The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-06-30
CHAPTER XIV.

X, -.zssE
CHAPTER XIV.
AN UNEXPECTED, AN UHwE1coME PROPOSAL.
When Malcolm reached the hall, Mr..
Derwent, who had beensout, and had lust
returned, was so eagerly interrogatine the
footman, that he ddnot perceive the young
barrister's approach.
"a gentleman with Miss Lindslyp How
long has he been with herp Who admit
ted him? What name did he give?''
The confused servant stammered out
some unintelligible reply, glancing, at the
same time at Malcolm, who was now within
hearing. --...-,......--.
Mr.. Derwent noticed the direction of
his eye, and turned sharply round. AS
soon as he saw who it was, he held out his
hand, and cordially welcomed him.
II was just inquiring who it was that
had favored US with such an early visit.
You were not going, were you, without
seeing me ?" he added, with an air Of ap.
parent astonishmert.
"My call was business one, and on Miss
Lindsly," Malcolm replied. ri came to
bring her some letters of her fathers's."
"Was that all 2" Mr.. Derwent inquired,
with meaning look. "Did not your bust
ness include the advocacy Of certain
suitp"
"of Vernon Aubrey's p-yes," -. !. Malcolm
answered, directly, for he scorned any fur
ther evasion. 'tMr. Aubrey is my frien,
and his attachment to Miss Lindsly dates
from their early youth"
ri guessed that it was for him you plead
ed, for saw him driving up and down the
road as I came along" Mr.. Derwent
observed. ri will not say that am sorry
for his disappointment, for Of course,
cannot wish it otherwise, but I pity him.
In losing Violet, he loses a treasure.
Well, WELL" he added, as if arguing tha
matter with his own compsnctious feelings.
aubrey is young; he will overcome his
regrets, and marry some one else ere long.
1t would have wrecked my future to have
lost her."
"You argue selfsh1y, Mr.. Derwent,"
Malcolm could not help remarking, "and
appear to put the sentiments of the lady
quite out of the question. Is it possible
that Violet Lindsly can be as happy with
you, for whom she can only experience o
flial affection, as with young man
whose age and tastes are 50 much more in
unison with her own"
Mr.. Derwent palpably WINGED; such
home questions were very unpalatable.
"You probe me Closely" he answered,
with an attempt to smile; "but I have
already debated this with myself; and be-
leve that, in the course of time, I shall
succeed in making Violet happy. We will
consider this subject finally closed, if you
please, MIR. Malcolm. Miss Lindslv has
consented to wed me; and we shall hope
to have your congratulations, and enjoy n
greater share of domestic felicity than you
seem inclined to prognesticaA. Have you
seen Sybil?"
II have not asked for Miss Derwent," an
swered Malcolm, his voice losing its equa-
bic tone, as it always did when he had to
utter her name.
"But you will not leave without seeing
herr" exclaimed her father, with half-in-
quiring glance at the agitated face before
him. ..s,.,,-..,... ...... -.
MALCOLM began to move towards the door,
ri must beg Of you to make my excuses
to Miss Derwent, for Aubrey is waiting for
me, and am pressed for time"
"Not too much 30, hope, to give me a
few more minutes. There is something 7
must saSte, you before quit England
perhaps for ever"
Mr.. Derwcnt's manner was so urgent.
that Malcolm-though on thorns, on Ver-
non Aubrey's aceount-could not refuse TO
stay and hear him. Accordingly, he fol-
lowed him into his study; and declining to
take the seat to which his host pointed,
stood awaiting his communication.
Mr.. Derwent, however, hemmed and hes
itated, and twice began, only to break down
aglin directly. At last he came to where
the impatient young man was standing, and
laying hand on his shoulder, emphatically
exclaimed, "Charles Malcolm, my child still
loves you |"
"Did she bid .you tell me so2 Does she,
fancy that she still retains her power over
mep' Malcolm sternly queried, as soon as
he recovered from his astonishment suff-
GENTLY to speak.
Certainly not. And even if it were 80,
Sybil has too muchpride to attempt to frre
you back. But /, her father-knowing
myself to be in some measure the cayse of
her former hasty conduct-have watched
her closely; and I am perfectly convinced
that she loves you as dearly as ever she
did,"
"For what purpose are you telling me
thisP" asked Malcolm, speaking almost
angrily. -
He had gone through so much suffering
when Sybil abruptly broke off their en-
gagement, that it seemed heartless Of
any one to seek to expose him to O recur-
renee of 1t.
II tell it to you" said Mr.. Derwent, with
pathetic earnestness, "because my child is
very dear to me, and would gladly secure
her happiness if it lies in my power to do
so. If could but see you and Sybil re-
united. and happy in each other, I should
leave England without regret"
He waited anxiously for Malcolm's reply,
but as none came, he went on. "Sybil has
little money of her own, which she in
herited from her mother, and this sum Twill
cheerfully double when she marries.'
But now Malcolm hastily interrupted
him. "This is not question of money.
Mr.. Derwent, you, with your knowledge Of
human nature, ought to know very well
that if there is not enough of the old love
left to enable me to stoop to sue for the
hand of the woman who Tilted me. n promise
to double her dover would never bring me
to her feet.
Mr.. Derwent sighed. Forgive me, NAL
colin, if I have unintentionally wounded
your pride. In my anxiety to see Sybil
once more the light-hearted girl she was
when you first knew her, have somewhat
overstepped the bounds of propriety. But
knew that I could speak to you frankly
and confdentially. If my proposition is
really untenable, why, must beg of you to
forgive and forget that it was ever made.
But if pique at SYPHILIS conduct is the only
thing that keeps you apart, pray accept my
assurance that she has never ceased to re-
gret it, and let me have the happiness of
seeing her the wife Of one whom 50 highly
respect as yourself"
Surely Mr.. Derwent did not know-could
not even surmise-that it was the hand of
murderess he was rendering to the man
who had once loved herr Pity for him, and
the inpossibility Of explaining why he
could never renew his addresses, had COM
bined to keep him silent. when Sybl her.
self opened the door, and came in. -.
Her father no sooner beheld her than he