The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-11-22
81 sa1 ST%SxS

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! 10 say she is not only without con-
ncctions, but without money. l could
not have borne to owe riches to my
wife. No woman wants any other
charm than beauty and youth, and
grace like Jane Grand's."
But her want of birtR-her want,
rather, OF all knowledge of her parents
and Of her Surviving relations-galled
Clifford much more than lie chose to
acknowledge. Ii would have delighted
him 10 1ind cmt, either upon her faith
er's Or mothers side, some II pros
porous relation, some indisputabiy re-
spectacle name, that could be held in
reserve rs a sort of piece dc resistance
against the most stubborn inquiries of
intimate friends. And The blank reti7
cence, both CT Miss Lynch and the
vicar, whenever the subject Of James
family was mentioned, had already, in
the first week of his engagement, be-
come an actual and abiding thorn IN
| Clifford Mohun's flesh.
II 10 q NGly 1lNSIlul ASS'ibS W. III
ford's," said James soft voice. ut
often seems strange to myself that !
| should be actually without a relation
in the world, and l can't wonder that
he should like 10 hear a little more
about my parents. Auntie, are you
quite sure that you have told us all
| that there is to hsar about them both?
| What was mammals maiden name?' /
have never even heard that; and I am
twenty years Of age"
She was sitting with Miss Lynch and
the vicar in the d%arkening bay window
Of their little parlor-Gifford having
left them after tea to attend to some
| business that required his presense at
| the house of one Of his tenant farmers.
Don't think I am inQuisitive, auntie,
| or that I wish to hear 4 word more
| than You like to tell me. I only feel
| Clifford would like it better If we spoke
a little more freely about papa and
mamma"
And she stole her hand, in her gentle,
| child-like way, round her old friends
neck.
"Jane!" and Miss Lynch's voice
sounded so harsh that Jane drew away
| in an instant. "Jane, no n will ever
be contented in this life with what is
best for them to knoW-and you ana
MI. Molun are like the rest! TITS part
| of the inheritance of u fallen nature,
child of our fallen nature! But for
Ewes curiosity, you and I would not be
the poor, sinful, miserable creatures
| we are now"
ewes curiosity made her transgress
a commandment, auntie. Clifford and l
do 10 wrong in wishing to know-What
all people of our age should know-the
history of my own dead father and
mother, and the names of my living re-
lations, if I have any"
You believe you would be happier,
knowing this?"
II don't think it is a question of hap
piness, auntie-I think it due to Clifford
that he should be told"
"That is the right way of looking ut
it, Jane" said the vicar. 1T is due 10
Mohun. I have been saying so to Miss
Lynch for some days past. There must
be-theTe can be-no further conceal
ment from him; above all, he must
have nothing new to learn when you
are his wife"
land thinking this" stammered
poor Miss Lynch, nervously.
Elpl,;,1;,,, iG;~ - 4I,o ,ioor ronnofo1
| in his quiet voice, "we have written to
your guardian. dear Jane. your joint
guardian with Miss Lynch, Mr..
Clithero, telling him of your engage
ment 10 Mohun-"
"And he says?" broke in Jane, Gag
cry.
"IIc says, Jane. that if was your late
fathers Wish"-the words seemed to
come unwillingly from the Wears lips
-"your fathers wish thai, on attain
ing the age Of tWenty-one. or on your
| marrying. whichever event should first
happen, you should heartbeat Of sub
| jects connected with your parents
lives from his, Mr.. Clithero's. W
mouth"
"Well?"
"We lan appointed that you should
do so. We have fixed that I should
take you up to London to-morrow-
and that you shall see Mr.. Clithero."
Jane was quite silent for q moment;
then she broke into a laugl,-a low
| laugh like q child's-half fearful, half
merry, but that fell like lead on both Of
her listeners hearts.
"Shall 1 tell you what 1 think Of you?
yes, Of you, Miss Lynch, and you, Mr..
FolIett: you arc taking all this no Il
great-Gcal more seriously than Clifford
| and I will ever do. / a quite guess
this great secret. I am not q lady by
birth. / said so-to-Gay to Clifford, and
| he told nc he would not mind. because
because he cares for me for myself,
you see, and nothing Of that sort. or,
indeed, anything, would ever change
| him to ne. He said all lie wished to
| know was the truth, 50 that he might,
| al least, have an answer TO give when
| ever any Of his family asked him about
my relations; and il he found my
| father had only been an honest village
| miller, like Mr.. Gillet, he should him
my %parentage 4 great deal higher thar
the Miss Tenants. Clifford is too
| noble to be ashamed Of anything not
diShonorablc in Itself"
She made this little speech with