The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-02-02
IS ~
Il ! VACABOuD HEROINE
BY ANNIE y:
BY ANNIE

CHAPTER III.
Continued.

H.
over Belinda's face. Captain Tenn
pie! I don't know what you mean
by Captain Temple!" she eyclaims,
suspecting what he means only too
well, and coloring with hot shame
over her own suspicious. Rose is
: coming here alone with her maid, of
course"
"Oh, Of counsel" repeats Augustus,
with the slow, affected drawl that ir-
ritates Belinda to such desperation.
II don't for a moment mean that
Mrs. O'Shea, under these or any 9TH
er circumstances, would act other
wise than with the most ladylike pro-
priety. Still, when n considers
everything, Miss Belinda, there is no
great wonder in Captain Temple hap
pening to travel in the south OF
France, and in this particular district
of the south of France, just at the
time when Mrs. O'Shea and her maid
happen to travel here, tool"
His smile, his tone, a sudden
scorching remembrance of certain
fg-idSuIS uOSo olluSlOllS IL hS2S SAe
one Of Roses recent letters, bring
Belinda, from suspicion to certainty.
@If I thought-if I could believe
such a thing!" she exclaims, then
stops short, both sunburnt fists tight
cIenched, her lips set together like a
small fury's.
"If you could. believe that two
people who loved each other in their
youth conclude you have heard
the romantic story before this?-if
you could believe that two people
who were in love with each other
some Gozen or more years ago, were
fated to marry and be happy at last,
i what them" asks Augustus. Mrs.
0'Shea's marrying again would not
interfere with your life much, as far
rs I can see."
IF Rose marries again I swear
never to speak to her or to her hus-
band while I live" cries Belinda tenn
pestuously. Il will not believe such
~disgraceful news until she tells me
with her ownslips, and I have not the
very smallest curiosity in the matter.
Is he dark or fair? Good heavens,
are you dumb, Mr.. Jones? What
kind Of man, I ask you, is this miser-
able Captain Temple?"
Roger Temple is fair - yellow,
rather, all these Indian fellows are
alike; shuts his eyes at you IS he
speaks - deuced nasty trick for a
man to shut his eyes at you as he
speaks. I met him once or twice din
ing at your mammals before I left
town, and we had not two words to
say to each other. 1 don't care for
your 'haw-haw,' D%undreary, army
men," says Augustus. TOO much Of
the shop about them for my TASTE"
a "Too much ofWhat foryour taste?"
asked Belinda, with profound dis
dain. All, was not the only human
being she ever loved Of this same
Dundreary, army genus as Captain
Temple!
@Too much of the shop - their
shop. Too much patronage of other
fellows whose line doesn't happen to
be in ramrods and pipeclay like their
own"
50 And l." says the girl, stoutly,
"love soldiers, and if ever l marry
anybody it shall be a soldier. How
different you and I are in everything
difference Of the blood, I supposet
We O'Sheas are q fighting family.
Two great uncles of mine fell side
by side across the hills there, at Bad
ajoz"-she indicates by a nod of her
head the distant ridge Of Spanish
Pyrenees-'and my papa was a SOL
dier, and, though it happened he
never. anne in for foreign service,
did a great many brave acts, I can
tell you, during the different riots
and electioneerings in Ireland. Most
likely you have no connection with
the army, Mr.. Jones?"
None, excepting a maternal uncle
who was an army tailor, Mr.. Jones
might answer, if he had a mind to
speak the truth. He valves the
question.
II was going to ask you to come
down to Harrambour's," he says.
Don't be angry with me, Belinda"
He can call her Belinda at the safe
distance that separates them now.
"And let us make all our differences
\ up owe some macaroons."
Every man, says the cynic, has his
price. Belinda's price, as a very short
acquaintance has taught Mr.. Jones.
is macaroons. Sweet stuff generally
may be said to be Belinda's price in
the present scraggy, ~unfiedged stage
of her moral life.
A child Of seventeen, without a sou
in the world for macaroons, and an
Augustus Jones, his pockets lined
with British banknotes, ready to buy
them for her! Does it require a very
profound knowledge of human ma
ture to foresee how things are likely
to end?-unless indeed some other
actor, offering something sweeter
than macaroons, chance 20 cross the
stage Of Belinda's little life drama.
She hesitates, relents and a min,
ute later they have quilted the place
and are making their way down the
principal street Of the town toward
the macaroon shop. st. Jean de Luz
is taking its wonted afternoon siesta