The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-11-02
CHAPTER MI.

hat, and a little bunch of forger-me-
nots at her waist.
Lise scowled at her. There is no
other word for her expression. ana
she would not even take heT hand.
To:menIilla wGs bumped up on the
windOw-seat in her old blue dress, 4
picture Of sVllen despair. And
Audrey the cUlprit. who should have
been so deeply ashamed, stood and
rebui;ed them with a sweet and low
ing friendlincSs they little deserved.
A spray OF fo"Gat-me-nots fell from
her belt. ard she picked it up again.
"Myosotis." she said softly. That's
its other name. lie told he. It's his
favcrite flower"
HE: Who?"
Mr.. Br~0msgrove." Audrey
blushed a little. Were engaged
WHAT"
"Whar?"
Eyes" said Audrey simply: "since
that day. l shall always remember
it. It's qrite a romance"
Ltse SAT- down suddenly, ard Tor
mentilla said something which no oas
heard.
Wont yea wish me ~haJpincss?"
Audrey asked wistrully. Even ia
Tiers given il quite kindly, aHd when
| confessed he said that he would
have forgiven mo if w hal e,or2G.
and have Thanked his God that ned
been spared the expense @: = wedding.
But what a sordid ending that would
have been, He didn't mean It. 1t
was only his fun"
Audrey! You told him that YOU
bal been going to eloDe with Mich
ael?"
Audrey opened her blue eyes
oh, not with Michael" sac said
slowly. That would only have made
things So involved. wouldn't it? And
l couldn't sleep till | had confessed
tbs truth to mother and father
They think that you had arranged
to cope with Mr.. BromSSrove?'
"Oh, no-not exactly that either.
I didn't so into details At all. but |
said l SHOULD never expect to be han
PLY married if | deceived them. AMI
mother said that all was We'll that
ended we'll, and she'd always felt sure
that he would become a bisAo? il
time. A bishops wife has such a
power for good. hasn't she? And he
is SO strong. ! Always felt the need
of some one really strong to lean on.
and Michael was rather a broken reed
even though he is such a dear.
That's what mother said. And even
father said. 'TDank Cod you've chosen
a man this time although mother
wasn't nearly as harsh as that.
Dearest l said, Mr.. BromsGrcre Is
q perfect rock OF silent strength AMI
mother said that silence was q CrCat
gift. l thought that was SO true
But Lise had hidden ncr face in
her hands, and Au6rey's blue eyes
wandered 10 the garden outside.
u think perhaps" she said. that
even if he'd been the otho", Il is all
for the best that We didn't fly to-
gether."
"Wno-what can you mean" Tor
mentilla asked helplessly.
He and l." said Audrey simply.
~you see, dearest Child, = can only
have one wedding, and
You can have more if YOU like"
cried Tormcntilla di2g4s-ed!%. IL you
weren't particular IS to the m~2n&
YOU used to get rid Of Michccl!'
How dreadful yoUr thoughts
sometimes arc" Audrey murm1red in
her innocent way. One can cnly
have enc wedding dress. and oIe
Voice that breathed DER Eden It's
so beautiful. l always think. and
do like to have l choral Wedding,
don't YOU"
Never tried it," Tormentilla said
gruGly.
And then, too Audrey MIR
INJURED, with hef blue eyes still on the
blue sky, one would miss I'll ones
wedding presents. Nav l sit down,
Lise?" Her voice at last began to
take q r~eproachFui tone.
"Oh, please sit down" Lise turned
away AMI crossed to the window IN
the other corner Of the room.
What I wan, 10 know" rorTen-
tilla cried sharply, is why lou didn't
tell us hesore""
Audrey sighed.
Il wanted to-" she said: II often
felt that it would be only kind. But
lei mXelf be guided by wno
knew rest. | bowed to the master
mind"
T]ormentilla started. A dim sus-
picion lying dormant in her wi mi2d
strengthened itself considerably.
He thought" Audrey continued,
~tnat this was tAe best way. lie
said that a lesson must be taught.
He said he was Obliged 10 be cruel to
be kind. And | thought that was
such a beautiful thong H."
Are you mad. Aud:ey?' Lisc
asked the question without turning
round.
"Oh, no-only perhaps a little in
s~pired.'
Does It ever Occur to YOU that you
have treated poor Michael il tae most
shameful Way"
"Oh, no, neyC". Il was very wron?
of him. You see, to suggest SUca q
4l:n- N,j 7 br,a m viii rD- Svn,