The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-02-12

which had led had not now upheld
her. a.
"Courage!'' Tyrrell said, in q
tone Of reinsurance, but also o1
anxiety. "Don't give way now
that we are safe Can I trust you
to stand alone one minute, while
strike light?" s# a...-.
Margaret said eyes," but nc
sooner was the support of his arm
withdrawn, than she quietly sank
down upon the floor. There she
sat, leaning her head against the
wall near which she CHANGED to be,
while he felt about a little, finally
struck a match, and then lighted a
lamp.
BY the aid of this, she saw some.
thing of the habitation into which
she had entered. Plainly a bach,
elor's den, for there was a bed in
one corner, cupboard in another,
a table covered with books and pa.
pers, a pipe and a pair of pistols
over the mantel, kettle on the
hearth, and a curious sort Of mas
cnline order-which is a very differ
ent thing indeed from feminine
order44in in all the arrangements: A
glance at the walls and ceiling
showed her that it was one Of the
bettetsclass of workmen's cottages
whichlwas thus metamorphosed.
Hating lighted his lamp, Mr.
TyrreH's next step was to rummage
in hid cupboard, from which he
brought forth a bottle and a tum-
bier.
"Yau must take stiff glass Of
brandy, Miss Churchill" he said,
bringing these up to Margaret.
cit is your only hope Of avoiding an
attack of illness. Good Heavens,
how wet you are!" he went on,
touching her dress as be spoke.
eyes, said Margaret, meekly:
The hood of her waterproof ha: j
fallen back, and her hair-drenched
as a mermaid's-was rolling loosely
down her back. AS she looked up,
she certainly presented as forlorn
an appearance as a woman whom
Nature had made pretty could pos
sibly manage to do. She swallowed
the brandy without any demur
whatever, thenllethim disembarrass
her of her cloak, and assist her into
a large easy-chair, where he. bade
her be quiet for five minute. ;,
She obeyed, watching with Ian
guild yet slightly amused interest
his proceedings. Certainly he was
very deft in knowing what to- do
and how to do it,. In two minutes
he had kindIed a fire which was
soon burning brightly, and put the
kettleppop it, Then he tisI,ed a
pair of dingy slippers from q recess
and brought them to her,,
."You must take off your shoes
and put these on" he said. ::4'm
sorry that I have nothing else which
I can offer you"
"This is all I shall need" an
swered she. }s'The water. proof did
its duty, and I'm not very wet.
But YOU" .l.aa .r...g. ,ira. ...: /:
"Never mind about me,' he in
terrupted. "Come up to the fire
and dry yourself as well'as you can.
I am going out for lew minutes" !"
He went out, and did not return
for at least quarter Of an hour.
By that time Margaret had changed
her shoes, dried at least in meas
ure-her drenched skirts, shaken
out her hair, realized her position,
and summoned back sufficient spirit
to meet it. It was a very changed
face, flushed half by the fire., half
by excitement, and IF there can be
three halves to a whole) half per-
haps by the brandy she had been
forced to swalloU v, WHICH turned
round when Roland Tyrrell entered,
if possible more drenchea than be-
fore. -. -.a- I'D 49," ar2-rs a4
II have been out to observe the
weather: Miss Churchill,' he said,
sinking involuntariiy into a chair,
II fear thatit will make a prisoner
of you for some hours to come
probably, indeed, for the night. !
have never seen a more terrible
storm, and the flood is rising rapid
ly. God pity the poor in it's path
to-night!'' he added, half to him=
self "-' ." 80. '... ...'.., S.'..-
care we in danger?" asked Mar.
garet, shivering slightly, tor even
above the voice of the tempest SIZE
could hear the terrible roar of the
river. .... 'a ',.r.l-.'-.s.
"Oh no.. he answered. @'"Dc
you think I would keep you here il
you were in danger? This is 6
very elevated position. Do yor
know Conrad's Hill? That is where
you are, and this house is one of {
number which I was building fol
my mill operatives. They are no
likely to need them now," he said
with shrug. .4a. .. '-..
Margaret's communicative gn,cel
had told her that among the mill
owners Mr.. Tyrrell had suffered
most severely-that, in fact, he wa.
very nearly cas- good as q ruines
mon'' an tha tona of tbio Loot eon