The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-02-26

little doleful at the idea of losing
Janet from the parish. She was so
useful and so much beloved there by
everyone.
Arthur thought Tola's visits would
amply compensate for the loss of
Janet's till he remembered how i'm
possible it was that she should ever
find time to make them, and he be-
gan to say so in almost an apologize
tone till he was struck by the hot
color which came up into the face
of his friend, and the hurried manner
in which he said: II know, l know;
but where a home-life is so perfect in
it's usefulness and self-sacrifice as
your sisters, one does not ask for
other things; only, perhaps, one re-
grets that the poor should lose it,
which is inevitable"
She is too busy, I am afraid" !"
said Arthur, rather surprised.
Yes. but busy as she is, he went
on with a sudden burst of enthusi-
asm, which was very unusual with
so calm an individual, "she never for
gets to look up to my mothers win
dow and smile; and since she has be-
come a total invalid, the greatest
| pleasure of the day is to sit there
and watch Miss Denstone go by with
all the children, and to enjoy the few
little flowers and leaves and pretty
things she leaves at the door. She
may not have the beauty of her sister,
but her face is as the very sunshine
! Of Heaven. I beg your pardon" He
pulled himself up, quite scared by his
own energy.
Arthur felt sorry and perpleXed;
he saw how it was. This grave, gen.
tie, good man had fallen in love with
Tola, and with a hopeless, resigned
kind of love.
II am ashamed to have betrayed
my feelings like this" he said. What
must you think of me, Denstone?"
Arthur had no experience what
ever in such matters, and now, within
one week, he had found himself called
upon to console two afflicted lovers.
He felt inwardly amused at the po-
sition.
What do think Of you?" he ex-
claimed, rather boyishly. "Why, that
if it were possible I would sooner give
you Tola than any other man I know
in the whole world"
THANK you," said Mr.. Irvine, de-
jectedly. ITO know that is at least
some comfort"
But" Arthur went on, "of course
you know it is not possible I don't
see how anything or anybody could
get on without her. I fancy you, in
your quiet home life with your moth
er, cannot have an idea of the wear
and tear of huge family. We have
only two maids now, and Tola acts
as housekeeper, governess, house
maid, nurse and very often cook; not
to speak of dressmaking and looking
after poor Lefty, who gets no better.
1t would be like taking away the
string tied round bundle of fag-
gots," he said, smiling. "The result
would be much the same
Il see it.; know" said the clergy
| man, patiently. Far be it from me
to intrude my own regrets; but chill
| dren grow up some time or other,
changes occur in families, far away
in the distance one may perhaps
catch glimpse of a day of more
| peace"
"Tola is very young" said Arthur,
gravely. 1T is a sad thing to have
long engagement. She is very
happy now, knowing how invaluable
she is. How would it be if the bur-
den of hope deferred were added to
all the other burdens and anxieties
she bears so bravely?"
you are right" said his friend.
II would not speak to her for worlds
unless-but that would be presump-
tuous-I had the faintest reason to
hope that it might be for her happi-
ness. With such an example of cour-
age," he went on, smiling bravely,
lit would be odd if one were tempt
ed to act selfish part oneself"
Il think, as far as that goes, that
you two would be wonderfully we'll
suited to each other" said Arthur.
But there, I must go. 1 see my
precious brother-in-law-elect crossing
the fields, and I have word on bust
ness l must say to him before he
goes home"
"Good-by, Arthur. Thank you"
Arthur vaulted over the iron pail
ings of the paddock in which they
were standing and went full speed
after Colonel Curtis. The glory of
| the setting sun was shining on every
thing, lighting it all with a tender,
rosy hue. To the right of the pad
dock was grove of silver birch trees,
their delicate white bark was touched
with soft pink, the intricate tracery
Of their thousands of twigs and tiny
boughs interlaced overhead. Out of
this fairy framework he saw Tolo
come; she had thrown off her hat
and the light fell on her brown wind
blown hair. In her arms she held
the little, fair, rosy baby, with both
his fat arms clasped tightly around
her neck, and punches Of violets in
both his chubby hands. Dragging
back the soft folds of her gown, two
more little children toddled by her,
holding in their arms all the spring
flowers they could get. Tola was
laughing and singing to them all,
with her large, brown eyes shining,