The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-08-10

"a lady? Mrs. Gramper?"
No, Miss Green. She is lodging
with Mrs. Gramper. She would like
to see Dr.. Cogwheel this afternoon
she said briefly. throwing back her
head and turning to go.
"Oh, ! beg your pardon" said Au-
drey apologetically, with an appeal
ing smile. 1T was very impertinent
of me. Do please understand that
only wish to be able to explain as
much as l can to my father. Doctors
naturally like to know things, you
see. It's very troublesome of them.
l quite see that. And people are SO
averse to telling anything, aren't
they?"
Miss Green is an old friend of
Mrs. Gramper's last situation'-the
pinafore girls ready powers of inven-
ton startled herself-''and I'm her
niece.
Then you are-?'
Eyes" said the other shortly, for
she found Audrey's sweetness almost
s%uffocating; Il am she hesitated,
but only for a moment-"Tormentilla
Green. Good day"
Audrey held out her hand.
II am so glad you came" she said.
eve shall like to call upon Miss
Green, if we may. Mrs. Gramper was
at Coltsfoot Hall, before, wasn't she?
Are you really related to Sir Diggory?
Mother will be charmed. l can't tell
you how pleased mother will be II
she can do anything for Miss Green.
1 only hope she isn't seriously ILL.,
Her pretty, empresse manner, her
delicate and apparently genuine con-
Germ, her wide, appealing blue eyes,
her little rosebud Of a mouth, her
easy, friendly manner, were too much
for Tormentilla. She took the deli
cate little hand Audrey offered and
shook it Imply.
There are so few nice girls IN
Malinder," said Audrey sadly; Il
often say to mother. Dearest l say,
the world is so empty, isn't it? A
true friend is so rare Father says
in his cynical, manly way that no
womanly women ever makes a real
friend, but mother quite sees. 1t Will
be such a pleasure to know you.
Thanks so much" said. Tormen-
tilla brusquely. "Good-by. Please
tell DR.. Cogwheel.'
"Oh. of course he shall know--the
very minute he comes in: l will walt
for him on the doorstep. Literally l
will. Would you like to see the gar
den? What a dear little red flower
YOU are wearing! What is its pretty
name?" .
"Tor-it's a kind of a sarsaparilla, "
said Miss Green's niece hastily. Anu
I think perhaps I'd better get back to
GREENE now, if you don't mind
"Greenie!" Audrey broke into her
pretty, girlish laugh. How perfectly
sweet of you to call your aunt that!
Mother would never stand it for an
instant from me. Would yours? Or
father. They insist upon the most
old-fashioned respect. So quaint Of
them. isn't it? Do yours?"
Tormentilla's blows blackened. Il
should never want to try anything
else" said she gloomily, and went
home.
The great, ugly Italian house
looked like a prison to her as she
ran up the grass steps of the terraces
to it. She slipped in through a side
door and down a long, cool, painted
passage to a wide, large-windowed
room looking out to the rose-garden.
1t was a pretty room, with yellow
painted walls and oak beams; a room
which seemed to hold the sunshine
long after the sun had gone in.
A little gray lady embroidering
something in delicate colors, by the
window, looked up with a welcoming
smile as the girl came in.
1--WE only coughed seven times
she said as Tormentilla flung herself
into a rocking-chair. I'm really
much better. If you would only allow
me to treat this as an imaginary cold,
I know it would cease to exist. These
things are more Influenced by ones
imagination than"
T]ormentilla laughed, in spite Of
her gloom.
Don't talk Christian Science to
me to-day, GREENE. I can't stand it.
If you want to make me believe that
your imagination can make you sniff
like that, and lie awake coughing all
night, I simply won't-so there! And
the doctors coming to see you this
afternoon anyhow. It's a beautiful
world. Cheer up"
rs it wise?" Miss Green's cold
had weakened her usual cheerful view
of life. Ito ask strange doctors in
if you wish to remain"
I'm ambush" the girl said lightly.
"Oh, you can be too careful, and, be-
sides, l have told the mans daughter
that / am your niece"-she tossed
her straw hat at a sandy kitten
on the acknowledgements
/, Green. It came 10 me as an inspira-
ton this afternoon. Isn't it a mumpy-
frumpy name, Greenfe dear? A
pricky, spiky, diagreeable name? It's
Il suitable name for a creature who
only lives to be a torment to every
body and everything. Oh dear, oh
dear! How ! hate it ALL"