The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-04-27
CHAPTER XIV.
A Vagabond Heroine.

A Vagabond Heroine.
And now the closing act remains
to be played. Scene, Rosie's drawing
room at the Isabella; a lamp or two
artistically disposed round the Central
figure of the tableau; Venetian shut
tiers, half closed; a voluptuous fra
Crane from the magnolias and or
ange flowers in the courtyard below.
Central figure, Rosie, dressed in the
palest lavender silk that ever milliner
called mourning, with white Spanish
veil, with jet comb and earrings, with
the bloom of undying youth (war-
ranted) on her cheek-Rosie, light OF
spirit, satisfied with herself and with
the world, that forms her back
ground, as ever.
To her, just as nine o'clock strikes,
enters Belinda, tired-looking, dust
stained, her cheeks paler than her
dress, her eyes showing all too plainly
the marks of recent tears.
"Why Belinda, I thought you were
never coming back, any Of you! And
what an object! I am more thankful
than ever I did not go. These sorts
of days are mistakes"
utter mistakes" repeats Belinda,
sinking into the first chair she comes
across. "You have had by far the
best of it at home, Rosie"
ut certainly is nice to say n has
been in Spain, but one can say it just
as well without going, and as to
churches and things, they are all
alike, and you never know what hor-
rid disease you may catch. How do
you like me in a veil? Spencer in
sists that she has pinned it right, but
I am not sure that it should be fas-
tened so high"
Spencer is right, Rose. 1t is
pinned to perfection"
Il thought I looked rather we'll, /"
says Rose, coquettishly surveying her
self in an opposite mirror. But, Of
| course, in trying a new style n is
apt to be nervous. And then l have
a horror of anything theatrical. Moth
ing, I know, would occasion Colonel
| Drewe such a shock as to find me
looking theatrical. He had always
| the most fastidious taste"
Colonel Drewe?" repeats Belinda,
a little absently. "Ah, to be sure, I
had forgotten. You and Colonel
Drewe have not seen each other yet,
them"
NO; poor dear fellow-Stanley
does not yet know the worst! He
wanted to call on me, not ten minutes
after you had started, but Spencer
made so much of my headache and
my sufferings, that, at last, he took
her at her word, and went to Biarritz
for the afternoon, saying he would
call again at nine, for certain. Spen-
Ger declares the passionate expression
of his eyes when he said those words
for certain was enough to make
your blood run cold"
Then 1 am not wanted, Rose"
says Belinda, rising. IF Colonel
Drewe is to be here with passionate
eyes at nine, the ooner l take myself
off the better"
But the widow will, for no consid-
Grafton, be left alone; is coy as a girl
of seventeen at the thought Of receiv-
ing Colonel Drewe. any gentleman, at
nine o'clock in the evening, un-
chaperoned. Then it suddenly cur
to Mrs. Rose to inquire for her own
lawfully afianced lover, whose exist
ence, in the delightful excitement of
| Colonel Drewe'S arrival, she has, to
tell the truth, as near as possible for
| gotten.
Captain Temple will be here in a
few minutes" says Belinda. Well
must she school herself. before her
tongue can falter out his name!
Miss Burke hired the most horrible
old rattle-trap to bring US back from
Fontarabia, and Captain Temple and
l ! had to walk a good part of the way.
And it was dusty-and I believe Cap
tain Temple has gone to his lodgings
to change his coat
The girl dissimulates vilely; STAN
mers, changes color at every word.
But Rosie's universe at the present
moment is comprised in n fondly-
imagined vision, Colonel Drewe, and
she sees, hears nothing.
Dear, good, old Roger! I can as
sure you, Belinda, this has been the
most narrowing day of my whole life
first thinking of one of them, then
the other! If l had to decide selfish
ly.' says Rose, If Roger Temples
very life did not hang upon my fdel-
iuy, as it does. l am not sure, con-
sidering age and standing and every
thing else, l should not incline most
toward Stanley. Mind, l only say, I
am not sure. The Temples are a
most excellent family. l shall get
Lady Olivia Temple to present me at
court neXt spring. and if there is a
thing I adore in the world, it is
birth
Just as she is speaking comes a
discreet ladies maid tap at the outer
door of the apartment, and in another
moment appears Spencer.
The gentleman who called this
morning. ma'am. would be glad to
know IT, you are sufficiently well to
receive him."
II will make an effort to see this
gentleman, Spencer"-how Colonel
nraua'c hoart must thrill at that