The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-01-19

Still, let her come to want, let the
| scoundrel of a husband decamp, take
his worthless presence to any other
| country he chose, and keep there,
| and the door of Uncle Roberts house
! would never be closed against his SIS
| ter's child. And as the old man had
not another nea relation upon the
| face of the earth, Mrs. Rose knew
| pretty we'll that, O'Shea's disappear
ance once comprised, not only would
the door of Uncle Roberts house, but
a fair chance Of a place in Uncle Rob
| ert's will, stand open to her.
A last card, I repeat, was yet to be
| played by Mrs. O'Shea. She played
it well-with that instructive knowl-
| edge Of male human nature that you
will find in the very s~hallowest fem
mime souls. Uncle Robert was a
democrat to the backbone; tittle-tat-
tie from the bloated upper ten must
| consequently be tasteful to him, were
it but as proof of his W radical
theories; and Rose would prattle to
him by the hour together about her
ladyship's. card debts, and his grace's
p%eccadillos, and her poor . dear
O'Shea's intimate connection with
the aristocracy. Uncle Robert was as
proud of his purse as any self-made
man in England. Nothing swelled
| him with righteous sense of solvency
like the sight of another's pauperism;
still, for his niece to have appeared
| discreditably dressed before the SER
wants, a poor relation, in all the gall
ing indecency Of a merino gown or
mended gloves, would have exasper-
ated the old man beyond measure.
! So Rose took excellent care to do her
| pauperism genteelly. In the most be-
coming little bonnet, the most scru-
pulously neat silk dress-"the last Of
all my pretty things, Uncle Robert.
Oh, if you knew-can we poor Wo-
men help being fcolish?-if you
knew how dreadful it is to n to
give up luO ICuuSulC1Io VI -
in the most becoming attire, I say,
that woman could wear, this simple
creature would pay her humble, tear
full conciliatory visitsSto the"Bromp-
ton villa, and seldom return without
a crisp piece of paper, never entirely
empty-handed, to the bosom Of her
family.
At last, one fine spring morning,
came an overture Of direct reconcil-
iation, couched in the plainest posi-
BILE language, from Uncle Roberts
own lips. Let Major O'Shea betake
himself to America, n of the COL
onies, anywhere out Of England that
he chose, solemnly swearing to keep
away during the space of two years
at least, and Uncle Robert promised
not only to receive back his niece to
preside over his house and sit at the
head Of his table, but to Pay O'Shea
the sum Of $500 before his departure.
Enough, surely, to last, If the man
had a mans heart within his breast,
until such time IS he could gain q
decent independence for himself by
work.
Cornelius was absent from home,
that is to say, from their dingy lodg-
ings, for the time being, when this
occurred; had been absent more than
a fortnight. Heaven knows on what
mission believe he called 1t the
Doncaster Spring Meeting to his wife
and daughter. He returned late that
same evening, rather more hiccough-
ing of speech than usual, and with
just sixpence short for the payment
of his cab hire in his pocket.
Rosie broke the news Of her uncle's
proffered generosity as O'Skea sat
drinking his hot gin-and-water after
supper Belinda mending q very torn
stocking with very long stitches at
his side.
"Of course it is impossible" sighed
Mrs. O'Shea, with tears in her meek
eyes. Il feel it a duty to mention
the proposal, if only to show the
Christian spirit Of my relations; but
Of course such a separation would be
impossible"
Impossible, Rose!" cried O'Shea,
his sodden face Frightening. OF so
fine and discursive a nature was the
creatures hopefulness, that the bare
mention of $500 and of being rid Of
Mis- domesticities suflced to inspire
him with the visions Of a million
aire. who talks Of impossible?
Am 1 the man, dye thinks Cor
nelius O'Shea the man to. let his own
paltry feelings stand between his
family and prosperity"
To be Continued.