The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-09-01
CHAPTER XVIII.
TEE MAN IN THE s1rrINa-RooM.

When Roland awoke on the morning fol-
sun was shining brightly through the win.
dows OF his room. His head ached badly.
and he felt weak and sore in every joint
from his exertions Of the night before.
His effort to arise resulted in an increase
OF his pain, but after time he succeeded in
dressing himself and reaching sofa which
stood near the stove, in which bright fire
was burning.
Then he noticed for the first time that
beautiful bouquet of autumn flowers stood
on the table at the head of his bed. He at
once arose, took it in his handand returned
to his cozy resting place.
"How beautiful it is!' he mur4nured,
caressing the boquet, in the arrangement
of which great taste had heen exercised.
II wonder if Bertha had any hand in thisr
It was very kind, especially after my will
fulness Of last evening"
While he was enjoying the beauty OF tho
flowers the door opened and Grover en-
tered.
"Good morning." he said, ri hardly ex-
pec.ed to see you out Of bed to-day. You
looked like ghost when you care in last
night. see you found Miss Bertha's bou-
quet." he added, laughing. "She is dear,
kind girl, and I am heartily glad OF her
brothers good fortune"
"She was very kind to me yesterday"
said Roland, "but suppose her mind will
be taken up with other matters now" ne
added, with sigh.
"How SOP" asked Grover.
"Why, what usually occupies young
girls minds on such occasions ?" asked
Roland, pleasure and dress, and lovers, Of
course"
Grover laughed.
"You are mistaken this time," he said.
Bertha would be just the same girl she is
now-or was yesterday-if she were called
to the throne of England, and, as for lovers,
believe she thinks more Of her brother
than any one else in the world"
Roland felt as though load had been
taken from his his heart.
Bertha was heart free!
Truly the young man was allowing him.
self to be guided by circumstances, and
that with vengeance.
"Well, WELL" said Grover, "the girls sent
INC up here to see il you were ready for
breakfast, and here stand talking and
letting you go hungry. will go down at
once and send them up"
In few moments Bertha and Fanny
made their appearance with daintily pre-
pared breakfast, which they arranged upon
table and drew to the young man s side.
"Did you rest well, Mr.. Gordon?" asked
Fanny, rs she poured out cup Of fragrant
tea.
Roland saw that she knew nothing Of
his going out, and replied in the afirna.
tive.
"What world of trouble I must be" he
said. "Please be seated, girls, and let me
help myself" he added. "This is too
pleasant home scene to be spoiled by my
laziuess."
The girls seated themselves near the
table, and the young man went on with his
talk.
ut is strange he said, with smile,
chow the misfortunes of life are sometimes
needed to bring about ones pleasantest ex-
periences. Here am, after years of health
and loneliness, in pleasant little scene
which only illness could bring about
Still. am not certain but my isolation
from society has been entirely my own
fault"
"Do you forget the writer who compared
the world to a mirror?" said Bertha. "If
you make mouths at it you only get ugly
faces back, while smile always commands
one in in return
$50 it's better to laugh than to sigh,'
hummed Roland. al think will profit by
that comparison" he added. "But suppose
one lives in front of shattered portion Of
this great mirror, rs l believe I have all
my life3''
"Then he has only to move" said Ber-
tha. "You SEQ you can't destroy the the
ory in that way
"Well," said Fanny, 81 will leave You to
your discussion aud attend to . calls"