The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-07-24

Cu w UCChOl uCl vi w GlO pCl pCGl "
tion of the rankest act of folly ever
perpctratcd by "woman Of tho
world" 80
Then the thought of Roso and of
Harry-the two strangely mingled
came back to her as they had come
the night before. She seemed to see
the fair, rosebud beauty Of the girl,
and to feel the same pang of absolute
ly painful pity which she had felt the
night before, when she saw her fall
ing into the tolls Of the adventurer,
who avowedly wooed her only for her
fortune. Yet tho night before she
had steeled her heart: and said,
"Whcre is the remedy?" Now she
seemed to see tho remedy.
"My life does not matter" she said
aloud. II have only myself to con-
slider; and, therefore, why should I
consider at all? Nobody can be in-
jurcd or aggrieved if throw myself
away :; while Rose-ahl it is different
with her. She has o mothers heart
to be broken. Poor, foolish child
she has even a heart Of her own to
suffer land how it aoould suffer when
she learned the truth! How little
she will thank me for such consfdera.
tion; she added, with short laugh;
sand yet-if she only knew it-how
infnitesimal is the heartache or two
she will suffer now, to the ocean ot
anguish I will spare herl Am mad
1 wonder?" she went on, walking tc
the mirror and looking at herself
II should certainly have said so yes
terday. But to-day I feel inclined tc
act before sanity comes back"
Mrs. Inglesby, senior, who, like al
the rest of the household, felt singu
larly restless and unsettled after The
night OF adventure, had wandered
into the garden, and was blankly sur
veying the smoking ruins which
marked the place where the house
had so lately stood, when, to he,
amazement, Alice advanced from one
Of the dining room windows TOWARD
her.
"My dear, you up2" she cried
aghast. ,s,...
"Thanks, yes, I have quite recover
cd," Alice answered. Then, hasten
ing on to cut short tho remonstranct
she felt to be impending: ri saw yol
from my window, and 1 hurried dowr
at once, because I thought I coult
not find better opportunity fol
speaking to you-in confidence, i
you have no objection"
Of course, Mrs. Inglesby had NJ
objection, and only o few words were
necessary to put matters on conf
Dental footing between them. The
mothers heart was too sorely anx
ious not to be glad Of any counsellor
much more of any helper; and Alice
with the quiet composure of on
certain of her own power. Befor'
very long, Mrs. Inglcsby's worst anx
iety was relieved, and her worst fear
allayed. ;l a. ~ a.a..
"Find somo excuse for OBTAINING
Rose, this morning, from her usua
walk" said Alice, sand 1 will guaran
tee that Laurence Kennon shall neve
trouble her again"
'But-but, my dear, how will 20,
manage it ?" Mrs. Inglesby cried. s.'
"Nevor mind how 1 shall manag
it," the other answered. II promis'
to accomplish it-that is all. Yol
will hear the result before long," sh'
added, as she turned toward th'
house; "aud I hope you will be lit
tie sorry when I say that it will prob
ably force me to leave you"
'But-Mr. Devcreux ?" exclaimed
the elder lady, who now began to have
an inkling Of the truth.
"Roso will console Mr. Dcvercux,
dare say" Alice answered, quietly
And then she walked away.
1t would be hard to say how deep
ly Rose was chagrinod when he
mother made an absolute demand fo
her presence that morning, and whel
she found that, without betraying al
undue anxiety for her usual walk
she must submit to remain at home
Prudence, for o,ce, carried the day
She submitted with a very bad grace
consoling herself with the though
that Kennon was again safely domi
ciled in Northorpe, and that opportu
mites for seeing him were many. So
although it is to be feared that Mrs
Iuglesby did not have very amiabl'
companion, she still CARRIED her point
and the field was left clear for Alice
At the hour when Rose was in th'
usual habit Of going out, Alice came
downstairs, and left tho house. Al
she descended the front steps, sh'
met a servant ascending them with /:
letter in his hand, and, when he touch
ed his cap and extended it, she saw
that it WIS addressed to herself. In {
second, her heart gave a great leap
The writing told her at once that i
was from Devereux, and she mus
needs have been dull beyond th'
measure of ordinary dulncss, if sh'
had not at once OWNED the nature o
it's contents. For a moment sh'
stood still, looking at the envclop a.
it lay in her hand thinking, perhaps
how hard it was to fight against fate
She had thought to put temptation
aside, and here it met her at the very
threshold of her new determination
She had thought it would be easier tt
ignore the rich prize which chance
had thrown into her life than to abso
lutely nervo herself to the point o
rejecting it; yet hero it was in he
hand, and acceptance or rejection wa