The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-06-12
CHAPTER H.
Continued.

40 o6h3oS N
quickly perceiving by the others face
that her compliment had been taken
au serious, and gone further than
she had intended, Il believe orders
are worn on the left hand, are they
not?"
Here the c~ountenance of the tutor,
which had been lit up with evident
pleasure, became grave again even
to depression. AS a man who knew
everything except botany he could
doubtless have told her on which
side medals were worn, but that
point remained unsolved.
II have ventured to come here,
Miss Sophy," he said, with some hest
tation, and in a much lower tone
than was his wont, lat an hour when
/ had reason to believe you would
be found alone, to say a few words
upon my own account"
She bowed, but remained silent;
it would not have been easy for her
to speak, ever had she been so mind
ed.
my life hitherto" he went on,
''has been passed in pursuits with
which it is impossible that a young
woman can sympathize, but, unlike
most men similarly placed, I am not
welded to them. I could give them
UP without regret; and I think I am
not too old to assimilate myself to
new conditions. The very way in
which I express myself is, I am well
aware, unsuitable to the subject on
which 1 would speak. I throw my
self upon your charity to excuse all
that; to make allowance also for
many other things. 1 am a very
humble sutton, Miss Sophy, but a
genuine one. My heart is sound but
not hard, I hope; yet you are the
first woman that has ever made an
impression on it. For that reason,
perhaps, your image has struck the
deeper into it. I have hitherto lived
for myself alone. When I am in
your presence the very thought of
self vanishes; it seems to me that the
highest happiness would be to live
with you"
Though the tutors style was some
what high flown, and, as he himself
had said, unsuitable to a declaration
of love, it vas not unsuitable to him;
on the contrary, it became him, while
his manner had the earnestness and
simplicity Of a child. 1t was plain
he was deeply moved. Nor was
Sophy's demeanor by any means sto-
ical. She felt for him with all her
heart-and she felt for herself, too.
"Is it possible, dear Sophy," he
exclaimed, with trembling joy, that,
In spite of all that is to be said
against me, you are not altogether
Indifferent to me?"
He had made a movement toward
her, but she stretched out her hand,
with the palm upward, to prevent it.
"That I am not Indifferent to you,
Mr.. MAYORS, unless respect, esteem,
and even affectionate regard be in
difference, Is quite true, but I can
never marry you"
"You think thatanow," he pleaded,
81 have taken you too much by sur
prise; you are astonished at my pre-
sumption, no doubt; and no wonder"
"No, no." she answered, earnestly;
there is no presumption. The IN
worthiness is on my side, not on
yours. But-do not urge lido not
press it-(for she saw that he was
about to speak,, I am engaged to
another"
Engaged? Engaged to be mar
ried?"
Eyes. It was not my intention to
make it known-that is, yet awhile.
But you have a right to know it. I
have promised Mr.. Adair to marry
him"
Us this quite fixed, Miss Gilbert?"
he asked, in low respondent tones.
'Can nothing alter it,"
Nothing" She sighed heavily, as
though she would have added, Il
sincerely regret to say" But when
he looked up with quick in Iiring
gaze, as if to ask what tn t sigh
meant, she repeated with decision,
Nothing"
Il am very, very sorry" he muir
INJURED softly.
And so am l." she answered.;
that is" she put in quickly, sorry,
if you feel it so much, for your dis
appointment. There is no woman in
the world who might not be proud
of an offer from such a one as you,
Mr.. MAYORS; and l am very proud,
very sensible of the honor you would
have conferred upon me. We shall
always be friends, I know"
Friends! Oh, yes, it car never
be otherwise" he replied patheti-
cally. My heart will be in your
keeping always, though you will not
know it. Friends! Well, l hope
you may never want a friend; but if
you do-a friend in need-if I am
alive you will know where to find
one. Goodbye, Miss Sophy; 7ray,
pray do not suffer yourself to be so
moved upon my account"-for the
girl was crying bitterly. "If ! had
thought it would have distressed you
so, l would never have spoken"
II believe it," she murmured, and
held out her little hand, which he
raised reverently to his lips. Then,
without once looking back at her, he
left the room and let himself out at
the front door. Two Trinity men
met him in Trumpington street on
his way home and raised their caps.
For once in his life he took no no
tice of their Salutation.