The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-06-14

He did not see a chance for them, he
| wrote, for his uncle's antipathy to mar
riage appeared to increase. But, Il
young man added by postscript, the
professor had forwarded to Miss Nor
gan a case full of curious tablets they
| had discovered. bearing in cuneiform
| characters much ancient correspond
ence.
| When the package thus advised duly
| arrived. Miss Morgan opened it with
enthusiasm.
Can you really read this?' she
asked Madge, as she picked out a cake
Of baked clay. at looks like badly
made chocolate. with the marks of
hens feet on it,"
1t took the girl the greater part Of a
day to fully decipher the hieroglyphics;
but toward evening she brought the re-
| suit of her labors to her employer.
II think I have made out most of
it," she reported, hesitatingly, "but L
hardly like to tell you what it is"
"Read it at once" the other ordered.
eagerly. 81 am old enough to judge
for myself"
st is addressed in your name"
Madge, thus instructed. proceeded,
| with a blush. "'To Miriam. the we'll
beloved, the searcher, sendeth greet
ing"
go onp' cried Miss Morgan.
".My heart panteth as does a Syrian
ass under burdens. Name the nuptal
day. Then shall the teacher fly to the
taught, and the searcher seek his be-
loved,'"
Miss Morgan's face was a study Of
smiles in color.
"How poetical!" she exclaimed.
"How characteristic. What a dear
man to express it in such an uncom-
non way. I shall answer him at once"
Whereat Madge was discreetly silent.
but at the same time that she sent
away a letter from Miss Morgan to
Professor Kruse she posted one to Dun
ton from herself.
The result was startling. Some weeks
later came a cable from the professor
to say that he was returning, and,
shortly after, he arrived, accompanied
by his nephew. His first call was upon
Miss Morgan, who received him alone.
81 had your letter." he began aygk-
wardly, as soon as the first greetings
were over; "and to clear up the obvious
misunderstanding came home at once
acting, I may say, partly on my
nephew's advice"
misunderstanding! repeated the
lady, sharply.
ut is plain that I had-ah-no inten-
ton understanding you q tablet bear
ing a proposal of-ah-marriage 1000
years old-of-ah-adopting its senti-
ments."
Miss Morgan drew herself erect.
I'm MI. Dunton's presence, before
you left, you told me exactly the re-
verse" she retorted, with %acerbity,
"and your attentions otherwise, Pro-
lessor Kruse, have been extremely
marked. You have placed me in a very
false position"
1.-The error may not be irremediable,"
he stammered. clumsily. II have al
ways said, Miss Morgan-Miriam, that
no woman has W interested me as
you do, and that none had taken such
concern in my researches"
"And in you" murmured the lady.
en~couragingly.
Then suppose we let the tablet
stand as expressive of my feelings. Its
language is forid, but"
"You can try to keep it up" she sug-
gested boldly. 81 have lov-liked you
all along, Professor, and now my
money, as we'll as myself, will be able
to assist your Investigations"
The door opened to admit Madge
| Margetson and Philip Dunton, who
paused as they saw the attitude of the
| others. But the professor called them
in.
"Let me introduce you." he said,
blithely, "to the future Mrs. Kruse."
Congratulations" returned Philip.
"You said that when you married I
might do SOL"
His uncle frowned-the contingency
had not occurred to him.
"Who is the LADY," he demanded
evasively.
Here she is-the translator Of the
Tarka tablet."-New York News.