The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-09-18

patriot. Il fancled you were at Ber-
lin
And I imagined you preparing for
the next general election, which is
not far off, l suspect" returned
Glynn. II hope you left Lady Frances
and your boy quite we'll"
They are all right" returned
Deering, shortly, and even as he
spoke his eyes were rivetted on Miss
Lambert with a strange, watchful
gaze, at once admiring and hostile.
The color slowly rose in her cheek,
and she looked away in evident en-
barrassment, while Glynn felt an al
, most irresistible impulse to take him
by the neck and throw him out OF the
circle into which he had intruded.
But civilization compelled them to
exchange polite sentences instead of
following their natural tendency-to
fly at each others threats.
Pray introduce me to your English
friends" said Deering to Vincent,
with a certain air of condescension.
1.-The only English-speaking mem
Der of u party besides Mr.. Glynn
is this young lady, and I claim her as
an American. Miss Lambert, allow
me to present Mr.. Travers Deering
to you"
Glynn noticed that he used both
names this time. Was the omission
OF one of them at first Intentional?
you must take pity on me, and
allow me to sit beside you," said
Deering, in a carefully softened tone,
"for, unfortunately, l cannot speak
French. and feel awkward when I am
alongside one OF our lively neigh
bors." ,
He drew a chair by her as he spoke,
laying aside his hat and taking his
place with the easy, well-bred de-
cision of a man perfectly sure of him
self, of his social standing, and his
general acceptability. Elsie gazed at
him as if fascinated, and Glynn could
not help thinking how handsome and
lordly and thoroughbred he looked,
just the style of man to captivate a
| girls imagination.
do you know, Miss Lambert, I
have some very humble apologies to
offer you for my involuntary rude
ness. l can only urge that when I
saw you at the races, I was so struck
| by your remarkable likeness to a very
charming woman I knew long ago,
that I readily could not keep my eyes
in order" y
"You did not offend me-" said
Elsie, with a quick little sigh, and
making a slight unconscious move
ment as if to draw nearer Glynn. II
am glad I reminded you of some one
you liked" :
Il did not say I liked her, though
she was charming" returned Deerirg,
with a searching glance and a some
what cynical smile. - .-.ts .
Elsie did not reply; she looked
wonderingly at him out Of her great
serious blue eyes, as if at. some curl.
Gus, dangerous creature. d
$50 I am to consider myself par.
doned?" resumed Deering.
Il have nothing to forgive" Then
turning to Glynn, she asked, "Do you
think the fireworks will soon begin?"
mot until it is considerably
darker. 1 suppose we ought to go out
to see them; we shall only have a
very narrow view here"
Eyes, we can't possibly stay in this
corner" exclaimed Deering, looking
round impatiently.
"Oh, I fancy madame will make a
move" said Vincent, who was hover
ing about in his character of sponsor
to his ~aristocratic friend.
II did not know you had so distin-
| guished a circle of French acquaint-
ances," resumed Deering, addressing
Glynn, and glancing with slightly ell
evated eyebrows towards Madame Da-
| villiers and her friends. The glance
caught that lady's attention, and in
duced her to turn the fire of her con-
versation upon him. To which Deer
ing replied, with the assistance Of
Miss Lambert and Glynn. On her
own account Elsie said very little,
and seemed to have lost the bright
ness that animated her before and
during dinner.
At length the first rocket rushed
towards the sky, and burst into a
cluster of many-cclored stars, where
upon every one jumped up and made
for the garden, the lawn, the road
way.
Pray take my arm," said Glynn
to Elsie the moment he saw the stam-
pede beginning. 1T may not be easy
to keep together in the crowd"
THAT is not fair, Glynn,' said
Deering, with a smile. You appro-
pirate the only lady who can speak
English, and condemn me to silence
for the next hour"
81 am very sorry" said Glynn cool
ly; "but in Captain Lambert's alb
sence 1 consider myself in some de-
gree responsible for his daughter"
"Antoinette speaks a little Eng
fish," said Elsie. and will be
charmed TO talk to you-I mean
Mademoiselle Dayilliers," looking to-
ward her.
Pray do not trouble Yourself" re-
turned Decring hastily, II can exist
for half an hour in an unattached
condition.: besides. one can always
pick up the crumbs which fall from
rich mems tables" This with an in
soicnt laugh, which grated on Glynn,
as did behring's whole tone: it con-
reyed the idea that he was among
people whom he did not respect suf-
iiciently 10 feel any restraint. and.
L llannnnLEaa. ,laE .a--. IL