The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-11-14
eSEllSSElSSGSll l555555555a55aa5555553

DeTSQ.
But what could I do in such a
matter as this?'
Everything, my dear, every
thing!" said the Old Lady brighten
ing. "You can do anything with
Nell. She worships the ground you
walk on, and she thinks anything you
do or say is simply perfect. Now
what I thought of was this'-and
she lowered her voice and hitched
her chair little nearer to the Ally.
You know such alot of nice young
people whom Nell has never met, be-
cause she has really been away at
school for two or three years. And
if you could introduce some of the
most eligible of the young men
they'd be sure to fall in love with
her and she would see that there are
other people in the world
The Ally stiffened little, and the
Old Lady, seeing this, interpreted it
to please herself. Il know it's good
deal to ask of you, but you're the
only one Of all the people know who
can help me. know you like Frank,
too, so I won't say all I could about
him. I might like him myself if I
didn't know his father so WE'LL"
WELL" decided the Ally, II be-
lieve I will help you. I like Nell and
Frank too well to see either or both
of them made unhappy for life, if
little effort on my part will save
them" She looked reflectively at
the Old Lady, who had begun to
beam. But you must let me do
things my own way, even if it seems
silly to you"
Certainly" said the Old Lady.
II want you to seem to stop oppos-
ing Nell. Let her see just as much
of Frank as she likes, and even en-
courage her in it, but not too sudden
ly. Be nice to him yourself-and
you might, for the sake of the cause,
just recognize his father when you
meet him on the street." The Old
Lady gave squeak of dismay.
Il would far rather let Nell marry
Frank and then spend the rest of my
life getting even than speak to that
man now!" She fairly bristled with
dignity as she stood up and drew the
voluminous black silk coat, which
she wore in all weathers, around her
and prepared to 60.
The Ally walked with her to the
door and out on the porch, and then
wished she had not. 1t is dreadful
not to be able>to laugh at times when
one wants to most. All the Ally
could do was to lean against a pillar
and pray under her breath for becom-
ing sobriety. =,
AS the Old Lady gingerly descend
ed the steps and sailed majestically
down the long, straight walk, the
gate opened and there entered tall,
very straight Old Gentleman, who
came up the walk with dignified taps
of a gold-headed cane, and whose
chin was lifted in most dignifed
manner. When he met the Old Lady,
who had become so straight she near
ly bent backward, he stepped off the
sidewalk and stood with his back
turned, twirling his cane between his
hands as he hunted for'clouds in an
absolutely flawless sky.
The Ally seemed not to notice the
very visible wrath of the Old Gentle
man as she came down the steps to
meet him and led him into her sun
warmed library. But after a little
preliminary skirmishing about the
weathel-depths to which the clever
Old Gentleman rarely descended-he
suddenly blurted out:
II think owe you an apology for
the apparent rudeness just showed
one of your guests
why, no." faltered Ally, but he
seemed not to have heard.
1T is little unfortunate that Mrs.
Coover and I have seen fit to occupy
homes in the same neighborhood. If
had known she lived here I certain
ly would not have bought this place.
But now I'm here and do not mean
to be chased out of a comfortable
home"
"But why should you?" puzzled
the Ally, though she knew perfectly
well.
MADAM, it is very awkward for
me to be constantly meeting that
er-Mrs. Coover The best thing she
ever did to me was to jilt me when
we were younger, and I've never for
given her for that. She was an out
rageous flirt, Madam, and I was COM
pletely taken in by her pretty face.
You wouldn't believe it now, but she
really was very pretty-much more
so than her daughter is. That girl is
forward young mink. She has
much of the personality of her father.
Very disagreeable person, the father"
Il never knew him." murmured
the Ally.
IF thought the girl would serve
Frank as her mother did me, I.
shouldn't care. 1t would teach him
a lesson. I've warned him and he
will not listen. But she won't. If
ever a girl meant business I should
think it was Nell Coover. Her faith
er took Molly from under my very
nose after We had quarreled about
our wedding trip and had tempo
rarily broken off, But want you to
help me-" he suddenly remembered.
The Ally opened her eyes in hypo-
critical Gurpriss.