The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-03-28

lOlu.
THAT is all, my dear. 1t couldn't be
much more, because the part cannot be
| greater than the whole"
Katharine laughed this time, not a
merry noisy laugh but a low cheerful
laugh peculiar to woman the CONSIDER,
kept for occasions when heavy MOODS
and disappointment and bitter words
in man have to be exercised.
"Tom, it is like the splendid dream
of the man with the basketful of eggs.
Our castle is shattered
"My dear''-Tom looked into the gray
eyes so full of courage and of faith
which met his gaze-"my dear" (here
he kissed herr, lit is for your sake that
I lament it most. You were going to
be so happy, with nothing to do and
nothing to worry you. The life of COM
fort was to be yours. Doesn't every
woman desire the life of comfort above
all things? Now we must go on with
our work again, no better off than our
%neighbors, just a S poor and just as
struggling"
"Why should we grumble at that,
Tom?"
"And we must put off u marriage,
katharine"
eyes, Tom; but then we never hoped
to Re married so soon, did we"
"And you will have to continue your
horrible lessons"
ooh, Tom don't trouble about that!
So long as I have you am happy; and
remember, we have had a whole week
of pure happiness" thinking we were
lifted high above the common lot. And
now it is all over, and we are not a DIT
worse off than we were before"
"When Christopher Sly, Katharine,
was taken back to the roadside, he was
never so happy again for thinking
of the wonderful dream he had had.
To be sure, Christopher was an un-
educated kind of person. Fortunately
none of the fellows at the club know
about it, SO that while, on the one hand,
as they used to say, there have been
no congratulations and no envy, so, on
the other, there will be no condolences
and no secret JOY"
"Then, Tom, forget the whole thing.
Put it out.of your mind"
II will, Katharine, as soon as I can.
But still, without any more crying, tell
me, Katharine. did you ever hear of a
more awful sell?"
'Tom, I certainly lever did. l am
quite sure there never was such a sell
before. But at sells, you know, one
is expected to laugh, just to show that
they enter into the spirit of the thing,
and are not a bit offended" She sprung
to her feet, shaking out the fold of her
dress. 1t was only a plain stuff dress,
nothing at all compared with the mag
n~iicent frock she might have worn
had the intention of Uncle Joseph been
carried out. "Come, Tom, it is done
with. But I have a fancy to 80 all
over the house, just to see what might
have. been ours, and then we will bid
farewell to the Inheritance" She stood
over him, a tall, graceful girl, light
hearted, b%right-eyed, her face full Of
sunshine which lies on the cheeks of
every woman who is true Of heart and
thinks no evil, and is young and is
loved. Come, Tom," she repeated.
He sat hanging his head dolefully.
"You are always right, Katharine.
But that isn't ALL" he added, under his
breath, as he took her hand and went
up the stairs with her.
1t was not unlike the scene where
Virginia takes leave of her island home
and her gardens; but in this case 1t
was Paul, as you shall see, who was
about to embark for foreign shores.
They went upstairs to the very top
of the house, where be the servants
bedrooms. They opened the door,
looked round each room and shut the
door again softly.
with each floor" said Tom. Eve
take leave of two hundred pounds n
year. There are five floors. Farewell,
first two hundred"
Below were the guests rooms, fur
nished with due regard to comfort as
it was understood in the f~orties; that
is to say, in. the four-post and feather
bed style, with waists chests of mahog-
any drawers. Second two hundred"
said Tom.
Below the visitors rooms were the
nurseries-day and night nursery; but
these rooms looked forlorn and neglect
ed, because it was seventy years since
they had echoed to the patter Of chill
dren's feet and the music of children's
voices. AS Tom looked into them ~
sadness fell upon his soul, az if he
were robbed-with the inheritance-of
his children. He did not communicate
this thought to Katharine; but he said
nothing, and descended to the lower
floor in silence.
On the first floor there was a large
drawing room in front, and at the back
a bedroom, which had been Uncle
Joseph's, furnished in the same style rs
those above. The drawing room had
been newly furnished by Uncle Joseph
when he married, about the year 1914,
N what was then the best style. Moth
ing had since been added. so that this
room was a pleasing study of domestic
FURNITURE in medieval ages, before
AESTHETICS had been invented. There
ware high-backed sofas. and solid
chaNs and settees, and round tables
coveHed with extensively bound books.
Thera were engravings IN the walls,
whichNwere clothed with a rich, warm,
red paper, and the carpet showed a pat