The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-09-14
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I feels things most intensely. She
often says So"
"Yes?" Lise smiled i~ncredulous!y.
"And that is why she is so wretch
eddy unhappy now
I'm not sure that she would wish
to be anything else. I've known
Audrey longer than YOU have, and I'm
not sure that she doesn't rev.. in her
own misery
Tormertilla was silent. She Lidn't
like the sheer with which Lise spoke.
She didn't understand how any per-
son who pretended to be a friend Of
the poor girl could be so callous.
Her tender heart was stung rather
cruelty.
Lise, generally so careless of the
effect of her words, looked up and
felt almost sorry.
my dear, don't think that I am a
hard-hearted brute. I used to be
fond of Audrey, too-rather too fond
perhaps. And I wept with her over
her troubles last year as copiously q!
a friend should. But-well. you1
see for yourself some day. I'm not
going to poison your mind against
her"
"Of course I can see that shc''
rather silly" Tormentilla answered
slowly. But She's so pretty and 50
kind, and at present I'm rather anX'
ious to help some one to be happy
1t seems q pity that everything
should so wrong for want of 4 help
ing hand" she finished wistfully.
"How do you mean to help them?'
"I have begun" the girl answered
eagerly. I've put in the thin end OF
the wedge. I've taken them sepa'
rately and tried to buck them up"
ITO WHAT" Lise asked %curiously.
She rose, shook out the soft folds CT
her pretty yellow dress, and crossed
to the window to stand looking out
on the garden with her hands behind
her.
ITO take their fate in their OWL
hands"
Lise turned her head quickly.
my good child, WHAT"
ITO elope, of course"
"Elope!"
yes" said Tormentilla firmly.
"As long as Dr.. Cogwheel remain
| obdurate, nothing else can be done.
Audrey hasn't a penny Of her own
Audrey, then, has been painting
her father as the stern parent?'
Tormentilla stared at her.
"Oh, WE'LL" Lise said SHARPLY,
never mind that. And Michael
Does he jump at the Gretna Green
suggestion??"
Tormentilla locked doubtful.
"Well, no, he didn't exactly jump al
it," she replied. "In fact, he seem
to have grown faint-heaTted with this
long opposition. Poor young man,
you cant wonder. can you?'
II suppose not" Lise was rear.
ranging some OF the despised. red
roses. What did he say when you
put the question:"
ooh, he seemed to sec all the din.
culties in a rost r~nloverlike way.
FIe really was terribly crushed n
unenthusiastic."
"HesWas, was he?' murmured Lise.
with a doubtful face. And what did
YOU say to him to cheer him up"
81 said a good many things Tor
mcntilla replied frankly. II know ]
impressed him, and I think I must
have bucked him up a good deal more
than he would admit"
"It must have been q most thrilling
interview" Lise's head was still
turned away. I wish I'd been there.
You think they are in love with each
ether, those two?"
Tormentilla had no doubt about
that.
ION. decply!" cried she. "Why,
the attachment has lasted for more
than three years. It's undermining
Audrey's very existence. She has told
HE SO COl-llllLls. anu - ANN
worthy has long been in such a state
Of mind that it has been quito impos'
sib!e for him to settle down steadily
to any work. l think" she added
wistfully, that it's rather beautiful
to see two young people forgetting
the whole world in their love for each
other, don't %you?".
Lise didn't laugh.
You think, then" she went on in
low. deliberate tones, that Audrey
is the kind of girl to consider the
world we'll lost for love, and all that
sort OF thing?"
Indeed 1 do. And I respect her
for it more than I can say"
Lise was touched by the girls en-.
thusiasm.
To be Continued.
1888