The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-06-30

childhood, was passed in its pre-
cincts."
Then, indeed, I do agree heartily
with Miss Leslie!"
Dorothy gathered her habit afresh
In her hand, and beat the cloth i'm
patiently with her small whip.
Pedigree is a thing I never had
the smallest sympathy with, nor do I
value the ancient belongings simply
because they are ancient; and to
prove that I am speaking facts, I may
inform you both that it is my SOW
ereign will that Knebwell Hall shall
be handed over to the are Of stran-
gers Without any unnecessary delay"
"You are going to sell it," said
Enid in low, surprised tones.
Shades of the dead and gone
Knebwells, what heresy!" answered
Dorothy, in mock dismay. Then she
added, laughingly: "No, Mistress
Enid, I am only going to let it, that's
all. You may breathe again. Here
come the horses. Let's be off, Ger
vais; we must be home early, as Mr..
Broughton arrives to luncheon"
Gervais, with a grave look on his
face, went up to her mount, examined
everything carefully, then put her up
as easily as though she had been a
featherweight, not a. woman.
Gervais said very little as they rode
on, and Dorothy had all the CONVERSE
ton to herself at first. At last he
seemed to rouse himself.
"You were not in earnest just now,
of course, my ~darling?" he said, with
a smile.
Dorothy looked at him.
"In earnest; what about?"
about Knebwell." !
She knitted her brows for an in
slant.
Eyes, I am" she replied, quietly.
quite in earnest. And what is more,
I have already put the matter into
the hands of several agents."
Gervais was silent for awhile.
II wish you had consulted me first,
dear"
II did not think there was any ne
cessity," she observed coldly. She
was compelled to speak like this, 9th
erwise he might have seen how
fdgety and nervous she was.
Surely there car be no doubt on
that subject. My wife should always
come to me for advice and aid"
But, Gervais, darling, you are alb
surd. What aid or advice could I
possibly want in this particular
case?"
What is your reason, darling?" he
asked, gently. j
"The place takes an enormous
amount of keeping up, and to leave it
empty with a whole host Of servants
as it's only inhabitants is preposter-
ous."
But you are a rich young lady,
remember. You have no need to
raise an income like this. Dorothy
bit her lip and said nothing. BE
sides, my darling, I can not help say
ing I don't like the idea. You know
lam head of the county, and as such
knows that you brought me a large
fortune. Now what will they think
when they learn that I have permitted
you to let Knebwell? Why, they will
say, of course, that your money is be-
ing taken for the Derriman estates,
and that you are compelled to raise
more on your own. I have pride,
Dorothy, and my pride rebels against
this!".
you are a dear, stupid old thing!"
she cried, seeing that to continue this
discussion in it's present form was
little short, of madness. .
Another thing" went on Gervais,
taking no notice Of her affectionate
rudeness; II was going to breach it
to you at Weir Cottage, but somehow
it went completely out of my
thoughts. Would it not be a kind
action, dear, to offer Knebwell to Sir
George? You know how poor they
are, and this would be a kindness, If
not a positive charity. With a home
rent free, he could manage to keep
the place in order, and maintain his
social position!"
Dorothy bent and stroked the
mares neck.
"The most Quixotic arrangement ]
W heard of, and consequently i'm.
possible of being carried QUIT"
Gervais frightened his reins this
time, and his horse pricked up its
ears. AS a rule the hands that guild.
ed him, though firm, were as gentle
as down.
A cloud no larger than a mans
hand had arisen, but small as it was,
it was still there, and shed a gloomy
shadow on the peace and -contentment
that had filled the earl's breast this
morning.
To be Continued.