The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-03-13

| Just a suspicion OF sharp
ness in the clear atmosphere. Never
/ had London appeared SO fair to Lena;
never had the world appeared so
bright. The very drudges' busting
the steps and black-leading the
scrapers were not ordinary house
maids that morning. For them even
life seemed to have it's pleasures, its
joys, and it's consolation. The dust
they caused to fly from overworked
door mats actually scintillated with
gold.
The patient hanson cab horse,
with his floping, nerveless ears. was
worthy of all human sympathy-the
very ordinary hanson flew through
the rosy air with the speed of the
sungod's chariot.
Mrs. Mistley was standing with ner
back to the window, the Times in
her hand, when Lena entered the
room. The remains of breakfast up
on the table showed that Charley
had already left the house. Mrs.
Mistley turned her graceful white
head somewhat sharply toward the
door when the servant opened it. For
a moment she looked at Lena with
a sudden CLEAN of emotion in her
calm grey eyes; then she Laid aside
the newspaper and advanced toward
her.
"You have news" she said in her
H--L 10 r-0,1
have news. I can see it in your eyes"
eyes," she replied. II have news.
Papa has sent me to say that Win
yard is all right. He is in Vienna.
Here is a copy of the telegram"
Mrs. Mistley received the news
ch%eerfully. She evinced no surprise,
and was by no means demonstrative
in her joy; in fact, it was hard to re-
alize that she had ger felt a mo-
ment's anxiety. Lena expressed ONE
surprise that VINEYARD should have
t%elegraphed to her father instead Of
his W mother; but Mrs. Mistley
thought nothing of it, explaining hat
Win knew her wandering ways.
Charlie is out" she added, buy
ing a saddle or something. He has
also gone to see the doctor to show
his arm, which is as strong as the
other now. I will leave O note for
him in case he should come in when
I am OUT
An hour after the receipt of Win
yards telegram Colonel Wright was
at Charing Cross Station. Shortly
before the departure C his train Mrs.
Mistley and Lena arrived, accom-
panied by Adonis, who had quite as
sumed the repose of manner charac-
terizing a town dog.
1t was arranged that if VINEYARD
was seriously ill he should be taken
to Seymour street, which was quiet
and more convenient for an invalid
than Bedford Place. After 4 few
days rest the move to Broomhaugh
could easily be accomplished.
All this was rapidly settled, and
there was still three or four minutes
to spare. They proceeded to walk
up and down the broad platform
somewhat restlessly amid the restless
throng. To Colonel Wright this COM
Portable journey vas nothing; he a
secured a good seat, and there was
no crowd, yet he was not at his ease.
He felt compelled to break the 81
lence, which vas in reality by no
means irksome to the ladies.
There are" he h%azarded, many
different sorts of courage. There is
that of the soldier, which is emotion
al and strongly dependent on emula-
ton; there is that Of the sailor, which
is perhaps of a higher order, though
it is purely defensive; he repels dan
gers and fights for his life. But
highest of all there is the courage
that needs no emulation, asks for
none to share it's dangers, faces soli-
tude and continuous risk with steady
intrepidity. Surely this is the no.
blest courage"
They turned and walked toward
the engine again, Adonis meekly fol-
lowing with his left ear slightly ele-
waited and his face expressive of dig
nifed attention, for he loved the
sound of the c%olonel's voice.
"Ah!" continued the old soldier,
with a glance downward at the silent
women on either side of him, both
trim and straight and gracious,
though one head was clad in soft,
dry white hair-"and there is the
wonderful courage of women who
stay behind and waltz but that is diff
ferent. I think it comes to them di-
rect from heaven"
When Charles Mistley called at
Seymour street later in the morning,
he was told that Colonel Wright had
SUDDENLY left home, but that the ladies
were in.
The first person that he saw on
entering the room was his mother
comfortably established with some
needle-work in her hands, as if she
we're n of the family. Some wom-
en- have this pleasant way with them,
knowing how to settle into any house
hold-be it in soy or be it in sorrow
in a few minutes.
Mrs. Wright and Lena were stand
ing near the window studying Brad
shaw's Railway Guide"
AS soon as Mrs. Mistley caught
sight of her son she rose, n ad-
yancing toward him, took his hand,
apparently forgetting that she had
seer him only a few hours before.
The action placed her rather cleverly
between him and the two ladies, so
that they could not we'll see his face.