The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-11-14

ALLY USCduSS luey were dlldlo w
trust in the gods. They had not
seen the gods-and they had seen
the Ally and had found her good to
look upon.
OF course they did not call her the
Ally-they called her Mrs. Renolds.
She was a widow, rich, young and
good looking, with such dainty, de-
mure style of good looks that both of
the Old People forgot the society
adage concerning widows, and went
to her for advice on various subjects.
And the Ally enjoyed it. She had
been a widow for four years, and it
was beginning to be whispered
among her most intimate friends that
she was not inconsolable.
Among other good qualities the
Ally was possessed of keen sense of
humor. Therefore when the Old Lady
who lived on the comfortable estate
adjoining the Ally's own in the quiet
but well-to-do suburb, took fancy
to the young widow and made her by
degrees her confidante, the Ally was
little touched and more than lit
tie amused. The crowning proof of
the Old Lady's affection came one
bright spring afternoon when she
was calling upon the Ally. 1t was a
long tale if you go back to the be-
ginning, for it started when the Old
Lady was twenty-five instead of six
ty-two. She had been in love with
and engaged to certain Allan Hins-
dale. But they had quarreled and
thereafter hated each other with an
implacable hatred.
Eventually each had married an
other, though neither had forgotten.
The Old Lady's daughter Nell was
just what her mother had been,
"Only she hasn't any pride at all"
complained the Old Lady. IF she
had the least bit of pride in the
world she would not Iall in love with
the son of a man whom her mother
hates"
: 'I don't understand. Can't you
make things little clearer?"
well, you see," said the Old Lady
plaintively, bought this place when
my husband died. He never would
get it for me. He positively refused
to live more than a half-hour away
from his business. Said he could use
all the time he would consume going
and coming in making. money.
guess he did. When he died / took
it and bought this place.
I'VE had the best time you can
imagine out here until the Fairweath-
ers sold their place on the other side
. of you, and then my troubles COM
menced."
The Ally patted the Old Lady's
hand and said "Yes?" encouragingly.
"Of course You know those people.
Goodness knows they've braved it.out
long enough. was here first and I
will not be chased out Of my home.
It's just like that hateful, stubborn
Allan Hinsdale! And his son is just
like him-only not so good looking.
You wouldn't believe it, but he was
handsome in those days." and she
sighed.
''FIis son is good looking now,"
suggested the Ally.
Yes, just like ninety-nine out of
hundred young men you meet every
day. They all look alike and he looks
just like the rest of them. No dis
tinction about him as there is to my
Nell"
Nell is a good looking girl" sup
piled the Ally, automatically
well, you can see the rest. IT'S
going on right under our noses, and
I'm perfectly helpless. It's Frank
Hinsdale and Nell Coover seven days
out of the week.
IT'S outrageous, and Nell will not
listen to thing say. It's wonder
there hasn't been g. scandal before
this. Young people weren't per-
mitted to act so in my time. And
every one knows perfectly well that
\Allan Hinsdale and I wouldn't speak
to each other to save our necks from
the gallows."
The Old Lady rocked violently a
moment before she continued.
II can't see why she should be so
infatuated with him after all the nice
men she has met. He hasn't any
manners or he wouldn't smoke while
they are out playing that horrible
golf together. Even his father
wouldn't do that" Then Ally's eyes
narrowed just little as she said:
Really, Mrs. Coover, Frank is a
nice young man."
We'll, supposing he is! Is that
any reason why Nell must make a
fool Of herself over him? If those
two were to marry it would put their
parents in pretty fix, wouldn't it,"
perhaps this friendship doesn't
mean that they will marry after all,
suggested the Ally, and then she was
filled with astonishment at the effect
of her words.
Mot marry After such actions
as this? What do they mean then?
AS soon as ever I reach home l shall
find out ii that young scamp has pro-
posed. and If he hasn't I'll see to it
that he does. And I'll see to it that
he gets refused, too, if have to call
in all the neighbors to help!" There
was determined CLEAN in the Old
Lady's eyes. which were still bright
and blue behind her nose glasses.
'That's what I wanted you to help