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


sweeping condemnation as he does
upon Mr.. Tenants past conduct"
Can any judgment he TOO severe
upon dishonesty, sir? Clifford scorns,
rs l do, the thought Of money that was
accumulated in d%ishonor."
Jane, be s~iieTt"! cried Miss Lynch.
starting up, and looking almost angrilI
in the girls face. what right have
you to pass these judgments? Have l
brought you up 10 lake !nis kind of
authority upon yourself? You.-you'
Child, pray Tor humility-pray Sor /
spirit that can enter into the tempta.
tNns of others. Yes, into their worst
temptations-into their blacklist sins
"Aunic, a you be really angry with
me? was only speaking for Clifford.
l only said Clifford would not care to
hear what my father was, so that he
was only an honest, upright man. Oh.
auntie,jI feel much too happy now t.
be uncharitable TO any orc"
The simple, uEsrspectinS words, the
irresistible joyous voice, melted all
Miss Lynch's brief %harshnesS, if that
indeed could be called harshness, which
was but another form. Of her intense
and yearning pity over the poor child's
ignora1rce-so soon to be replaced for
ever by the bittcrest knowledge.
MAY God keep you happy, my
Chiidr' she whispered; and she kissed
her, not with oEe Of the little affections
she generally remembered to put Oh
before the vicar, but c~losely-almost
fcarfully-as she had used to kiss her
when Jane was first given to her
charge. MAY God strengthen you
through all you will have to bear"
81 feel very strong, auntic. 1t seems
to me tonight as if the very worst
sufTerings of life must have some hap
piness in them. When You see my
face again tomorrow you will know at
once how much you have .underrated
my moral courage. I feel that I shall
bear bravely all Mr.. ClitherO has to tell
me and be able-though, l must say,
that will be harder-to tell it again to
Clifford on my return. Had l not bet
ter see about that Indian muslin in
auntie? Miss Brown says it
can't be bought anywhere but at one
house. in the city, and | dare say We:
should have time to go there when We
have done with Mr.. CHthero."
The strongest emotion (and she was
strongly moved to-Right) could not reH'
der Miss Lynch wholly callous to Go
mestic interests. After all, Jane nigh!
take the history of her ~birthright more
calmly than they hoped for; Clifford
Mohun might take it nobly-though her
courage sank as she thought of him
ut all events there was nc harm in let,
ting the poor child take a pattern. It
might distract her thoughts to have a
commission to fulfill, and it certainly.
was q sin to buy new curtains when
two yards and a half Of the original
muslin would replace the shabby
length by the window seat, and make
the whole set look equal to new.
Greatly to the relief of the vicar, who
had all. the repugnanee of q very re-
fined and rather selfish nature to Wit
Messing anything like a scene-espe-
cially a scene in which women were
actors-greatIy to the relief Of the
vicar, Miss Lynch's tears dried as the
prospect of matching the Indian muslin
,,ooo ,-;41 o,,p,,,1n4sua c1o0rnncc 11nNn
her mind; and no further recurrence
was made to the inevitable and black
tomorrow, save in arranging by what
train they should so, and at what hour
he should call round in his pony chaise
for Miss Grand.
But when Mr.. FOllett had left them
alone, Jane herself renewed the sub
ject.
"Why did you decide sc suddenly
about my going to town, auntie? And
why did you let Clifford leave without
telling him I should be away from.
home all tomorrow? He will think it
so strange when he calls as usual INT
finds me gone"
Deprived Of the wears moral sup
port, and suddenly brought back to
think Of the coming evil, Miss Lynch's
nervousness was so great that she
could scarcely speak. She faltcrcd out
something about not having clearly ur-
derstood Mr.. Clithero's. letter till the
vicar had read it to her; and then-and
then-iow they had thought. it better
TO have no discussion whatever before
Mr.. Mohun. 1t would spare him, q
days painful suspense to have no
knowledge OF James business in Lon
don until her rcturn-unt:l ali was
over!
"Aunticw exclaimed Jane, raising
her clear, serious eyes to Miss Lynch's
face, II am to hear more tomorrow
than I expect. FELL it TO me now. L
could bear it best from YOU"
"You are to hear Of your father,
Jane-of his life and Of his death. 1t
was his wish that Mr.. Clithnro should
tell this to youths last wish! Surely
you would not go against that?"
ITO be COntinneiil
when Not to Talk.
The best CT us talk too much. "The