The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-02-16

did hope, Rose, that we had seen the
last of that atrocious man when we
left London"
"You are prejudiced against him,
| sir. I'm afraid you don't like poor
Augustus because he was a little too
attentive to me-"
"Rose!"
"Oh, come, Roger, I know what
your ruling passion Is, and always
has been. The ~green-eyed monster,
| sir"
Rosie, I swear"
well we cannot help these things,
my dear; I am ridiculously without
iealously myself. Poor Major O'Shea
often said he wished he could see me
a. little more jealous, but I can make
every allowance for 1t in others. 1
ought, I am sure" adds Rose, with a
reminiscent sigh, II ought to be
able to bear all the jealous suspicious
ness of mems natures after the ex-
perience I have had!"
There is silence for a minute, and
| any one watching Roger Temples
face attentively might discern there
q good deal the look Of a man q IS
trying to repress his WEAKNESS under
the perpetual, exacting babble of a
child. IT don't think you judge OF
me quite correctly, Rose" he re-
marks, after a time. who ever
judges another correctly? Who can
read but by his own light? We were
talking of Mr.. Jones, were we not?
Alb, yes, and you think me jealous OF
Jones! So be it my dear. Poor lit
tie Rosie" He bends forwards and
salutes the widows cheek-very ten
| terly, I may almost say fearfully.
Roger ds better acquainted with fem
mime weakness, as regards rice pow
der especially, than he was on that
| first fatal night at Brompton. 'And
now what about this grand secret or
yours? You have been match-ma-
king, have you? I hope you don't
mean to marry our little daughter
Belinda to Mr.. Augustus Jones?"
HE would be an extremely nice
husband for her, from a worldly point
of view," says Rose, turning over and
over the diamond, a gift Of Rogers,
that rests on her plump third finger.
"And as to education-old Mr.. Jones
was sensible of his W deficiencies,
and had his son coached up by the
most expensive tutors. Any one
hearing Augustus talk would say
that he was quite we'll educated
enough-for a married man.
"And ~presentable enough, refined
enough? The sort of husband a girl
could not only love, but be proud OF?
| Well, Rosie, manage it as you choose.
If you like MI. Jones, and If Belinda
likes Mr.. Jones, you may be sure that
I shall not forbid the banns."
"Ah, there is the difficulty. Belin.
da does not like Mr.. Jones. Belinda
and 1 never liked the same thing or
person yet" Poor Rosie, if the man.
tie of prophecy could but fall upon
her shoulders at this moment! But
you could help me so much, dear, II
o woodland you will, l know"
upraising her eyes coaxingly to her
lovers. You will help me in my
plans for Belinda's happiness? 1t
was all through me, Roger-don't be
cross with me if I confess the truth
it was all through me that Mr..
| Jones came to St. Jean de Luz"
Through you that Mr.. Jones came
| to st. Jean de Luz! And why should
be cross with you, you little goose?"
Rosie talks like a girl of sixteen;
Roger treats her like a girl Of sixteen
yet is sensible, mournfully sensible,
| ever, of the grotesqueness Of so do
ing.
You see, I knew that Augustus
was anxious to marry. suspected,
feared" says Rose, with modest
| grace, that his hopes in some direc.
lions might have been just a little
blighted. and the thought struck me
AS he was going abroad and had
asked me to plan his tour for him
the thought struck me to bring him
and Belinda together. What he
wants is connection; what she wants
is money"
But Belinda is a child STILL" in
terrupts Roger Temple. You are
building all these castles in the air,
| dear, kind little soul that you are
Rosie, for her good, but the thing is
ridiculous. B%elinda's home must be
with US for the next three or four
years. Ample time then to begin
| matchmaking. How could a child
of her age possibly decide" goes on
honest Roger-"how could an limo.
cent-hearted child of Belinda's age
possibly decide whether she ought or
| ought not to sell herself for the SO
many thousands a year snob like
Jones?"
To be Continued.