The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-10-05

the conversation in wondering tones
The might lever have found it,
How like life this isl"
Its just like the young man who
starved in a garrett" said Miss Cot
ton vaguely. He lived on crusts
and drank water rather than degrade
himself by doing something quite pay
ing and dull, and sold every rag and
bone he had. Then in despair he
starved, and starved, and starved
until"
"Yes?"' said Lise kindly.
"Until at last, in an agony of mind,
he swallowed his better feelings and
wrote the required rot-boiler. After
that, of course, his fortune was made.
Life is so bitter, isn't it? But the
cases are quite dissimilar, for I'm
sure Mr.. Kenworthy has lever done
anything of the kind"
Darling, wasn't I reading some
thing aloud to you about the Duke
Of Lavendale the other day." Mrs.
Cogwheel turned to Audrey thought
fully. What could it have been?"
Audrey smiled back at her with
bright affection.
"Oh, yes, dearest. In the Queen.
He's engaged, you know, to Lady
Doreen Greenrose. She's the third
daughter of our Lord Malinder, OF
course. It's a most romantic engage
ment. They've loved each other from
the very cradle, and all the things are
being made in Paris, except the Irish
lace, and she's having that made in
Ireland simply because the Duke has
estates there. It's so sweet OF her
isn't it, to think of the poor lace
makers with their cushions at the
cottage-door?" She turned to Mrs.
Hay with her pretty smile. Il said
to mother at the time, didn't I, dar-
linge-Dearest,' I said, only a really
noble nature would have thought of
that at such a time!' Father asked
in his sceptical way, Where else
could it come FROM but mother
thought as I did. She did really"
81 wonder why they neve come
to Malinder," Miss Gee said bitterly.
81 think they ought to, if it's only to
omen things and show themselves.
But they only come to shoot, and
then none Of the ladies are with
them, and men, however exalted in
rank, are never much to look at
THE other day." remarked Mrs.
Hay. Il heard Miss Green say that
she had met Lady Alexandra, the
Youngest one. She liked her, she
said"
cat a bazaar, no doubt" Miss Gee
suggested. These great ladies are
civil to almost n one when it's 1or
a good object. Martyrs to the cause,
they consider it. There's nothing
narrow about our aristocracy."
well, when you come to think OF
it in it's true light" Mrs. Flanelle
remarked dreamily, they can be but
ordinary flesh and blood, can they?'
ct thought Lady Alexandra was
still, fguratively speaking, in the
schoolroom," Mrs. Cogwheel said
| doubtfully. I'm Provence, some
where, with g%overness and tutors.
Naturally, not at a common v
| school. Somewhere near Aries. Or
! is ut Avignon? One of those Old
/ World towns, I feel sure. I hear she
is the plain one, but still And 1
dare say she's nice. They very often
are. Like the ugly duckling. Au-
drey used to love the story OF the
ugly duckling when she was a child
didn't you, dear?"
1t really was a wonderfully inter-
esting dinner party for Malinder, and
/ Lise took Audrey aside in the draw
; inc room, and lest no time in carrying
on the campaign.
I'm so glad, dear" she said
smoothly, that the barriers are to be
removed at last"
Audrey shook her head.
ct won't be any good" she said
sadly. Father is so prudent. He
will insist upon waiting to see II
Michael keeps the post. I know he
will. And Michael won't keep it. He
never does. You mustn't let me dwell
upon it, Lise. Don't let me live in a
false paradise. 1 am learning to bear
it and be resigned. Don't fill me with
new hopes only to be dashed again"
You haven't much faith in your
lover" Lise said, with a curious quick
look at her. Are you getting over
your-dream?"
Audrey sighed reproachfully.
81 don't change" said she sadly.
ct only wish /. did. Constancy isn't a
virtue; it's only a folly. 1t isn't hui
man nature to be constant, but, then,
I'm different, l suppose. One learns
to see things as they really are when
one is unhappy
"Audrey!" Lise came close up to
her and tucked her hand under the
the girls round arm. IF Mitchell
came like a bold knight Of old and
carried you off willy nilly to Gretna
Green, what would you do?"
Audrey's eyes lit up with answer
ing enthusiasm.
Il should love it," she cried. But
he never will"
You wouldn't listen to your con-
science them"
The girls eyes fell.
Il couldn't if I were carried off by
sTL ,-l-'& IN ~ VI