The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-04-22
CHAPTER XVIII.

At DenStone Court, II charming
afternoon in the early part of April,
all the family were gathered togeth-
er expecting the return of Janet. The
weather was SO charming that the
Squire, who had been failing much
Of late, had ventured out for a walk,
and now, on his return, was sitting
by the open window, still wearing his
great coat, and enjoying the soft
balmy air of spring.
II shall be glad to have Janet
back" he said. L cant bear her
going away. In my young days it
would hive been considered highly
indecorous for a girl to go away to
stay with the relations of the maj
to whom she is not yet married.
Il think it has its advantages"
said Mrs. Denstone, gently. 1T is
good for the new relations to learn
to love each other. There they are"
Yes, I hear the carriage" said
lola, quietly. lola had been stand
ing by the window. looking out.
There was a new expression on Tola's
little face, so wistful, so full Of trou-
BILE, that had anyone had time to no.
tice it, they must have been unhappy
about her. Three weeks had passed
and she had not had one word from
Arthur, not one single line to tell
her what he was doing, and when
he was coming home.
To others the time might have
seemed short, and the silence trifling,
but to lola it was terrible. She and
this brother were so used to lean
upon each other, so closely were their
lives intertwined. that a silence such
as this gave her the keenest anxiety.
1t had never happened thus before.
She fancied all sorts of catastrophes.
He must be i'll. must have met with
some accident, and was possible
alone, i'll and helpless, in a strange,
foreign country. In her distress she
even summoned up courage to write
to her uncle in Liverpool to ask if
they had heard. Her uncle wrote
back, laughing kindly at her terrors,
and telling her they should be set
at rest, for that he would write to his
old friend, Monsieur Rigaud, at Mon
Repos, enclosing a letter for the
truant. But now many days had
passed and there was nc answer from
Mon Repos. 1t was very strange.
Tola's little face grew white, and
her brown eyes full of pain. but to
the children she was the same bright
teacher and companion, though her
sparkling gaiety was gone, and little
Lefty, moving restlessly on the sofa,
which was now her constant refuge,
said:
, ooh! dear, dear! What has come
over us all? Lefty is growing old;
every one is growing old"
The carriage Colonel Curtis we'll
appointed brougham, drove up to the
door. The betrothed couple were
within it.
= For the last time, Janet, l leave
you at home" he said. This day
week this brougham will carry you
away my wife"
Janet blushed and looked beauti-
full. "See," she cried. looking out.
There they all are at the door"
"All of them" exclaimed Colonel
Curtis, with a look of dire consterna-
ton. Then I will not come in now.
I shall return to dinner, as your IA
Their kindly asked me, and by that
time the children will be gone to
bed"
1T is a pity you let the whole tribe
come to the door, lola" were almost
Janet's first words to her sister,
when you know dear Frederick does
so dislike our huge family gather
ings."
They all wanted to see you so
much, Janet, darling said lola,
clinging to her sister. oh! how
beautiful it is to have you back"
Janet submitted to the passionate
hugging OF her sister, then she gent
ly disengaged herself and r~earranged
the hair upon her forehead.
How shabby and poor, and ugly it
all looked after the rich comforts of
Lady M~arsden's wealthy home. Janet
had at one adopted all the comforts
and all the Injuries she found there.
1t seemed to her that she had at last
acquired her rights, that hitherto she
had been %defrauded Of her due.
Il cannot think how we have man
aged to exist like this" she said, as
she was completing her toilette for
dinner. Her toilette consisted Of one
of the trousseau gowns. There was
nothing else that was possible 10
wear" she said, when Tola comment
ed on this: and tonight, when both
the Grimwood party and Mr.. Irvine
to look dowdy; and, of course, it is
specially important. as Mrs. Grimes
will be there. to make a good i'm
preston. Frederick says that Har-
riet Marsden knows Mrs. Grimes.
She was a Howard, and it was a
very bad match for her when she
married Captain Grimes. He quite
approves of the possible connection"
Il am glad of that" said lola, alb
sently. At another time she might
have been half-amused, half-angry,
at Colonel Curtis august consent be-
ing given to Reggie's hopes; but now
it seemed as if she did not care.
my dear Tolai" cried her sister,
quickly. You are not going to dine
in that old white muslin gown"
Yes" said lola, rousing herself.
ct is my best Why Lanet. Vol