The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-02-28

pleasantly suggestive clln OF alsues
through the screen door to where Ger
trude Woodford stood under a large
elm.
II think the train is in" she an
swered. entering the cool, pleasant
house in answer to her mothers call.
For the lands sakes!" Mrs. Wood
ford turned to her handmade and gave
an order with some asperity. Keeping
summer boarders was really the n
excitement of her dull life, eagerly
looked forward to during the long win
ter months when her daughter pursued
her musical career in the city and she
lived. alone on the rugged cape.
Small this year, aren't they? she
said, watching her daughters pretty
bent head" and referring to the fruit
"Not more so than usual" the girl
laughed.
"Well, 1 don't care" Mrs. Woodford
declared. Mr.. Garst says he never
tasted sweeter peaches, and as to Mr..
Clifford"
"Who's triflinS with my august ap-
pellation,'' called q gay voice as q
young fellow swung himself on to the
piazza. Miss Woodford. 1 don't know
(which 1 shall devour first, you or the
peaches, l am so ravenous."
II was just going to say that your
appetite is all right, anyhow" Mrs.
Woodford laughed. Did your cousin
E,o~ao ,lo,r-n NTH wan 80 sha o61Qd
Eyes, G!arst got as far as the ham,
mock and"collapsed."
eco and call.him, Gertrude. Supper
Is ready" her mother said.
The girl rose and went through the
nall. Inside the door she paused,
looked with darkening eyes at he man
who lay at full length in the hammock.
The slight clash Of the screen as she
stepped outside caused him to turn. He
sprang up at once and came toward
her, showing a strong, clean-shaven
face and a figure singularly muscular,
in spite of the fact that lie walked with
q slight limp,
ut is heavenly here after ever a day
in town." he said. Il have just been
thinking that. the most marvellous
changes in our lives come when we
least expect them. l wonder if you
know what this summer has been to
me?'
He was looking gravely into her eyes
and the color mounted to her temples.
stephen, the fish is getting cold"
his cousin called, impatiently, and Ger
trude went quickly into the house.
In compliance with a previous prom
Use to Jack Clifford she went with him
after supper to see the sunset from a
hill near by. When they were seated
on a bowlder, watching the vast sweep
of ocean Ind cimsoning sky. she
turned suddenly to her companion.
why is Mr.. Garst lame?' she asked
gently.
well. I suppose it won't do any
harm to tell you," Jack hesitated,
"though We never speak of it when he
is present. His leg was crushed in a
railway accident, trying to save the
girl to wCom he was engaged"
did he save her."
"Yes.'
"Then Why were. they not married."
ooh, she threw him over for a man
twice his age and the trifing adjunct
of So, 100000"
Gertrude Woodford drew her breath
Sharply.
"She tried to stuff it down Stephens
throat that she was sacrificing herself
to save her father from financial ruin,
and l think he believed her." Jack
went on. Then she attempted a pla-
tonic correspondence with him after
her marriage, but he would have none
of it. All the same, l don't believe he
has ever quite forgotten her. Anyway,
he could not DO so now, even if he
would
what do you mean"
,"'For she is come, she is here as
Jean Ingelow says in The Letter l."
Here"
Eyes; at the Ocean View. I saw her
on the piazza tonight rs 1 came up
from the train. Handsolner than ever,
by Jove! Tall woman, with bronze
hair"
"Bronzed, You mean. I saw her ar
rive this morning Gertrude said
coldly.
1.-THE old man very considerably
'shnttied off this mortal COLI two years
ago. leaving her complete mistress Of
his Millions" Jack rambled on. MY
own opinion is that this alighting next
door to where Stephen was staying, in
the subdued attractiveness of second
mourning, is the beginning of the end.
You should have seen him start when
he saw her Oh the hotel piazza to-
night"
Gertrude rose quickly.
How cold it is up here" she said,
house"
A group from the summer hotels and
cottages was standing near Mes. Wood
ford's house. watching the sunset when
they descended. Gertrude would haze
passed on, but Jack Clifford detained
her. Unwilling as she wds, she had to
submit to an Introduction to Mrs. Ar
mitage, Stephen Garst's cofmer fiancec.
The latter turned to her at once with n
scrutiniZing look. The girl was too
pretty not 10 be dangerous.
1T is beautiful here in these late
summer weeks" she drawled.
az think it beautiful at all times. The
cane is nv home; GnrfruIc answered