The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-04-24

better be no listeners" At this
broad hint the worthy maid retired a
few PAGES, not without a contemptu-
Gus sniff, and left the young couple
to their c%olloquy.
We'll, what is it, Sophy? You
say something serious has happened.
You can't mean to say that the gov
ernor has heard of my visit last
night. If so, that jade yonder has
betrayed u.s."
She has rot betrayed US, Herbert;
l wish that every one was as faithful
and true as Jeanette; nor do 1
know that my guardian has discov.
cred that frightful ~imprudence of
yours; but he has found out some.
thing you have done-1 daresay
equally rash-and has forbidden you
the house."
Has he, begad?" returned IT,.
young man, with a contemptuous
sheer. We'll see about that. So
that's all, is it,"
mo, it is not all. I am forbid
den after to-day to hold any COM
munication with you whatever"
"On pain of the canon's high dis
pleasure, l suppose? That may affect
some chorister boy in his cathedral,
but not me. Now l tell you what ]
mean to do. Perhaps tomorrow,
perhaps the next day, but at all
events before the term is over, /
mean to claim you IS my wife"
Then you will ruin us both"
Speak for yourself, Sophy! As
for me, l know my W business bet.
ter than you can tell me. You talk
as if you had no belongings but your
guardian. You have a father-in.
law, though he is not aware of the
fact, who is my father, and quite a.
queer a fish to deal with as the canoh
can be. Just because I am not much
of a reader he is dissatisfied with my
'career'-so he calls tat the uni
versity, and since, as he says, l don't
seem inclined TO do any good here
that is, take my degree-he has at
nounced his intention Of taking my
name off the college books. Here's
his letter, received this morning;
very amusing, under the circum-
stances. An opening has occurred,
it seems, in the Bush, and. am to
be sent off to Australia to fill It. A
likely joke-though from n point
of view it is at least as serious as
anything you have told me-"
But, my dear Herbert" pleaded
Sophy, laying her hand on his arm,
why should you not go to Australia
just for the twelve months that
must elapse before our marriage is
made public? BY complying with
your fathers wishes you will help to
make matters easy for us. By wait
ing a little longer we shall not have
cause to fear opposition. And then
consider the safety of such an ar
rangement-how much better than
all these risks and dangers. We can
write to one another, you know; and
think how delightful it will be to feel
that the time is getting less and less,
every month and every week, to the
period when we shall meet without
fear, to part again"
He shook her hand off with angry
vehemence and laughed derisively.
That is a very pretty proposition,
upon my soul; what tenderness and
affection it exhibits! And how very
like what the conduct of a newly
married wife should be! l have no
doubt you could bear the twelve
months separation with great phil
osophy, and not without some trust
in the chapter of accidents whereby
it might easily happen that l should
be lost at sea, or shot at the gold dig
gings, and Miss Sophia Gilbert would
find another husband more to her
mind"
How can you be so unkind and
talk Of such horrid things, Herbert?
Of course l should be very miser-
able while you were away; but
er-"
All! you may we'll say 'but-er'!"
interrupted the young man, with a
sneer. IT'S butter indeed. You
know how to lay it on with a trowel;
but it IS quite wasted on me, l as
sure you. Try it on the canon, with
whom it may be of use. You have
deceived him long enough with palav-
er; now you'll have to undeceive him
with palaver."
And if L was, as you say, to I'M
deceive him." returned Sophy, very
white and quiet, what do you sup
pose would happen?"
To be Continued.
Cotton Paper.