The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-03-07

uQQer. the plOW OIL IltlOfu . losl NAu
worst desertion-only that!
81 had a letter by to-night's post,
sir" she remarked, going, after the
manner of her sex, to the subject
farthest from her heart. "a letter
from Cheltenham. Clifford tells me
| Mrs. Ferguson says their marriage is
to take place before another month is
OVER.
"Mrs. Ferguson shows her discre-
ton, if she desires to secure Mr.. Mo-
hun for her son-in-law," remarked the
vicar, dryly.
And Clifford doesn't seem overmuch
pleased with any of his future connec-
tons. He says Mrs. Ferguson is very
like what she used to be in the days
when he disliked her so in Baden; and
he has been to a morning fete with
them, and seen Matty and her sister
play at some game that is called-but
I scarce think that Clifford can have
written it right-.Aunt Sally Can you
| believe it possible, Mr.. Follett, that
any>young gentlewoman could join IN a
game with such a name as thatT
81 can quite believe that the young
woman who has been staying with you
could join in anything, Jane. She had
| bold eyes. and a strong, determined,
| frm-set mouth. She won't make such
a bad wife for Mohun, after ALL"
ooh, Mr.. Follett"
"Jane, we will speak candidly for
| once, and then, as it is a subject on
which you and I are not likely to agree,
we will let Mr.. Mohun's name drop be-
tween us forever. I know him far bet
ter than you know him. Yes, Miss
Grand, though you do look at me SO in
cr%edulously; and I say a strong and
not very refined nature is the one to
control Mohun's. You would never
have controlled him, Jane. He might
have drawn you to his level, but you
would not have raised him to yours.
Patience, long-suffering. idolatry, are
not the qualities to be desired for the
wife of a man like Mohun. Miss Fer
gusson, with the strength and selfish
ness and savoir vivre that I saw writ
ten upon her face, is far more likely
to suit him than you, Jane, with all
your love, and all your ~gentleness,
could ever have DONE"
1t was exactly the opinion to which
Miss Grand herself had already slowly
arrived; but Mr.. Follett was the last
human being on earth to whom she
could, voluntarily, have confessed her
change of creed. Her head dropped
lower and lower; her heart beat till
she was afraid he might hear its beat
ings; and her fingers began nervously
to pluck the leaves from a little plant
of sweet-scented verbena that stood
upon the window sill.
Don't in your indignation destroy
your verbena, Jane; or rather, as you
have already broken it to pieces, let
me profit by your spoils."
He took one of the little broken
branches from her fingers, and for a
moment-for a single moment only
his hand rested upon hers.
Jane, as you sit there, with your
bowed down face in the twilight, /
seem to see you again as you were 4
dozen years ago, before my knowledge
of life or any love Of Mohuns mad
come to trouble you. Oh! child. it
would be well for both of us-yes,
Jane, we'll for me, and for you, If we
could return to those times"
His voice faltered-a very unusual
thing for MI. Follett-and James heart
plucked up courage.
I'VE can't so back 10 them, sir. NO,
no, we can't-we are changed; I mean
II myself have changed, as much as the
circumstances Of my life. l can't go
back to what I was when I was a girl,
.and'-very quickly and decidedly this
81. have asked you to come here to-
night because 1 wish to tell you of q
plan that lies upon my mind. mean
to leave Chesterford, Mr.. Follett; l can
live here no longer"
Jane, this is folly!-this is the mere
first outbreak of your disappointment
in Mohun."
ut has nothing to do with him. she
cried, almost bitterly. 1T is Of myself.
and of my own happiness alone, that
I am thinking now. Very long ago. in
the time I was engaged to marry him,
Clifford used to say he would like to
have this cottage, and pull it down,
and make the garden a part of Yatton.
He shall have it now. 1t shall not be
an eyesore to him any longer. And l
shall be glad to leave it, and all my re-
membrance of it! 1 like to tell you
this, because 1 would not have you
think I acted without consulting you.
But my determination is fixed. Moth
ing shall make me live any longer III
Chesterford"
The vicar was silent; but even in that
dim light Jane could see that his face
turned fearfully white, and her own
heart throbbed faster.
"You say nothing, Mr.. Follett. Do
you think my decision a wise one"
"J%ane'-but she started at the agita-
ton of his vo;ce-"will you let me tell
you what 1 think"
"If you please"
Il told you once before. you know,
but you could not hear me then-no.
Jane, you need not deny it. for indeed
you knew knew what words these
| were l spoke. But once. the morning
that l told you Clifford was coming
back, l spoke to you of the possibility
of your loving any other man than
him. You know the answer that you
gave me?"