The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-11-09
Continued.

any longer. If l can't be happy my
self, I might as we'll try to please
GREENE. III put on the Ninon frock
she's always worrying about, and do
my hair up. If only rcould behave
to everybody as if I didn't care"
They used Lady Malinder's boudol
as their dining-room, a pretty little
coy room with big windows, and
there they dined together every night,
and were as a rule quite cheerful and
often even gay.
Tormentila's spirits rose when she
had put on the fresh pretty dress. and
the pearls round her neck. and she
felt. as she ate an exceedingly good
dinner, that if it was the last reckless
ness of despair, GREENE should never,
V know it. She would do the
sporting thing at last.
And after dinner they played pi-
quet together, and if the time didn't
exactly fly, it passed pleasantly
enough for them both.
1t was about nine o'clock that the
world turned upside down. Greene
had gone upstairs to find her eternal
embroidery, and T~ormentilla stood
on the terrace outside the open win
dow, staring miserably across the
ghostly, twilit lawns, giving way
weakly in her first moment of liberty,
allowing the unhappiness in her heart
to come out and taunt her. And then
she heard a door open in the room
behind her, heard a surprised eNcla-
nation at the empty room, and turned
to go in. But John Edward. in his
clumsy motoring coat, came forward
eagerly.
Sandy! I've brought YOU a mes
sage from Lady Malinder. You're to
come home at once"
WHAT" She stared at him with
indignant establishment.
Come home? Why?"
because of Dolly, you see. She's
in a terrible way-Ladv Malinder, I
mean. Says she must have you all
together at sucn a moment as this. y
Because of Dolly" Her amaze
ment d~eepened assne asked the ques-
ton.
he stared: then flushed uneasily.
Haven't YOU heard? Do YOU mean
to tell me they haven't wired to you
about it? They haven't left ME to
break it? Oh, Lord"
Tormentilla grew as white as a
sheet.
ITO break WHAT" she asked faint
ly.
John Edward gave an angry little
laugh.
"Dolly's bolted," he said CURLY.
"Wbat."
"Bolted. Cleared off. Eloped.
While We were helping our own de-
lightful runaways, she was carrying
out a little Gretna Green scheme OF
her own with perfect success"
"9ut-how could she-alone?'
T~ormentila asked v~acantly. She did
mt understand.
"She didn't go alone John Ed
ward said sharply; shes married the
man I told you about-Mandelbers
Northeastern. At the very moment
that our little disaster was taking
place at Fallingheet, they were get
ting safely married at some out-of-
the-way East End church, and across
the Channel before the orthodox let
ter was found on her pincushion. 1t
was all beautifully arranged. Ladv
Malinder is frightfully upset, and
don't wonder. She begged me to
come over and bring you home at
once. It's a tremendous blow to ev-
eryhody.'
What does it mean" The poor
child had hardly grasped the news
yet.
We'll, he's a prince, o see, with
royal blood of sorts. It must have
sounded very fine to Dolly. No one
seems to have thought of telling her
that it was almost certain to be NOR
ganatic. She's kept so quiet about it
too"
Dolly always does keep quiet
about her own affairs T~ormentilla
said slowly.
well, she's done it this time. And
why didn't she ask me to release her
and tell me she wanted to break eff?
1t makes one look such an Internal
idiot-a thing like this"
I'D better go and find GREENE"
The girl moved away half stunned,
but he laid his hand on her arm as
she lfif turned, and stoned her.
''Sandy-Sandy dear"
"Let me go to Greenie." She tried
to free herself.
Sandy. you aren't going to leave
me now"
She stopped, half frightened, who'll
ly bewildered. He took her little
cold hand and patted it with some re-
morse.
1T has been a most awful day.
I've broken it to you like an un-
feeling, selfish brute; but it's been
an awful day. We've all been so in
formally upset.
Yes" she said; "but I think I'd
better go and tell Greenie-'
I've wanted to come to YOU from
the first moment. l always want to
turn to you for comfort when I'm I'M
happy, don't -"
Yes" ne said again: "but | think
We must go back to mother at once