The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-01-24

with that of the we'll wearing charm"
ing beings with whom he mentally
placed her at such disadvantage. fcr
a woman to look young long two Things
are necessary-tirst. IN %infantine mig
nome of cast or features: secondly. a
great capacity for feeling nothing
acutely. And Jane possessed neithe-
of these. Her fragile. oval face was
one sure, even in a far happier lie
than hers had been. to lose its youth
| early. The fine complexion OF her
younger days had alone saved her from
| looking too fraiI and delicate oven
when she was quite q young girl, u
this she had wholly and forever JOSH
within a very few days OF the ending
of her engagement to Mohun. She was
pale. more than pale. Notwithstanding
now. The blue veins were palnfuliy
distinct upon her thin temples: a 1alrt
violet shade around her eyes gave them
! an unearthly look Of size n ulster;
her lips. so scarlet when Clifford kissed
them last, were colorless and wan. Inc
seven years which had brought MohuA
to the best stage of q mans life, to the
f~u!lness of mature youth. had brought
| Miss Grand almost to the confines OF
age.
Il am greatly changed, Clifford she
said to him once during the I'd:
You never thought to find me as old
and faded rs ! am"
You are Jane Grand STILL said I'LL
ford. The daylight was quite gone
now. and in the tremnlous on-conlhs
of night he saw only the dropping lines
of figure. the soft-curved throat, the
delicate hands. which took him back
so strongly to his boyish passion. Jane
Grand-more to me, however changed
| than any other woman in the world"
She did not ask herself by what
nrocess his indifference to others nad
been attained. All that her heart
creedily drank was the thought thai
she was dear to him, was something
TO him still. The love story had re-
opened at much the same page as OF
old. Sitting together here in the WI
light Mohun was simply sensible or
comfort to himself. of peace. OF quiet,
| almost of freshness in this little silent
room. with the odorous country ar
playing on his face, and, a woman
however gone off who still adored him
at his side.
Jane felt only that the dream Of her
cirlhood was clothed with flesh ana
blood once more. She was with Gill
ford: Heaven had not remained for-
ever deaf to her entreaties.
Yes. changed though they were IN
some things. the story had reopened at
the same page rs of old-one loving
the other submitting to be loved. 1t
was q page beyond which Miss. Grand
was fated never to read as long as MT.
Clifford Mohun continued to be the hero
of her romance.
The time went Oh upon swift wings
that summer evening: and When at
length the lamp came in. Clifford began
to think he had TOO hastily passed judg-
ment on James good looks. Lampllght,
of course, suits all complexions. that
are not young and faultless, best; ana
| then Door James face had become really
| flushed with something like its old soft
| color during the intense happiness OF
the last hour and n half.
As she poured out tea and brought II
to Mohun. Just as she used to 10 Wheh
she was q girl. he was struck with the
perfect grace-which was, in truth. her
one %inalicnable charm-with the sou
fall of her plain black dress, her noise
less step, her timid, pleading voice
more timid, by far, than any OF the
much younger London voices he was
accustomed to. How would it be for
him to return to his old, pure, uncalcu-
lating first love? give up the life ne
had got so little Of satisfaction anu SO
much of ruin out Of, and betake him.
self to the creature comforts of calm
country domesticity, with this pale,
gentle, adoring woman for his slave?
The question really seemed capable
| Of being answered afirmatively; and,
after a good deal of preamble, Clifford
at last let Miss Grand know that it
was not utterly impossible for him to
entertain it.
"On revient toujours"'-she was Sit
ting beside him in the old place by the
window again when Clifford began with
the stereotyped quotation for all Such
cases-"on revient toujours! Jane, the
years seem as nothing since you and l
| saw each other last. I have come back
suddenly upon my youth at its best.
! Can't the old hopes come to life again,
too?-the dear old hopes we shared
together. Jane, before that horrible day
that divided u.s." :.
Miss Grand clasped her hands, and
| turned away from him nervously. Sne
| always reiterated to herself that Gift
ford Mohun's character was q high anu
generous and noble one but a wisdom
stronger than her reason warned her
back now from taking him at his word
in any matter at all pertaining to dis
interestedness or self-sacriice.
Go be c%ontinued.l
Mysterious Jones.