The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-09-14
CHAPTER VI.

Gl11N liz IC SiiiIiSu
Il can't take no orders from YOU
sir, I'm afraid. No one but Mr.
Grimes is in hauthority over ME
William was dom very we'll where he
was. Them young birds in Cherry
Gully wants a deal Of watching
Williams as good as q minder Of the
chicks as ever l had. Els more good
at that than leading an active life, is
William"
Mr.. Bromsgroye sighed.
Il explained to yoa," he began
"the reason I had
Let young folks enjoy them
selves" said Mr.. Groves, pleasantly
twilkling. Live and let live. I only
wish I was twenty-five again. with
young woman a-waitin' at the stiic
for me. We're getting no younger,
Mr.. Bronsg-ove, sir, YOU and me,
Youth is the s~pringtime of life, ]
heard you remark from the pulpit
on Sunday, and I says to my Wits
when I went home to my dinner,
low true!' I says. And she smiled
at me so unexpected-we having had
a cold dinner-that it fair softened
my heart to all them young things as
we see about us, sparrers, and lambs,
and calves, as well as the kittens by
the freside. And I've made up my
mind to let William abe"
"Ah!" said Mr.. B~romsgrove sadly,
|'Is that indeed so? I shall be writ
ing to the Earl next week. I am
afraid, Groves, that If you disoblige
me in. this way
Little Miss Green 'ull perhaps say
a word for me, too," Mr.. Groves re-
marked innocently, dropping his gun
and leaning On it with an amiable
smile.
Little Miss Green! Do 7 under
stand that that young person has
been influencing you to set aside my
wishes, them"
Well, she did drop an int that
she was interested in the young wo-
mans 'appines2." he murmurod.
Groves" said the vicar sharply,
shat young person viii get into
trouble. She will set YOU into trou-
bic. She-I feel sure-she is not
by any means what she nretends to
be-"
she tinted at that, too" Mr..
Groves said; then evidently regretted
the admission. "a fine, free, we'll
sct-up young lady she is" he said
firmly. And I'm now going home
to my tea. sir, if you please. Coed
afternoon.
Mr.. Bromsgrovc walked quickly on.
his anger rising. So this girl was
setting him at defiance and interfer-
ing with him. She was undermining
the character Of the Earl's faithful
servants, was she? Well, she should
see in time-she should certainly see.
But he strolled sadly along the Ma
Under road, plunged in deep thought,
with his eyes on the ground. and he
made a mental addition to his black
list
So sad he was. so dispirited and
disheartened, that he didn't hear q
light, quick step behind him, and
when a sweet, fresh, girlish voice
broke upon his gloomy ear it made
him start.
81 am glad" said Audrey with a
pretty blush, turning to him a face
IS sweet, and sweeter, than the June
afternoon. I'm going to take a lit
tie pudding from mother to poor old
Miss Greebs IN Lavender Lane"
"a pudding?" Mr.. Bronsgrove
playfully lifted the basket-lid. DE
licious! I should like 10 steal it.
Did you-but of course you didn't
make it YOURSELF"
"Oh, but I did," said Audrey mod
estly. II feel somehow as if it is
only a shallow pretense Of charity to
take things to the poor that are made
by cook, and I told mother so.
Dearest I said to her only haitian
hour. ago, even If it is a little too
solid, it was made with so many low
ing good wishes that I really think I
ought to take It. Don't you think so,
Mr.. Bromsgrove?"
Certainly" cried he warmly.
1.-THE spirit-the spirit is everything.
The will is better, far better, than
the deed"
oh" Audrey turned her sea-
blue eyes upon him trustfully. "How
wonderfully clear you make all these
puzzling questions! You seem to
turn night into day, YOU do really. I
said to mother: Dearest, doesn't Mr..
Broysgrove turn night into day?'
And, father said he hoped not, and
that he supposed l meant that you
turned light into darkness, and l told
him that I meant that as we'll, but
mother said, oh, yes"
Il am going to visit this poor crea-
ture myself Mr.. B~romsgrove said
softly. 1T is my habit to drop in
and say a few CHEEKY words, quite
secular very often, from time to time.
I should like to carry the basket with
-.dis wonderful pudding if You will
allow me to-"
Audrey turned a surprised and
grateful look upon him.
"Oh, will you?" she said. at will
make all the difference If you will.
I'm rather mizzy to-day, l am afraid.
You will find me very dull company.
But you know, don't you, that when
one is unhappy, one cannot always