likely to finish. Lisette will not, of
course, be taken out of Maitre Andres
stable again tonight; but Jean Marie,
by Aunt Hosie's special orders, is to
walk in from Fief-de-la-Renie to meet
her, and