The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-08-07
CHAPTER XXu.
Continued.

a house in a very modest terrace
where Jeannette's cousin-a homely,
matronly woman, gave them'a hearty
welcome. Some tea and refreshments
were put before them. of which SGphy
could hardly be persuaded to partake,
so afraid was she of pursuit and cap
ture. In twenty minutes they were
again on their way, this time in one
of these flies peculiar to the suburbs
and country towns. Their way lay
now clear of the streets, among villas
and market gardens. At last they
stopped at a pretty cottage, with bay
windows looking over a well-kept
lawn bordered by 1o~wer-beds, already
redolent of the spring. Little Willie
was enchanted with their color and
perfume.
Dear mamma, I should like to
live here all my life" she whispered
softly.
You shall live here as long as you
like, you dear" said Jeanette.
To Sophy, as to the child, though
for a different reason, the prospect
seemed too alluring to be realized.
1T looks most sweet and quiet" she
whispered. But shall W. be safe,
~Jeannette?"
do you see that building yonder,
Miss Sophy, with the ivy round it?
1t is only a stones throw, and we
shall be secure under its shadow"
Even the churches were less eccle-
siastical looking than artistic. as it
the church," inquired Sophy, not
without some doubt in her mind of
the security afforded by the proxim-
ity of the sacred edifce against the
Vaccinations of her husband.
The church! Lor' bless you, no,
miss. It's better nor that; it's the
police station"
A neat cheerful woman having the
appearance of a housekeeper received
them. and showed them over the cot
tage, which was very prettily fur
nished; the nursery arrangements
were exceptionally pleasant and ap-
propriate. When tired little Willie
had been put to bed and was lying
asleep and was watched by the two
fond women, Jeanette expressed a
hope that her mistress had found
things to her liking.
Il dare not say what I think" said
Sophy. II feel as though I was look
ing upon something far too restful
and beautiful to last-like sunset in
the skies. To whom am I indebted
dor this charming haven? in Which,
however, it is out of the question,
Jeanette, that we can remain. You
don't understand that in leaving Mr.
Adair I have deprived myself OF the
means of LIVELIHOOD"
Il am not so sure of that, Miss
Sophy; at least, those who know a
great deal more about such matters
than me are not so sure. But, how
ever that may be, don't you fret your
self about the cost of things. Money
will be provided-at all events for
some time to comedy n whose
greatest pleasure will be to pend it
upon you"
Sophy's face flushed to her fore
head. 1t had suddenly struck her
that Mr.. MAYORS was her unknown
benefactor, and then the shame of
having entertained such an unjusti-
fable suspicion overwhelmed her. 1t
was probable, indeed, that the tutor
had forgotten all about her, or If he
had thought of inquiring, had heard,
perhaps, not altogether without COM
placency, that the nan she had pre-
ferred to him had turned out not al
together the best of husbands.
IF l tell you who it is, Miss
Sophy, I shall be doing the very
thing the person in question-Mrs.
Johnson, as 1 have called her-wishes
me not to do"
Il am very much obliged to my
unknown friend, whoever she is,
Jeanette" returned Sophy, resolute-
ly; but I cannot consent to be un-
der obligations to a stranger, or,
what is worse, to some n who may
be returning to me good for evil"
Her mind had reverted to Aunt
Maria. 1t is highly improbable, of
course, that that lady should possess
the means for any such act of gener-
osity; but, at all events, as Sophy
was we'll convinced, the will would
not be wanting to her; when we can
not find what we search for else
where, we look for it in unlikely
places.
We'll, Miss Sophy, I will do your
bidding, if you will, on your part,
listen with patience to something l
have got to say about myself, and
when you have heard it try your
best to forgive me-"
Il have nothing, alas, to forgive
any one, my poor Jeanette; through
out my life things have been quite
the other way"
You have done some foolish
things, no doubt, Miss Sophy, re-
turned Jeanette, raively; land
grievously have YOU suffered for
them. Your marriage with Mr..
Perry was, of course, the beginning
of it all; but still your misfortunes
might have ended there but for my
meddling. But for me you might
have made a clean breast of it to the
canon, and at least prevented mat
ters from going from bad to worse"
NO, Jeanette, no." put in her
mistress, mournfully; II had not the
courage of it; anything seemed easier
to ne than to tell the truth"
you were %hesitating about it, Miss
Sophy, at all events, and l threw all
the weight l had with you into the