The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-09-21
CHAPTER VII.
Continued.

medieval way? You think he will
brave the worlds opinion, suffer all
his friends to call him a fortune
hunter, endure the sneers of every
body, fo2 Audrey's sake"
con, I'm sure he'll Go that
"And what about money? Michael
has next to nothing, YOU see"
Tormentilla laughed joyously.
That's where I come in" she
cried. I'm going TO help them
there. 7 can lay my hands on a hun
dred pounds AZ any time, YOU see,
quite easily, and they'll so off and
have a delightful honeymoon. and
then come home, fall on their knees
at DR.. C~ogwheel's feet-not literally,
of course. but You see the idea-and
confess all. They'll ask for his bless
ing, and he'll he so glad to see Audrey
back safe and sound, that all will be
forgiven"
Lise smiled.
Its very good of YOU to give them
the money" she said.
"Oh." Tormentilla cried lightly, 81
can always lay my hands on a hun
dred pounds"
Honestly, 1 hope"
Lise came up to her, still laugh
inSa little, and she bent the softened
gaze of her black eyes on the girls
glowing face. and tucked two splen-
did Duke of Edinburgh roses into her
blue tunic.
"My dear she said with a kind
little kiss, you've won ne over to
your scheme. heart and soul. If it's
only to please you, I'll lend a helping
hand. I think-I'm almost sure that
I have it in my power to help you in
the most important way"
And what ways that?" Tormen-
tilla asked, with frank curiosity.
Lise shook her head. so, much
cheered. Tormentilla went home, but
before she got in something happened
to damp her spirits considerably, even
to infuriate her.
Now, there is a wooden stile lead
Ing from the plantation into Cherry
Gully, and, sitting on the lower step
Of the stile, her face hidden in her
apron, she found poor Minnie once
more, plunged evidently into an even
deeper depth Of gloomy despair.
what on earth is it now" she
asked in a tone of quiet evaporation,
TO. indeed she thought she had set
tied this business satisfactorily for
once and all.
"It's i'm" said Minnie Historically.
"Rim?"
"Yes-the minister, miss. He
wishes me to be transferred to
: Greerrose. Them was his very words
to Mrs. Gramper. He objects to, me
and William walking out. He says
we're too young, and ought to turn
our minds to other things for years
before we think of such nonsense. I
only want William. I don't want no
other things. He passed a lot of re-
marks to Mrs. Gramper, and upset
her dreadful. Why can't he let us
alone"
Upon M word" T%ormentilla
cried wrathfully, this is too much!
Minnie, don't be a little duffer. You
cant get the moon by sitting down
and bowling for il. never saw suci
a girl to cry in my life. Cheer up,
and don't worry about Mr.. Broms-
grove. I'll deal with him"
But Minnie shook her head sor-
rowiully.
Hes a very determined gentle
man" she said, "a2d ne says he takes
a fatherly interest in William and
me. I'm sure I don't want no father
but my own. and as often as not he's
been more'n mother and me could
manage. dent doubt as it's all for
our good. But-but-I cant get
along without i'm noEow, and he
cant ge9 along without RE. And We
cant help it, can We, miss, If We are
so young? I'm nineteen past.
Mother was married when she was
seventeen. Why can't ne let Us
81 alone?"
He shal! let YOU alo1e," said Tor
Ee2ti!la grizzly.
Behind the Cogwheels' garden a
long apple orchard lay. and behind
the apple orchard a little weedy lane
which led only to a field of meadow
grass still lying uncut.
One afternoon the same week Au-
& Grey put on a hat-a simple garden
hat only, made like q Victorian bon
net, with pale pink roses under the
brim aHq chiffon strings-and slipped
across the orchard to keep an ap-
pointment with her own true love,
Michael Kenworthy. To do her JUS
tice, it was the first for a long time,
and, as .usual-or, rather, as had
frequently happened-he kept her
waiting.
When ne did come it was with a
gloomy mien and laggard step. Au-
drey was leaning against the stile,
holding her bolnet-strings with either
hand. like a village maid waiting for
her shepherd 10y, and the face she
help up for his kiss was so Young
and fresh and lovely that his heavy
heart warmed, in spite Of itself. She
TOOK one or two OF the flowers from
her sash-they were q present from
Nigel Stand"ing-and pat them in
his coat with a smile.
Thanks awfullv," no e1iH