The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-11-28
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES NJFWSNWJFTSFs@

voted heroine; out MRS. MlStley says
no. Let me see-if l were the widow,
VINEYARD : istley would be my son
a source Of endless woe to his re-
lations. If I were the heroine Oh!
he would have to make love to mel"
All. he would do that" said Col
onel Wright, with conviction. HE
would do that WE'LL"
Il think I would rather be his
mother" said Lena.
Nonsense" exclaimed Mrs.
Wright, incredulously.
Il once saw him making love-" be-
gan the colonel in a tone somewhat
suggestive of a long story.
'Indeed!" said Lena, indiffeTently,
and she extended her hand toward
the morning paper.
YES" continued the colonel. ut
was one of the funniest sights l have
ever seen, and yet Mistley was as
grave as a judge. She was a Rus
sian: her complexion was Of a dull
yellow; she appeared to be ignorant
of the primary use of water, and she
smoked very bad cigars. Added to
that, she was somewhat older than
his mother!"
Why did he do it," asked Lena,
smiling. She was interested
now in the little story, and had laid
aside her newspaper.
He wanted some information
which he knew her to possess
Are you sure you did Tot make
love to her, too?" asked Mrs. Wright,
with a smile, which the old soldier
fully appreciated.
II tried" was the candid reply,
but could not get on at all The
best of it was that she half suspected
what he was about; but she was go
anxious to get some information out
of him, that she encouraged his love
making. In fact, il was a game Of
cross-purposes."
And who won?" asked Lena.
"Oh, he did," replied the colonel;
and ne returned to his toast as II
there could only have been one an
swer to that question.
Presently, after some moments
spent in deep thought, Lena looked
up with a twinkle of merriment how
ering in her eyes.
Il think, papa" she said, that ne
will do very we'll for the PAL; we
wish him to take. Your description
of him sounds dark and mysterious,
and that is what we want"
Excuse me, little one. I never
said he was dark and mysterious. AS
it happens, he is rather fair and the
very reverse of mysterious, for he
is open and almost boyish; though,
indeed, his manner changes so much
and so suddenly that it is nearly i'm
possible to say when he is in earnest
or in fun. Generally the latter. L
think"
Because" continued the girl, sit
is a villains part-a very nice villain,
thought"
THE part he takes in life is that
of the light comedian, / think" said
the colonel, thoughtfully stirring his
coffee. He usually plays the light
comedian TO my heavy schemer, If 1
may put it thus; but then it is only
because he has found it convenient
to do so. People consider MIN a
frivolous, light-hearted boy, and ne
is content that they should do SO;
but / know him TO be different. The
fellow is a born organizer, foreseeing
everything, ready for every emersen-
cy, which he meets Nth that imper-
turbable smile Of his, as if he were
enjoying himself immensely
Il am rather afraid Of this para
gon," said Mrs. Wright, rising from
the table.
my DEAR" replied the colonel,
who was occupied in selecting a Gig
arctic from a very polished leather
case, "if it were not for this paragon,
1 should very probably not be sitting
here now. You must not let my
praises prejudice you against him, as
praise is very apt to do. VINEYARD
Mistley is a clever fellow, and what
is better still, he is sincere. He does
his work well, and he does it because
he loves it. It is such men as he
who get on in the world-provided
they do not marry
why should the poor man not
marry, papa?" asked Lena, who was
busy with some flowers at a side
table.
Simply because marriage would
completely spoil lis career. You see,
q nan clnnot go roaming about in
disguise in the heart Of Central Asia,
when he has a young wife fretting
her life away at home"
Lena looked around. and then
turned again to her flowers, which
she continued to arrange thoughtful
ly for some moments.
Il know" said Lena, partly to her.
self. and partly to her mother, when
the colonel had left the room-"I
know I shall be disappointed in him."
Mrs. Wright said nothing. She
standing near the window with
tie newspaper in her hand; but she
was looking over it into the sunlit
street. She was thinking of the lives
of two women who had married SOL
diers-lives that had not been quite
a. success-lives made up of weary
waiting and anxious watching; and
running through these thoughts was
a vague desire that this visit to
might yet be s.Yolded.