The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-07-08
| looked up into her face. In its |

| l looked up into her face. In its
rasalon-pa}lor, in the trembling lip.
IN tho scarce rrstraiucd tears that had
gathered slowly to the eyes, [ read
what made me tal1c her swiftly in my
arms; and then the silence was bro
ken by. tho sweet sound Of her own
uamC-"liclcnm
! She slivcrcd, as she had ehivcrcl
in that valso, only, this time; not
with fear. And her head, with its
diadcm OF amber hair, sank dowu
upon my breast: and bent mine till
my lips touched hers, AMI chung to
them. l had won her! Not yet.
Tho next moment she had freed her
self.
"Oh! why have you dono this p
She sobbcd-wailcd almost.
"Why? Because J. love you, Helen,
because you love me. And because
you and [ know this is So"
eyes," sho murmurcd; eyes; you
love me. l know that. 1 knew it
that day at Fulham. AS no one has
ever loved ever will love me. l
know that"
"And you love mo, Helen. You
know that too"
"And yet you ask NC" 1 began,
so far of my head rs to be going to
arguo with her.
"Bccansc this should never have
been. All between US must end here
and now.
"In heavens name, why?" l broke
in, rather mad with this piece Of fem
1rSr ttNyl,,-
drank" she said, coolly now,
Crank, this IS folly. You know my
story. You cannot marry a bcggar
rs shall be-
"Nor You, q ccqu'il parait."
"Sclfish and cruel T.
Even ut that moment I couldn't but
admire that truly feminine rctort.
She went on.
~? Am 1 thinking of myself?
And yet this is my fault. knew
what has happened must happen.
Yes; it is I who have been selfish.
knew it; and ought -. Rut-oh!
Frank, [ knew you loved nc; and
my lovclcss life seemed SO bittcr-so
bittcri And -"
And here she broke down .sobbinm.
My wilful passionate darlingl She
was trying to persuade herself that
she was acting molly and disintcrcs
tcdiy; and being noways fitted for
such self.martyrdom, was falling sig
nally. She ought to have nipped this
love of mine sharply in tho bud, but
lacked tho will. And now sho was
trying to sacrifice it, and her own
love, on this shrine Of duty-now
when sho was my own, when She had
rested her head upon my breast, when
she lad given her lips to mine.
fdidn't repeat my folly of attcmp-
ting to argue with her. Her hand
was strong enough against mo as it
was without such strengthening. 1
didn't take her in my arms again and
stille her fccblo spocial-ploading with
kisses. 1 let her say her say. And
then when she had sunk back into tho
low, deep fauteuil, weak and trcm-
bling and dcfencclcss again, I knclt
beside her, and holding fast in mine
the little soft hands l never meant to
let go, told her how it must needs
fare with me if sho had her way.
Aud [ was conqucring what I knew
all along my own Of right; tho violet
eyes were fall Of happy tears; tho
words looked to hear already trcmb-
ling on tho full lips that had grown
meek again, whcn-thcrc was q ms
tic Of woman's drapcrics; and through
the chaloscuro Of the room, Lady
Oswcstcy bore down upon us,
And Helen rose, and, before T could
stay her, had fed away swiftly upon
her feet, leaving me to face my lady
alone.
10 which 1 did as best might.
For a while Lady Oswastry looked
grave and judicial; then, by degrees,
bcnignant, but mildly rcproachful
when l took my leave, protective and
honestly rropitious. 1t was arranged
between us that L should como to
Park lane carly tho next day.
At a frightlul undnc hour 1 drove
there. A hanson had just pulled mo
ut the door; tho late occupant was
speaking to the groom of the cham
bcrs in the hall. was just in timo to
hear tho functionary's answer to the
questions put to him:
"No Sir. My lady and Mrs Wy
browc left town for tho continent last
evening""
The other swung round on his heel
with q fierce "carojol" and again
stood face to face with Alvarez Smith,
tho man with the evil eye.
ITO be Concluded next week.7