The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-09-07

koo o0HS VI
have another sconce, Audrey, my
dear. No sugar, thank you, Mr.
Bromsgrove. Mrs. Cogwheel, who
really is that girl with the interesting
Spanish name?"
What 1 WONDER" said Mrs. Hay
firmly, lis whether she Is quite q nice
friend for our girls. Vera has taken
to her in the most surprising way.
She says she is so sincere"
But Vera always was very orig
inal," Mrs. Flanelle said pleasantly;
"such an uncommon girl, I always
say, and so unconventional. She
ought to write. I always think she
ought to write"
Sincere girls are generally dis
agreeable girls. aren't they?" Mrs.
Cogwheel said mildly "Not literally,
I mean, but If you've eve had a can
did friend, or what passes for one,
you'll know what I mean. OF course
sincerity in the abstract is q beautiful
thing, but one car be too o%utspoken,
don't you think? But I feel sure
Tormentil1a is an excellent friend
for Audrey. She is a relation of Sir
Diggory Grouse, I believe, and Audrey
adoresEer, don't you, darling?"
"Shx is so sweet" said Audrey
softl& Quite by accident, she stood
wheEe the golden light from the col
oredT glass panes at the top Of the
easement windows fell upon her hair,
and crowned her, as Mr.. Bromsgrove
said afterwards to her mother, like
an a~ureole." Her eyes, he remarked
at the same time, were blue stars in
her fower-like face. "And you
know, dearest" her mother added as
she repeated his remarks afterwards,
with her usual goodnight kiss, "he
is not only a really good and pious
man, but intellectual as we'll, which is
so rare. And his taste is beyond all
well, you heard him on Sordello,
and one need say nc more. A man
who could see such things in that
great poem-things you and I could
never have dreamt possible for it to
hold, sacred, beautiful, hidden mean
ings-Audrey, T ask you"
Eyes, indeed" said Audrey, raising
her flushed and lovely face from the
pillow. "And do go, dearest, won't
you? I am so sleepy"
But at the Browning tea. she had
stood there in her childish, simple
way, ignorant, of course, of the vi
cars rapt gaze, while Lise in her
usual corner had watched her mar
rowly.
"Tormentilla is so sympathetic"
Audrey said. And she has ideas
as we'll, which makes it all the more
wonderful. And she is so bright and
encouraging. She gives one new
heart with her courage" Here she
looked away out of the window and
sighed. "She almost makes one take
ones courage in ones own hands
and" She stopped suddenly, met
Mr.. Bromsgrove's eyes, and blushed
adorably.
$50 breezy, isn't she?" Miss Cot
ton murmured. IT always think she
Is so extraordinarily breezy for a
young girl"
Mr.. Bromsgrove put his cup away
and sat down heavily.
"May>I ask" he said slowly, what
you know of this breezy young lady's
family and-er-antecedents?"
con, nothing whatever" Audrey
replied promptly. "But that makes
her all the more interesting, doesn't
it?"
"a touch of mystery gives a charm
to anything" Mrs. Flanelle said, as
she drew on her long gloves. Il
quite agree with you there. I always
say to cook in the mornings, Cook,
I leave it to you. Don't, don't, let
me ever guess at what we are to have
for lunch, for it sDoils everything So
And when it so often turns out to
be chops, I think it is unreasonable
and sordid Of my husband to be an
noyed, and I always tell him so.
What would life be if there were no
dark s~ecrets?"
Lise giggled, but her temper, too,
was rising.
Much better worth living,
wouldn't it," she said sharply.
"And she is a dear child; a simple,
~unspoiled little schoolgirl. There
is nothing mysterious about her.
Miss Cotton has told US that her
aunt is a cousin of Sir Diggory
Grouse, and that Tormentilla is here
for change of air after g. rather sever
attack of influenza. She lives in
London"
Mr.. Bromsgrove coughed.
> 81 should advise you to make.
careful inquiries about this young
lady before you allow your daughter
to become intimate with her." he
said, smiling in his courtly way at
Mrs. Cogwheel, and every one was
much impressed, and more curious
than ever.
tn he Continued.