The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-12-29

"It's horrible"
Exactly what I said when I over
heard the plan," he said.
"Tell me what they said" COM
handed Penelope.
cts an unpleasant thing to talk
about" pleaded the American, "but
I felt that you ought to know. 1t
seemed such a pity for you to be i'm
posed upon"
ITO say nothing Of you" Pene-
lope's mind reverted to the pretty
American girl, also a guest of the
Waits, in whose company she had
first seen this young man two days
ago.
Don't consider me-" said the
American coolly. ut was this way.
I came upon Mrs. Walt and your aunt
last night talking over your affairs
and I listened because-well, I list
ened, anyway. Your aunt "a saying
that you had lost your father and that
-well-there was a rather large
family. Of you"
Exactly" murmured Penelope as
be hesitated, "and she probably men
toned how we scrimp to get along"
"And how sad it was" he pursued,
THAT you were so we'll born that it
would be a kind Of disgrace for you
to marry an ordinary sort Of per-
son" IS
"And so poor" finished Penelope,
that no extraordinary person would
marry me anyway" ..
The American turned away as Pen
elope shook the tears Of indignation
from her lashes.
"And Mrs. Walt" he went on hur-
riedly, said that I was the very per-
son to fill the breach. She told how
[ had made my money, and who my
people were Otis astonishing what
these ladies carry in their minds),
and between them they agreed to put
I match through" ~
How dreadful" walled Penelope,
crimson with modification.
II have a plan which I think might
work." suggested the American, help
fully, under one condition"
Penelope looked up eagerly.
ION condition that, aside from this
scheme, you don't find me personally
Objectionable"
ION, no." said Penelope, with in
nocent conviction.
Then why won't it be WISE" said
the American, smiling down at her,
for us to seem to humor these match
making ladies. They will see to it
that we sit next to one another at the
table and that we are thrown togeth-
er as much as possible. Now, instead
of letting it make you unhappy, you
can be as friendly as you wish to me
without the least fear of my taking
advantage of you. The ladies will be
put in good humor, you-and will
have some very pleasant times, and
when it's over you can simply go back
home and-marry an Englishman."
"How kind of you," said Penelope,
gratefully. She and the American
shook hands upon the bargain.
Two weeks at a house party is
worth a month of ordinary meetings
for making two people friends, and
the bond which existed between Pene-
lope and the American went far to-
ward helping things out. 1t was de-
lightful to watch the movements OF
the scheming ladies in their behalf,
and when they were adroitly left
alone, to laugh at these efforts to-
Sether, with a perfect understanding
of the whole situation. The two were
neighbors at dinner, as the American
had prophesied. and when the party
motored. Penelope sat beside the
American as he drove his car. Little
by little, astonishing as it may seem
Penelope entirely forgot about the
contract. She forgot to notice the
match making ladies. And she for
got that Americans in general hat
been considered Objectionable. AND
she entirely forgot that on the day Of
her arrival she had found the Ameri
a and the pretty girl of his OWL
a C apparently great friends.
But one morning, the last she We!
to spend at the Waits, she had {
slight headache and did not get dowI
to breakfast. Later when she die
come down she found that the Ameri
cans had gone to walk together. The
sun, which had been bright enough
before, clouded suddenly. Penelope:
headache also began to be much
worse than she had thought it was
She crept back to her room ant
locked the door. Then she sat dow
before her mirror and stared at
rather pale reflection in the glass.
"Why. of course" said Penelope
miserably. HE was sorry for M
aud he made that arrangement t.
help me out. She knows all about it
and that's why she hasn't minded"
After a little while Penelope wa
guilty of another wall of dismay.
~ WISH" she said, that he hadn'
told me-i wish he'd never overhear'
anything. Perhaps if we hadn'
known, and they had thrown US to
gether like this, he would have
liked-me." But afterward Penelop
cried, for she reflected that no ma