The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-11-01


4 ! man" exclaimed the joviai
TGN rector OF Menstone, the
SRev. Harry Ingold, a squarson Of the
old school, now fast passing away.
Mountjoy started as the older man
laid his hand on his shoulder.
Not toothache, Pm thankful to say
I've never been troubled with that in
my life"
Then it must be the other thing
and drew him into a recess There were
several of these convenient resting
places in the great ballroom Of Mel
lans Castle.
The scene was certainly not one
which favored either melancholy OF
abstraction. Sir Harry Gayter, the
owner Of Mellans, was giving a bal
to inaugurate his shrievalty of the low
lest county Of England, in the eyes Of
at any rate, its Inhabitants, Devon. II
was an affair of the elite of the coun'
ty, with a large military, naval and
marine element thrown in, to give a
touch Of brilliance and color to the en-.
semble. 1t may be doubted whether
more beautiful women OF q finer body
of men had ever before responded to
the hospitable invitation of the lord
of Mellans Castle than on THU. particu.
dar occasion.
From the alcove to which Ingold and
Mountjoy had retired glimpses could
be obtained Of the dancers as they
t1oated past IN the carefully polished
floor. Gerald sat forward, looking ca
gerly at the couples gracefully circling
round to the tune of a waltz, played
by the marine band from Plymouth,
stationed in the whispering gallery.
The younger man was so intent and
preoccupied that he seemed already to
have forgotten-at any rate, he was OBJ
livious of-the propirquity Of his COM
panion.
Ingold looked at the fresh, strong,
handsome face with evident sympathy.
He knew perfectly what was passing
behind that inadequate, ill-itting mask.
He knew that every time the revolu-
tion of the dance brought Bertha
Reeve and her partner, Lord Dayre,
into Mountjoy's line Of vision, a hard
ness came about the flexible mouth,
and something very like pain showed
itself in the clear gray eyes.
You don't think Bertha would ever
look at him, do you, Gerald? Why,
she could crumple him up in the palm
of n hand. She is the finest girl in
the room, and that's not saying little.
And he! Why, he has the intellect and
frame of an understood monkeyw
what does it matter to me whether
she looks at him or not? Besides, you
never know what a woman thinks or
what she likes"
Don't you? I Go. ! never was a
marrying man; but not the most in
Neterate husband in this room, or any
where else, for that matter, can teach
me about what a woman likes or dis
likes"
perhaps. then" he remarked, some
what testify, you will tell me what
they DO like"
well above all things, some one
stronger than themselves-more inches,
more fibre, more strength. Only a
woman who wants a title. and can
content herself with that and nothing
more, will marry Dayre; and 1 can
assure you, with all the confidence in
life, that woman is not Bertha Reeve
II cannot help thinking some
times" Gerald said almost under
his breath.
'That Bertha cares for you-loves
you?" put in the parson.
almost that" Mountjoy assented,
after Z pause.
"Why don't You take your courage
in both hands, and ask herr"
Gerald looked at his friend. ~.
"How can Il" sy!R
"'Why not?'
"You know, the state Of my eS-
chequer just as we'll as I dc. ] have
the oldest name in the county and the
poorest property. My pedigree is as
dong as my rent roll is short. Bertha
Us Miss Reeve. Of Reeve, the richest
girl in the west. absolute mistress of
herself and all her belongings. If she
were poor l would ask her to go with
me to Canada, or somewhere. and We
would make out life together somehow.
But as it isl Would not men say !
was q fortune hunter? Nay, should
I not feel like onc myself? l cannot
even talk to her like / can to other
girls. ! should say that she thinks
that fellow Dayra a genius by the side
of me. Look at them now"
The dance was over. They were now
at the further end of the salon. LORD
Dayre was half 4 head shorter than
his companion. An Unmatched paii
physically, any one would have sale
off-hand. But those who knew the cir
cumstances might have judged differ
emily. For in rank Dayre would take
rank Of any one at the ball, and ii
wealth the mistress Of Reeve, al or
phan ruling in her own right, had nc
peer.
Neither 1nGoId nor Mountjoy spoke
a word for the next few minutes
which seemed like an eternity to one
Of them at any rate. Gerald felt per
fectIY certain fiat what . loved zoos