The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-10-12
L.
Continued.

take Miss Green into her confluence,
but she felt somehow that it wouldn't
do at all. There was something about
the way GREENE had been brought up
that prevented her from seeing things
in 4 true light. There was a Middle
Victorian atmosphere about her which
thwarted Ter Judgment in some curl
Gus way. She was compelled reluc-
family to admit that Greene was bet
ter left in the dark. And l think size
was wise.
1t was a week before she saw John
Edward again. and she met him tear
ing boldly up the drive to call on Miss
Green with a message from Tormen-
tilla's mother.
She won't approve of YOU for
coming" said Tormentilla quietly.
You'd better rot say you've seen
me. She regards YOU as an unprin-
cipled scoundrel.'
$50 l am. One Of the worst" he
admitted with obvious satisfaction.
SIS it a real message from mother.
or are YOU pretending?"
pretending" he confessed with a
smile. Sandy, l wanted to talk over
ouryplans. I waited an hour the day
before yesterday and never got a
glimpse of you. Something had to be
done"
You know YOU oughtn't to come"
He looked injured.
You don't want my help in the
Gretna Green scheme any longer,
them"
"I-we can't settle anything yet.
There's nothing to say" she cried
recklessly, as she looked up and met
his delighted gaze. Il shall only see
YOU once Or twice before you belong
to Dolly"
He ~groared.
Its unspeakable, Sandy, that YOU
should be eyiled in this trumpery lit
tie country to Tn-shut out of all the
fun. You ought to have no end Of a
time. Girls seem to, as a rule"
PLAIN girlso" she inquired meek
~.
"Plain!" He colored holly. you're
not plain. You're better than pretty,
with your Jolly brown hair, and clear
eyes, and the sporting way YOU take
things.
She gr:nned at him; her own par
t~:cular, wide, infectious grin.
Don't try to pay me compliments"
she said. You can't. never had
more than one good point. I'm a
good sport. You always said I was a
sport, and I've given up whining now
for good. I'm going to be a sports
man and set my teeth, and so through
everything. You see, one ran be a
sportsman in everything else but
ones silly feelings, and then get
bowled over before one knows it.
There wasn't anything in my previous
experience which helped me to bear
-what-what happened last year"
He said something which she didn't
hear, and it occurred to her that she
was hardly behaving in a considerate
manner to him in thus raking up
these painful memories.
"Greenie says" she remarked
cheerfully, that life isn't one throw
OF the dice for me, and she's very
y wise, though it isn't exactly the way
one would expect her to put it. So
I have given up crying for the mocn,
and / am determined to enjoy my life,
in spite of fate"
He locked hurt. Indeed, she had
~eXpress,d her resolve as frankly be-
fore him as if he had been a callous
stranger. You can be too frank
sometimes, he admitted to himself.
I'm doing my best" said Tormen-
tilla cheerfully, ito look upon you
in the light of a brother-in-law. I
am carefully dwelling upon your
your worst qualities, and especially
your ludicrous qualities. 1 am try
ing to remember every occasion on
which you have looked ridiculous, and
YOU would be surprised to know what
a lot there are. It's an enormous
help, because you can't feel senti-
mental about a person for long, if
YOU persistently study the comic side
OF his character, can you?" she asked
earnestly.
Il suppose not" he replied short
~. He was not pleased. Il didn't
know 1 was such a spectacle for
mirth."
"Oh, but you AREN'T" she cried in
dismay. Don't You see that it's all
for my, good that I'm trying to be-
lieve .u1at you are? But there was
the time Ladylove threw you into the
duck pond in Calder Meadow, and
the way YOU wear your straw hats on
one side, and the kind Of ties you
used to wear before Dolly took You in
hand, and the dreadful checks YOU
used TO wear, and
You aren't very kind to me to-
day, Sandy" His tone of reproach
cut her like 4 knife. He turned
away. and threw back his rug, prepar-
ing to leave her. Dolly has been
flirting all the week." he said bitter
ly. with a Serene Highness or some
thing who came owe here for the
Royal Christening. He's fat and
greasy and more unattractive than
you would believe possible. She
can't see anything in him. l think
she must be trying to make me jeal-
Gus. She's succeeded, at least, in
making me ridiculous. It's a pity