The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-05-17

there's plenty Of shops open; IT'S
| only eight o'clock-yer shall go out and
| buy the frocks. and the boots, and the
hats, if you don't care to wait. ! pre-
| tend that you've got money to pay for
'em. 1 pretend that yer shall come to
me and confess that I amt making
game of you. And thirdly and lastly,
as the preachers say. if my pretending
| amt as good as your pretending. my
name amt Thomas Dexter. and PHI
| never try to pretend no more"
A deal silence followed; there was
not a sound in the room except that or
Saranne's suppressed sobs.
SURPRISED and relieved at the silence
for while Thomas Dexter was speak
| ing she was in an agony Of torture
and moved by Saranne's sobs. Little
| Make-Believe raised her head, and was
about to clasp Saranne in her arms
when she started to her feet with 2
cry of almost delirious ecstacy.
For on the table lay a sheet OF note
paper and an envelope, stamped, ana
by their side lay two golden so7er-
eigns.
Look, Saranne, look"! exclaimed Lit
tie Make-Believe, beating her hands
together. and pulling Sarapne from
her chair. "He wasn't pretending at
all, and he wasn't hooking US! On,
Saranne. S~aranne"
The revulsion of feeling was, indeed,
almost too much for her; she laughed
and cried in a breath, and Saranne'
seeing that heaven had opened It's
gates to them, laughed and cried with
her.
It was a long time before they were
sufficiently composed to speak calmly
of the matter. =,
81 didn't think it was in Mr.. Dexter
said Saranne. "to be so ano
good to US. I'd like to kiss him"
"He was very kind" said Little
| Make-Believe, "but the two sovereign S
don't come out of his pocket. Yer
mustn't forget that" -.
HE gave 'em to US. Make-Believe''
"And Mr.. Deepdale sent 'em to US.
Don't yer see what it says in the let
ter? You've only to say yes, and 60
to Mr.. Dexter, who will arrange every
thing for you Well. instead OF our
going to him he's coming to US. Now,
Saranne. we must write the letter TO
Mr.. Deepdale." =,
ooh my, Make-Believe! what snail
we say"
81 don't know; we must think,
You're the best writer, Saranne. Take
hold Of the pen. 1t wouldn't 90 10
write something out of a book or a
newspaper, would it"
Little Make-Believe walked up ano
down the room. and puckered her
brows. and closed her eyes, and rubbed
her forehead, and looked into the cor
ners of the ceiling, as many a per-
picked writer has done before her
while Saranne put the pen in mel
mouth. and gazed a%n1iously at the
brain-worker.
Little Make-Believe wanted to think
of something very grand to say. but
nothing grand would come; her mlnd
had become a perfect blank.
MAKE haste, Make-Believe, or all the
shops will be shut" =
This %uuickened her somewhat. ana
she said, you'd best commence with
Tonight That'll show were writing
tonight" ,
Saranne. after much preparation. put
her pen and paper and then discovered
she had no ink. Little Make-BelieTe
a out and bought a penny bottle. and
by the time she returned had formu'
lated her ideas.
"Now then, Saranne. Tonight. Re-
spected Sir, and dear Master wal
| ter"
That's nice" said Saranne, land
dear Master Walter Go n"
"'We're that grateful to yer" con-
tinued Little Make-Believe, that we
don't know what to say, except that
we're coming, and we shall never,
never, v forget your kindness.
From the bottom of u hearts and
that'll do, I think. said Little Make
Believe, pulling up suddenly.
I'VE must write our names, Make
Believe, or they won't know who it's
from"
So they wrote their names, one un-
der the other, and put the letter into
the envelope.
Then they went out to post it and
to look at the clothes shops.
81 hope the postman won't stick TO
it," said Little Make-Believe as. after
some hesitation, she dropped the letter
into the pillar box; eve a good mind
to wait here till he comes, to see as ne
doesn't take it out Of the bag and
pocket it hisself."
But with the delightful task in view
of spending money in clothes she gave
up that idea, and walked away from
the pillar box with many a lingering
look behind her.
To be continued.