The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-10-19
Continued.

dntlI, Oh WHICH L plaiulS perceive
that We shall never agree; and when
You speak Of modest wants, l rather
think orr beautiful Audrey is capa-
BILE of getting through more filthy
lucre in a shorter time than any one
1 know. But it depends, of course,
on what one calls modest, and. to be
quite frank, what are we getting at,
You and II"
He asked the question in such a
good-humored and friendly fashion
that Tormentilla was both charmed
and disarmed.
I'VE are going to help them" she
said boldly, leaning her elbows on
the table, and framing her vivid,
earnest face in her hands. I'VE are
going to help them to run away"
Standring dropped the paper
weight he was playing with.
II beg your pardon he ejacu-
lated in amazement.
ooh. do help u.s." the girl cried
enthusiastically. We shall be SO
glad if YOU will help. We are a
strong band already. but
Jacks face, suddenly grave,
stopped her.
Twill you explain exactly what YOU
mean" he said.
Tormentilla began to grow fright
ened.
They are going to elope," said
she hurriedly. 1--WE are going to
lend them a hundred pounds for the
honeymoon, and a motor-the sweet
est Posinante YOU ever saw-and a
chauffeur who knows every road in
Great Britain, and the young man
has this good post to keep them in
comfort afterwards. You've heard
about his new post? 1t is q glorious
plan. isn't it,
Very" said Jack slowly. cob,
very glorious. And Michael-how
does he carry himself? Is he-I
suppose he is o%verioyed at the idea
Of carrying off his lovely bride in the
teeth Of all this opposition. Daring.
reckless sort Of chap. Michael.'
IT should hardly have called him
that" Tormentilla said doubtfully,
"but Mrs. Standring has done Won
ders with him already, and"
What"
"What?" she repeated. with a
quick fash of red. Had she ap-
preached the matter d~elicately
enough, she wondered?
81 beg your pardon, did I under
stand You to say Lise was mixed up
in this insane business"
~"Insane!" T%ormentilla rose with
a scarlet face. Mrs. %Standring quite
sees it in the only rue light. She is
most anxious for them both to be
happy, and if ne did hesitate because
he didn't want to be selfish and tear
her from her happy home, she showed
him in the most wonderful way how
wrong be was, and how loves young
dream really was the most beautiful
thing in the world"
81 see." He had fallen back into
his placid, careless attitude. but his
hand played more restlessly than ever
with the tigers head which was his
paper-weight.
I'VE want YOU to help us, too"
Torme1tilla was not very sure of her
ground now. but she thought that she
must carry out her pretense a little
longer, even though she had fired her
bolt.
I'VE want you to lend us your
motor-car to take Audrey and Lise to
the place where the wedding is to be.
I am going with the-with Mr.. Ken
worthy and the person who is lend
ing the car for the honeymoon tour.
Mrs. Standring is really interested,
and so glad that they are both to be
happy at last. She has had to listen
to the stories of their troubles such
a long time, You see, and will feel so
relieved when everything is happily
settled in the best possible way"
"Yes-oh, yes! Yes, certainly" He
spoke absently.
and Audrey leans on her for
everything" T~ormentilla pursued ar
IDENTIFY.
Audrey, then, is radiantly happy
at the prospect of this elopement; Of
marrying a poor man."
Tormentilla hesitated.
"Well, she's good, You see. I mean,
she has rather narrow principles.
She's had quite a war with her con-
science about disregarding her father
and mother, and so on; bat her ia
ther and mothers approval, as We
pointed out, won't be much good to
her, will it, when she's a lonely,
broken-hearted old maid?"
Mr.. Standings Office was divided
from another by a ground glass par
tition, and he looked. before he spoke,
at a %shadowy, indiStinct head moving
to and fro.
ut didn't occur to you that Audrey
at least might find compensations?'
he asked quietly.
oh" Tormentilla blazed at him.
elbow could anything compensate her
for such a loss?"
He was silent.
"She was fretting herself into an
early grave" Tormentilla cried;
shes often told me so. and others
as well. And she ought 10 know"
Still he made no remark, but as he
.ex - A.. L.. l-ol -: ~,