The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-11-08
CHAPTER III.
Continued.

1t is difficult 10 say how much further
Clifford was going to commit himself
for James was blushing now, and her
face was extraordinarily near his lips
but, Just at this minute, twofgures
stepped out from the little parloftwin-
dow to the lawn, and Miss Lynch's
voice made Clifford start so that he
nearly deposited the basin Of raspber'
ries, rs we'll as his own heart, at Miss
Grand's feet.
My dear Jane, standing without
your hat in this hot sun! And Mr..
Mohun, too-and, dear Mr.. Mohun, that
you should be holding that common
basin! Jane, child, why did you not
bring ont one of the china bowls, as
Mr.. Mohun was so good-natured as to
offer to help you"
Because this is the one you always
tell me to use myself, auntie," said
Miss Grand, with that composed little
air that did not become her i'll. Il did
not know q special license was to be
given to Mr.. Mohun for breaking our
solitary china bowl. And Mr.. Mohun
is not very expert in this kind of en-
ployment," she added, demurely, as she
took the fruit from GifTord's hand. "He
has more than once very nearly spoiled
my whole mornings work, as it is"
"Mohun has thoroughly the air of a
victim" said the vicar. who had come
up by Miss Lynch's side. Il never
in my life saw two people look so alb
solutely miserable as you both do!
However, the morning air has given
YOU roses. Miss Grand" he added. as
he looked closely at the girls glowing
face. "You have a different complexion
now to what you had fourteen years
ago. when 1 first say you-has she not,
Miss Lynch"
Time prints his traces on us all, Mr..
Follett," said Miss Lynch. This ad-
mirable woman always aimed at the
sentimental in common conversation,
but especially felt it incumbent upon
her to be high-hown and elegant be-
fore the master of Yatton. And yet,
really. it does seem but a day since
those happy hours when Mr.. Mohun
used to appear before US every Taca-
ton at our morning worship, so"grown
and improved"
"And trying so hard to make me
laugh whenever I looked at him." in
terrupted Jane, in her hearty way.
sMr. Follett, do you remember that day
when you stopped short in your sermon
and looked full-not at G~ifford-not at
Mr.. Mohun. which would have been
justice-but at poor innocent me? who
had done nothing the whole service but
Try to keep my eyes on my prayer
book"
"And so exasperate ME into doing
something desperate to arouse your at
tention f~orcibly." said Clifford. Boys
are like men, Miss Grand. Demure,
averted looks don't always repel them
TO the exact degree that they ought"
Miss Lynch thought the conversation
bordered on the improper, and screened
her own face quite in all ostentatious
furry of innocence with her parasol.
II have got something to tell you,
auntie," cried Jane, coming over to
Miss Lynch, and with delight mantling
all over her face. "Such news! o
would never guess it in all your life!
Mr.. Mohun is going to give a grand
ball at Yatton, and I am to be at it."
Miss Lynch and the vicar looked at
each other quickly. The vicar was the
first to speak.
"You have not been brought up to go
to balls, my dear Jane" but he spoke
very gently, very kindly; Clifford need
not have given him such q terribly
fierce look Of suppressed malediction.
"You have lived happily without any
thing of the sort, hitherto"
although greatly obliged to Mr.. Mo-
hun for doing you the HONOR" Miss
Lynch interpolated.
Il am not to 60, then, you mean
, Jane exclaimed, and tears of bitter dis
appointment rushed up to her eyes.
"Mr. Mohun, you hear! I am not to
gor"
Then there will be no ball at Vat
ton," said Clifford, quickly. "The point
is not worth discussion. / had thought
1. should like to give something of the
kind OH first settling at Yatton-but ii
does not matter. We can be perfectly
contented without it,"
And he looked with a most unmis'
taxable eXpreSsion-or so Mr.. Follet'
considered it TO beat James fearful
face.
The vicar felt himself relenting. He
had good reasons for shielding the
poo girl from the petty Sights tc
which her forced entrance into society
might cost her; or from the lasting
misery to which light attentions from
q man so superior to her i'll position as
Mohun would. most assuredly, lead.
But were they light attentions? Will
all his calm. prosaic exterior, with al
the SOLDERING influences of his NEST un
romantic life. enough of his own you'll
yet lay-buried, but not dead i'll the
wears heart to enable him 10 estimate
q look of genuine honest passion at II:
real worth. And such a look he be
iieved that he had now seen in Clifford
Mohun'S eyes!
IF Miss Lynch would really not OBJ
ject to your going, Jane" lie began
rather basely. shifting the responsible
ity as quickly as possible from his OWL
shoulders" suppose it would be more
a general county fcstivity than az
actual ball--and-"
And Jane Grand might mix in TIT
crowd, without too much shocking tn