The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-09-18

wbv. but from that moment I pit

why. but from that moment I pit
led him.
He got.up. and commenced walk
II tell you, Winfred, I must
have this money" he said. 81
must have it tonight, tonight" he
repeated.
Mrs. Maltby was silent. ]
caught a glimpse of her face. Flint
was not harder.
4sLet me have it, Winfred," he
said, pausing before her, "and |
promise you that it shall be the
last time" s. -
She made NO reply.
"The last time. | mean,. Win
fred"
His voice faltered. She did not
speak. =.
"Will YOU"
"No," she replied, with no emo
ton whatever.
His face had been working with
some strong deep feeling. But
that monosyllable seemed to strike
MIN like a blow. He stood look
ing at her, his face still and desper
ate.
asI did not think God could make
such a woman as you are" he said
at last. so, - az 1
Ifelt her shrink beneath the ae-
tual horror with which he seemed
to regard her. But she spoke with
unaltered ,eomposure.
"I told you more than a year ago,
that I should pay no more debts OF
yours, contracted at faro, or in
other way" she said. II meant it;
YOU know that | meant it. I have
given you fair warning. I shall
not change"
He did not speak; his head was
dropped upon his breast, he was
deathly pale.
81 have done my duty by you,
Guy-you know that 4 have" she
added. - 'a
eyes, you have been just-bat
you have never been merciful," he
replied. ooh, God! HeTfung up
his arms with a bitter cry that
wrung my heart. @ ~ +
I looked at her. She did not re-
lent or 60 to him. He had flung
himself into a chair, and with bis
head dropped and his arms folded
upon the back, was the most hope
less figure I had ever seen. She
rose, for I had finished her hair, and
took a seat near the fire. Herslips
were gray, as if she were cold, but
her face was still as infexible as
flint. aaf.
! He gave a groan, and started UP
suddenly. :.
! II am going" he said. 2
He. met her r~eye, and asked: "Why
did you net Kill me? 1 was alto
gether in your hands once. ou
Killed her, you will remember.
A slight flush stained her cheek.
"You would have made her hap
by, I suppose, if she had lived
Oh, heaven, if she had lived
Winfred Sedley, may God deal by
you as yeualealt by me-"
II am willing" she answered.
He remained not a moment lon
ger. Wrapping his cloak about
him, he gave her one look OF re-
pvoach, and left the room, [ looked
wistfully at her; she did not speak
to me, and I too, went away.
She was i'll the next day, but t:on
the day, following she appeared
much as usual.
Of all that I thought and felt, l,
of course, said nothing. The mat
ter was no affair Of mine. I had
not understood it. Mrs. Maltby
would make me feel it. I under
stood that the two were brother and
sister-that the young man was
named Guy Sedley-that he was
dissolute and in disgrace, that Mrs.
Maltly had taken care OF him IN
boyhood, but now ignored the re-
lationship. I was in no way allow
ed to learn any more.
But on that second night, I was
awakened by light shining into
my chamber.
It was something unusual, for &he
little clock on the mantel was CHM
ingtwelve.
After amoment I slipped out Of
bed and glided toward the open
door. The long, embroidered folds
of my night dress tripped me, but ]
made no noise with my bare feet
upon the deep velvet Of the carpet.
I don't know whom I expected tc
see-certainly not Guy Sedley!
kneeling before a san'al-wooc
chest, with papers strewn arouno
him ON the floor. A taper, 'burning
in the silver sconce upon the wall
showed his face perfectly cool as he
went on searching for something
He must have come through my
room to reach this apartment, for i
had no opening but into my cham
Der. I was aware that the papers
in the chest were valuable-that
there was money placed there.
saw that he was nobbirg his sister
T saw too a dirk-knife ON the AoOl