The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-10-05
VIII.

says | am treating you as the cat
treats the nous He says I am like
a lighted candle, and that YOU are
one Of the silly moths. He laughs
at you for allowing yourself to be
taken in by my wiles, but, all the
same, he likes you, and he doesn't
want you to SINCE your wings
Good heavens." The fury in his
face cheered her up tremendously.
This was all right.
"Of course it's all the most absurd
nonsense" Lise pursued lightly, and
I often tell him so. You love Audrey
deyotedly-as devotedly as she loves
you-while as for me-, I'simply glory
in your constancy. It's so unusual in
a man, you see. and so fine of YOU to
allow yourself to be original. It's
the quality I most desire, and that is
why l have always looked up to you
so in every way
Michael Strengthened his shoulders,
and his anger began slowly to melt
away under the warm, affectionate
LOOK SHE gave Till luSu.
You aren't the kind of man to fall
in love with a woman who adores
her husband" she proceeded adroitly,
"a woman past her first youth
elise was twenty-two.) "You are
too strong and manly and reliable
for such weak, degenerate nonsense.
And it's because l want to show Jack
that I'm right when 1 explain to him
what a fine character You really
have, that I've been haunting you in
this apparently heartless way. l
want to go on being proud of my
friend. I want him to take his life
in his W hands and model it to his
own will. You aren't the man to sit
down and cry for the moon. You've
only been pretending to do it, be-
cause YOU were afraid of being selfish
and rlunging Audrey into poverty.
But now is the time for YOU to strike,
and strike boldly"
The deluded young man, carried
away by her enthusiasm and touched
by her trusting confidence in his in
herent nobility, flushed as he rose,
and gave her his hand on it with a
reckless little laugh.
by George" said he. you've
made me feel q new man. There's
no one like you for putting new
heart into a chap. l believe you are
right, after ALL"
Il know I am" Lise answered,
with a little sigh.
CHAPTER TX.
It was young Osgood who shot the
bolt from the blue. He had just come
down from Oxford, and was not as
we'll versed in the latest gossip as
might afterwards be expected OF him.
What a fortunate thing it is for
Micky Kenworthy,' he remarked to
Mrs. Cogwheel in a distinctly envious
tone. Some men do fall on their
feet, and no mistake. There's that
chap hanging about, waiting for the
heavens to fall, as a ripe plum to drop
into his mouth, and, by George! it
has dropped"
"Dr. Cogwheel raised his head with
ill-concealed interest.
"a plum" said he. "Young Ken
worthy? How"
Il don't know. l wish I did,
Harry Osgood laughed ruefully.
Giles just got an appointment at
some place in the Midlands. The
sort of thing a decent, hard-working
man might work and wait for ten
years, and then not getP
Mr.. Bromsgrove asked pleasantly
what the new post could possibly be
for which young Kenworthy was
fitted.
Some kind of a land steward or
agent, I believe Osgood said. AN
assistant, merely to carry out the
orders of the present competent man.
He's to get five hundred a year for
his job. Just riding round and MAX
ing remarks on the crops and the
weather when the air is too damp
for his chief, who happens to be rheu-
matte. He won't have to do any
head-work at all. Merely physical
exertion Of the lightest kind. Man
needn't use his brains from one years
end to another unless he likes it.
The posts ideal"
Audrey's eyes were on the edge OF
her plate, but she said nothing.
"Ah!" Mr.. Bromsgrove murmured
softly and sadly. "Tlis is good news
for you, dear child"
THAT he is going away" She
raiset' her innocent eyes. "Oh, how
can you?"
That his prospects are so good
"You think he will go, then, and
leave me-"
only for a time" he answered
playfully. And then I shall be called
upon to oficiate at a pleasing cere-
mony. IT," he continued gently, Ito
some amongst us the ceremony proves
heart-breaking. who is to know it,
Don't" said Audrey gently. Il
shall, of course. 1 wonder if it's
true. l wonder if he will accept it"
We'll, that's the queer part of it"
Osgood admitted. Hes most rum
about it. I was with him when the
offer came. It's from the secretary
of the Duke of Lavendale, and it's a
genuine thing undoubtedly. But
Kenworthy flung it across the room
when he'd read it. and said he wished