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

naStlly IN Jle OppoSlGe ulrectlOu, huce
wont her way toward the square in
which Rose usually took her morning
walk, and whore she was sure Of;
meeting Kennon. Il
When she entered, she strolled up
and down the paths laid out so trim
ly between paths Of green sward; but
no sign Of Kennon appeared. Several
nurses were sitting round the foun-
tain that played in the centre Of the
square children were trundling hoops
up and down the walks one or two
men were resting on shady benches,
reading morning papers; and q pair
of schoolgirls strolled past, with
their heads bent over, their French
grammars. For short time, Alice
was puzzled by Kennon's absence
from the tryst; but then she remem-
bered that she was early, and, choos-
ing walk which was uninvaded, she
sat down on q bench to wait. Wait
! ing is, at all times, tiresome work /;
and, being in O state Of excitement,
she found it moro than usually tire
some this morning. So her hand
soon found it's way to her pocket. and
brought forth Devereux's letter.
Having brought it forth, the next
step was to open and read it. She
had read it twice, and her face was
still bent over the page, when ring
ing step on the gravel-path mado her
look up just as Kennon's shadow. fell
over her. .
He looked astonished-as, indeed,
there was good reason that he should
be. ,r a.t
II am glad to see you so entirely
recovered" he said, stopping before
her, but speaking very 5fligidly. se'I
feared that the results of your adven-
ture last night might prove very SO.
rious." - - $500 - ~ l',,5.
cit might have proved serious to
some people," she, answered. "Forr
tunately for me, however, I do not
feel nervous shock very much, and
there was little else in that. IF you
had been ten minutes later, though"
"You might haye been beyond re-
covery," said he, coolly finishing her
sentence as she paused He was on
his guard now, and notseyen into his
eyes .fickeredb anything more than
the quietest courtesy.
'sIt was very horrible" said she, in
low voice. "Isnever knew before
what suffocation meant; but the
7 dense smoke quite overpowered me,
and I suppose I must have been in
sensible for some time before you
came." =. 80 sf.3T
"Why did you 60 there ?" he asked,
unable to repress his curiosity on that
point. E2s.' s's'tH Z
"Thero were some very fine; pic.
lures there" she answered. 'Ilwant.
ed to save some Of them. After ALL
however, I did not succeed in doing
So" .I' $50 e:
Then there was a pause. Kennon
was still standing before her, but he
now made a movement as if he would
have bowed and passed on; only inst
then she looked up and spoke quickly
: with the manner of one who. had
nerved herself to an effort.
~ believe you have an appointment
with Rose" she saida "Shpi is not
} here-will not be here this morning,
If you do not object, however, I should
like to say a few words to you"
She pointed to q vacant place on
} the bench beside her, and, after a
slight hesitation, Konnon sat down.
II confess I do not understand"
he began; but she interrupted him.
"You do not, understand what
brought me here? That is very like,
ly; but, ifyou will be patient mo-
ment, you shall hear. We are old
friends, and I wish to ask your advice.
Will you read that ?" nr
She held Devercux's letter toward
: him, and, with increased surprise, he
received it. He gave start as soon
as he saw the opening words, but he
did not raise his eyes, and, as he read
, it, she watched him keehly. He held
his face under tolerably good control,
but she had once known it's least
weather-sign, and her eyes were not
likely to deceive her now. Yet, when
he finished, lie looked up and spoke
with more passion and less bitterness
than she had expected.
"Well," said he, tell me now the
meaning of this. You did not use to
, be cruel for the mere sake of cruelty,
and I am loath to think that you
have leasned to find pleasure in the
} infictidh Of pain. Yet your motive
J for giving me such letter puzzles
me. Do you want me to 90 and cut
this mans throat" he went on, with
ill-restrained veh smence, ''that you
show me. the words of love with
which he offers you my inheritance ?"
. ~ told you what I want" she an
swered. IL want your advice"
'My advice? can give it to you
in two words-marry him. He is
', rich, and he is fool-marry him p
"He is not o fool" she said, with
something like indignation in her
voice. ':He is man Of whose love
any woman might be proud-whop,
:, any woman might we'll learn. to love,
That letter. "-she pointed to it as she
spoke-"has touched me moro than ]
: can say. Only fine nature and q
gentle heart could have written such
words as those" ,,.,
"Marry him, then for Gods sake
marry him!' - -i .,.:s...
She rose from her scat, and took 9
) turn down tho walk then eame back