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

I Follett's intense DISAPPOINTMENT was l
| doubt not. tempered by thankfulress
| that Jane had never for a moment sus-
pected him of speaking for himself
| But her very blindness showed him the
more strongly in what light she viewed
him even if her own indignant words
had not so plainly set it forth.
81 have never sought to he seen by
or to meet living man since M day
that Clifford left me"
He. the Vicar of Chesterford, classed.
palpably with Huntley. the married
| doctor, or Mr.. Gillett of the mill, or
any other aged man of the parish VINO
hammered to wear a coat instead OF a
gown! He felt horribly, intensely bit
| ter towards her. He thought he hated
her. He thought her faithfulness 10
| Clifford the obstinate, stif-necked fancy
of q fool. Ee thought her declaration
| of it to himself indicate. vain, heart
less: and, under the influence of these
| genial feelings, he broke out INTO the
following speech:
II beg your pardon for what I have
| said, Jane-I beg your pardon for BE-
lieving your heart to have the slightest
need of support or affection. AS you
Justly say, you have never seen or been
seen by any one worthy to receive your
love since Mr.. Mohun left. Fortunate
", as you are S O averse to the thought
| of marrying. you are now again to nave
n neighbor from whom you will knoW
YOU have nothing but q friends regard
to fear. Mr.. Clifford Mohun is coming
back, Jane! l am here at this moment
| for the express purpose Of telling you.
| Clifford Mohun is coming back to re-
| cruit, if possible. some of lis shattered
fortunes by living quietly at 1atton.
I hope you will pardon my uninten-
tional offense, now that I have given
you this exceeding good news of the
prodigal's return"
AS be spoke a strange light came
across Miss Grand's face. She forgot
| Mr.. Follett, forgot that be had wound
ed her pride, that he was speaking
bitterly to her or speaking at ALL Gil
ford was returning, the dream of her
lifeAGifforG, broken and weary, return
ing to her-waa to come true. Her
ewes filed and sank to the ground; her
lips trembleG: a faint color rose up IN
her cheeks. For a few moments the
years of heavy pain seemed lifted from
her, and she was q girl again, listening
at the little wicket for Mohun's step in
the twilight; a few moments, Their she
remembered Mr.. Follett, and that If
she was going to shed any more foolish
tears of JOY it would be discreetef to
escape and shed them alone than to
weep here with him for an audience.
AS she raised her eyes, however, fal-
tering out something about the sud
denness of the news and the way IN
which it had overmastered her she
found that she was already alone.
There are probably few men generous
enough to appreciate the charm Of
bushes called forth by thoughts of an
old lover Immediately after the rejec-
ton of themselves; and the Vicar OF
Chesterfield did not, with all his viz
tues, possess the superhuman qualities
requisite for such self-abnegation. He
had turned abruptly away at the first
faint color that rose into poor James
delighted, downcast face, and at this
moment Glitter at his own folly in hav-
ing spoken of love at all, bitter at Miss
Grand for her unwilling refusal Of his
suit. and trebly bitter against himself
for his own last ungenerous speech to
herr was making his way back to the
vicarage fierce and fast beneath the
sultry morning sun.