The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-11-28
CHAPTER vi.
An Amateur Villain.

To Colonel Wright this home-con-
ing was full of delight and sweet an
ticipation. His life had been broken
up by many wanderings, many cam
paigns, and many separations. All
that was now to be left behind, and
before him lay a prospect Of active
leisure, a life of intellectual ease, OF
pleasure I'd loving companionship.
He had passed so many years in the
East that he brought home with him
an Observation-Disclosures and ener-
gy for home pleasure. He was young
enough to be still of an active mind,
and leisure with him by no means
meant ildeness.
That first breakfast was an event
TO be remembered. So clean, so
bright, so home-like was everything.
Surely there eve was a cloth so
white, no silver ever shone so bril-
iiantly as those forks and spoons.
And never had happy father so fair.
30 dainty, so sweet a daughter to
pour out his coffee, with just a little
movement of shyness in the curve Of
her rounded arm.
"Then they are coming this even
ing?" remarked Lena, when they
were seated, looking across the table
toward her father without ceasing
her occupation of filling a c%offee-pot,
which maneuve successfully directed
the n%ourishing beverage into the
saucer.
Mrs. Wright noted this result. and
Immediately gazed intently at the
ceiling with a marvellous expression
in her face, which distinctly gave
one to understand that she saw the
coffee in the saucer. knew how 1t
came there, and from the entire pro-
ceeding deduced that it is always
well to look before n pours.
Eyes," replied the colonel. "They
are coming this evening, the sailor
being included"
Mother" said Lena, presently.
have you told papa about the invi-
tation to Broomhaugh?"
Eyes; and he is quite ready to CO.
ooh, I am so glad! Papa, it will
be simply lovely. Charlie has told
me all about it. 1t is a melancholy
old house, built by some remote Mist
leys, who was a cattle-lifter, or q
Borderer, or something romantic.
The Mistleys have lived there ever
since-in the intervals between their
----5----- T-not horn hi11c all
round, and a little colony of pine
trees round the house, which is bleak
and gray, like an old fortress. Below
the house, at the foot of a sort OF
cliff, there is a trout-stream, where
you can fish all day; Charlie knows
every inch of the stream, and talks
very wisely about flies, March
Browns professors and all sorts of
imposing names. Then we are going
to get up some theatricals; we have
arranged it all, and chosen the piece.
Charlie says that his brother acts
splendidly."
ooh, yes! He can do that" re-
piled the colonel, sapiently wagging
his head. "He is always acting. In
fact, it is very hard to say when he is
and when he is not. I have watched
him listening to a long story, which
he knew to be a fabrication from
beginning to end, and the child-like
innocence of his expression was a per-
feet study. He is the very man for
theatricals; he vas always stage
managing something or other out
in India"
perhaps he will be too good for
u.s." suggested Lena; "but it would
be very nice to have a really good
actor for the principal part, because
the whole piece depends upon it."
"Charlie?" suggested the colonel,
with the ghost of a twinkle in his eye
as he looked at his wife.
Charlie won't take it," replied
Lena, with perfect innocence. "He
insists upon having a minor part. as
he is to be stage-manager."
What part do you act?" asked
Mrs. Wright.
"Well, we have not quite decided
yet. Charlie wants me to be the
heroine, and a Miss Sanford, who
lives close to ~Broomhaugh, to take
the part of a sprightly widow. Now
I think I would do for a sprightly