The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-02-24
VII.
CQntiQued

"Oh, that humDuSSlnS game 10
you think I'm a baby or a girl? l
hate your tennis. 1t isn't a game for
a man,"
"Quantities and quantities of gen.
tlemen play. Beau plays Why, the
officers play" cried Janet, feeling
that nothing more was to be said.
Tom could not refuse to acknowl-
edge such authority. We'll, then, it
isn't a game for me, playing with
girls and children. A gallop across
country-that's what I like, and to
see all fathers old friends, and to
hear what they thought OF him. BY
Jove, Janet, father was a mani
not one to loung about in a drawing
room like old Beau" Here the boys
heart nisgave him a little. "Beau's
kind enough" he said; "he doesn't
look at a fellow as if-as if you had
murdered somebody. But if father
had lived"
Il wonder" Janet said, but she
did not go any further. Her bright
eyes, wondering under her black
brows, were round with a question
which something prevented her from
putting. The possibility of her
father having lived confused all her
thoughts. She had al instructive
sense of all the difficulties conveyed
in that suggestion. She changed the
subject by saying unadvisedly, How
bad you lock, Tom! Were you i'll
last night"
He pushed her away with a yigor-
Gus arm. Shut up-you!" he cried.
You are always telling me to shut
up; but 1 know you were to have
taken Miss ,Ogilvie to dinner-that
pretty Miss Ogilvie-and when you
did not come, it put them all out, l
heard Hampshire telling nurse. He
said something about your boosting,
Mr.. Tom and nurse fired up. But
afterward she cried-and mother has
been crying this morning; and then
you look so bad. Do tell me if you
were i'll, Tom"
He did not reply for some time, and
then he burst out: Mothers such a
bore with her crying! Does she think
I'm to be a baby all my life?"
do you know" said Janet, you're
very much like that portrait of father
in the hall-that great big n with
the horse? Mother looks frightened
when she passes it. He does look a
little fierce, as if he would have
scolded dreadfully," the girl added,
with the air of making an admission.
Il had rather have been scolded by
him" cried the boy. INC, he wouldn't
have scolded, he would have known
better. A man like that understands
fellows. Jan, we're rather badly off,
you and me, with only a woman to
look after us, and that Beau"
DO you call mother a woman?
You might be more civil" said Janet;
but she did not contradict this asser-
ton, which was not made for the first
time. She, too, had always thought
hat the ideal father, the vague i'm
PRESERVATION of kindness and under
standing, who would never mock like
Beau, nor look too grave like mother,
was something to sigh for, in whose
guard all would have gone well. But
the portrait in the hall had daunted
Janet. She had felt that those black
brows could frown and those glowing
eyes burn beyond everything that her
softly nuTtured childhood had known.
She would not betray herself by a
word or ever a thought if she could
help it, but it could not be denied
that her heart sank. Il wish" she
said quickly, you'd leave off break
fasting, Tom, and come out with me
for a walk. What is the good of pre-
tending? One can see you don't want
anything to eat"
Walk" said Tom. You can get
that little sap to walk with you. I've
get to meet a acknowledgements his
name-away On the other side of the
town at twelve. Just ring the bell,
Jan. In five minutes l must have
Bess at the door"
Its twelve o'clock now. Don't go
to-day. Besides, mother"
What has mother to do with it,"
cried Tom, starting up. I'm going, if
it was only to spite mother, and you
can tell her so. Do you think I'm
tied to mothers apronstring? Oh,
is it you. Reau? lam going out for
a ride
so am T. said Beaufort, entering.
Il thought it likely that would be
your intention, so ] ordered your
horse when I ordered mine. Where
did you say you were going? I caught
somebody's name as | came in"
He said he was-a friend Of my
fathers said Tom, %sullenly.
All! it is easy for a man 10 say
he is the friend of another who can
not contradict him Anyhow, we can
ride together so far What's the mat
ter? Aren't you ready" Beaufor@
said.
He has not finished his breakfast"
said Janet, springing to Toms de-
Tense.
"Oh, nonsense, at twelve o'clock"
said Beaufort, with a laugh. And
presently, Notwithstanding the
youths reluctance, he was carried off
in triumph. Janet, much m%arve!ing,
followed them to the door to see
them mount. She stood upon the
steps, following their movements with
her eyes, dimly coniprehending. divin-
ing with her feminine instincts half
la1-~-nl T~,- -11N-