The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-11-07
While these two old travellers were

While these two old travellers were
worrying themselves over the rough
ness of the road they had long since
left behind, the object of their solic-
itous thoughts made her appearance at
the end of the corridor-a dainty vision
of soft white muslin, with q broad yel-
low sash round slender waist. Lena
was attended by huge cavalier OF
peaceful but distinguished appearance.
AS she came lightly along the corridor,
she was busily engaged in putting back
over her ears sundry little stray W1sps
and tendrils of hair. These particular
little curls were almost golden, While
above them the heavier coils darkeneu
into living brown. She was smiling
and breathless. and just little fushed.
Lena's eyes were in striking contrast
to her hair and fair complexion, for
they were hazel-a dark, deep hazel
full of ready laughter, capable OF
sparkling with unbounded mischief;
but in repose they were as demure and
illegible as those Of nun. At the
present moment they were soft and
glistening with excitement and wearl-
ness; dangerous eyes for man to LOOK
into, especially amid the surroundings
of odorous flowers. within sound OF
slow dance music, for the next waltz
had begun.
The big man, upon whose arm she
was leaning, was flaming her with
great sweeping strokes. so that the lace
upon her dress f1uttered In the breeze.
"Oh, Charlie" she was saying, that
was lovely! do not think that ever
danced like that before. The music
seemed to stop suddenly, to die away
into nothing, and then we came to
earth Why was it so loyely-why was
it so lovely?"
The big man continued tanning. He
looked down at her with slow, grave
smile. such as one expects to see on
Saxon face.
"And Why" he said. "did we come
down to earth again."
They both had seen Mrs. Wright and
Laurance Lowe, and they both knew
that they were within earshot, but that
appeared in no way to interfere with or
restrain their conversation. They nd
vanced slowly along the corridor,
Charles Mistley taking or5 stride to
every two Of LeDa's.
1t was, perhaps, no coincidence that
when Lena and her partner approached
the two elder folks looked up, not at
her, but at Charles Mistley. Some
thing, some vague and doubling Won
der, must have prompted Mrs. Wright
to do this, for every mother looks ten
times at her own daughter in ball
room for every once that her eyes rest
on some other PERSONS offspring. They
can no more help it than an artist can
resist the magnetic attraction which
draws him to the contemplation of his
own picture in a gallery full of su-
perior works. But this good lady
looked at Charles Mistley, her eyes
Nesting on his strong, clean-cut face
with q wistfui, questioning expression
which seemed almost to SAVIOR Of fore
boding. Laurance Lowe gazed at the
young fellow with those keen blue
eyes of his, and his face bore absolute
ly 10 expression whatever. 1t was
merely the calm, impassiVe contempla-
ton of an Indifferent looker-one. The
young sailor looked down on them
from his exceptional height and smiled
quietly. Charles Mistley's smile was
a pleasant one to meet. It seemed,
somehow, to bring him down to low
er level; and smaller. palmer men felt
lerr inferior. 1t was q ready smile,
too, and women liked it for its sin
cerity.
"I have" he said, danced Lena into
q state of sentimentality. She requires
bringing down to an everyday level,
so I brought her to her mother"
"You are very useful, at all events"
said Mrs. Wright, favoring Mistley
with q smile II am very grateful to
you, Charlie" she continued, "for dane
ing with that Baroness de Something.
have had great difficulty in finding
partners for her; the young men nova,
days are so hard to please, and find
growing tendency among them to d.
vide the program among four or five
partners at the most"
Charles Mistley smiled. That smile
of his came in frequently, very profita-
bly,, in place of words.
"Yes," said Lena, musingly, with all
the wisdom of her first season, II am
afraid that is the characteristic Of the
rising generation"
And she looked demurely and inno-
Gently up at Mistley, whose initials ap-
peared five times upon her engagement
card.