The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-03-22

-N Now there was no loun-
Wi l9I dation for this rather
4 Sweeping assertion. except that 'the
wish is father to the thought"
Squire John Jennifer was a hale,
handsome man of forty, with merry
brown eyes, teeth as sound and white
as the inside of a Brazil nut, and a long,
silky beard. but then Squire Jennifer
was worth money" as the saying
goes, and should he marry the three
Misses Jenifer would cease to be 1.-The
ladies' Of the substantial old red brick
house.
"Of course I never shall marry I'm
CT Jennifer himself had said, and ne
really believed it.
Had he not outgrown the age OF
hearts and darts, billetdouX and senti-
mental valentine verses? A man OF
forty is supposed to have outlived the
tender passion, as be has outgroWn
scarlet fever, humps, measles and
whooping cough. Besides. Sarah FL
dredge, his first sweetheart, had mar
ried a stout old sea captain, and gone
to Boston to live. and the squire natur-
ally imagined that that finished the
chapter Of love experience for him.
So when Miss Juliet @Packenham
came to the h~oneysuekle +embowered'
cottage next door to live with her
mother, her poodle and her aquarium,
the three Misses Jennifer-Kate, Belle
and Sallie-made much Of the newcom-
er, for she was neither very pretty,
very young, nor very brilliant. and
everybody knows what a darling"
such a one as this is among her own
sex.
''she plays tennis delightfully."-" as
serted Kate.
sShe has taught me such a delicious
new stitch in crochet" added Isabelle,
who was addicted to the elegant waste
of time that women call fancy work"
az have never tasted such cake as
: she makes" said Sallie, who was the
housewife of the establishment.
And the Misses Jennifer invited Jul
liet into their domain with an e~xtrava-
gance Of hospitality that was very &C.
.ceptable to the widows meek-eyed,
soft-voiced daughter.
They are very nice young ladies'
said Mrs. Packenham, who had seen a
good deal of trouble. and whose wine
Of life had been we'll intermingled
with gall.
''Oh. they are charming" said little
JHIiet enthusio Stiraliy-
and the squire. their uncle, seems
a very pleasant gentleman added the
old lady.
Yes, mamma. very" assented Miss
Juliet.
And very we'll preserved for fifty
years old" said Mrs. Packenham.
"Oh, mamma. he can't be thatr' said
Juliet, earnestly.
How old would you take him to be,
them"
lie can't possibly be more than thir-
ty-fve." said Juliet. re1ectively, bal
ancing her thimble first on one finger,
then IN another.
Nonsense said Mrs. Packenham,
and she took snuff. Juliet, you're a
goose"
Juliet was accustomed to these little
polite speeches on the part of her lady
mamma. and made no response. But
she chung to her own opinions on the
subject of the sources age, neverthe-
less.
And she thought to herself that she
neyer had known a summer to pass so
swiftly as did this special season.
Belle" said Kate Jennifer n eve
ming, as she came rather abruptly into
the room where her sister was practic-
ing a difficult sonata on the piano,
-'come to the window, quick"
S. what for:" said Belle, obeying the
summons.
Who is that by the hedge Of labur-
nuns, talking with Uncle %Jennifer?"
Where? l don't see any one"
Just beyond the lilacs, stupid" cried
Kate, forgetting politeness in her eager
haste. ttTheredon't you see"
"I see nothing but the big white
spired bush all in bloom"
"!Oh, you silly" said Kate. with an
impatient jerk Of the head. Its Ju-
liet Packenham!'
Juliet Packenham"
Yes: don't you see"
We'll, and suppose it is" said Belle,
" after a moment or two Of perpleXed 81
lence.
Suppose it is" milnicked Kate. fair
IL driven beyond the bounds Of pa
thence. Belle, Belle. n would think
you were 4 born ninny to hear you
talk! Do you want to be turned out of
this house? Do you want 4 mistress
to be set up over our heads? A Mrs.
Jennifer, who
What nonsense you do talk. Kate"
said Isabelle. The idea of Juliet
Packenham captivating Uncle Jenni-
fer. Why, she's rs homely as a hedge
fence"
"some people might call her pretty
in q sort OF 4 way"
And she's thirty-three if she's n
day, and old men like Uncle Jennifer"
the fair Isabelle. it must be remem-
bered, was but eighteen. and viewed
other peoples ages accordingly-'are
always crazy after young girls"
Kate was a little staggered in her
faith for the moment.
But 1 have thought of late that I'm
Gle Jennifer spent a good deal Of time
over at the cottage