The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-06-16
ARREV1TIE s. c. WEDNESDAY, JUNE is, $50


murderer, and have. therefore watched
this yelled woman; Il have learned her
name and residence. II have, by fortu-
nate accident, heard that servant in the
house is i'll, and obliged to leave suddenly.
I have applied to the house keeper to be
permitted to fill her place, and she has con-
sented 10 take me on trial for n month.
Mr.. Malcolm, ere that month is over, may
be able to say to you, Here are the mur-
durers of Robert Walters, and here are the
proofs of their gullt5s,.S
Her tones thrilled Through her agitated
hearer, but he did not speak; and,
with little hesitation-the results of her
proud distaste to lay under an obligation
she said. cit is for the carrying out of this
purpose that I require the money
Mechanically he drew out his purse, and
held it towards her, but, blushlngs pam
fully, Mllicent rejected it. -. . ,se
"No, sir it is not for myself that need
it. I could not ask this for my own wants;
it is for my mother, who will be deprived,
for a time, of my daily earnings. 1t you
will help her, T shall be glad. A SMALL
very small sum will suffice, for we have
long been accustomed to deny ourselves.
"NIrs. Vyner shall be my care while you
are away, so you may Danish all anxiety on
her account Malcolm replied, in the same
constrained manner.
Millicent thanked him warmly, adding,
"I shall leave home tonight to commence
nv new duties but have not yet told
you the name Of ths lady 1 have cause to
%There is no necessity for your doing
that" eroaned Malcolm in o burst of ir-
repressible anguish. Heaven help me,
know it too well It is Sybl Derwent!"
Awed by his evident suffering, Millicent
stood silently regarding him for a minute,
then murmured, "And you, too, have sus-
pected herr"
His head dropped on his hands, and, for
few minutes, nothing was heard in the
room but his laborcd breathing. When he
looked up, however, and met the compass
sionate gaze of the young girl, he was calm
and even stern.
"Miss vyner," he said, "you will lay the
relatives Of Robert Walters under great
obligation if you succeed in your enter.
prise; and any advice or assistance that
can render you shall be freely given"
But Millicent could guess how great was
the pain he was brayely striving to conceal,
and she hastily replied, "Nay, I will come
here no more. am sorry"
He interrupted her. ri beg that you
will not let any foolish weakness I may
evinced deter you from carrying out your
purpose, or from demanding my aid, if it
will be of any service to you. Robert WAL
ters enioned me to avenge his death; and
it must he done, let it cost me what 1t
will
She reflected for n while, and then, with
renewed energy, she exclaimed, "You have
given me an additional motive for persever.
ing-cne which inspires me with fresh
courage. I will 60 to Derwent Lodge. |
will strive, by every means within my pow
er, to detect the guilty ones who dcsecrated
its walls with such crime! And, Mr..
Malcolm, shall do this. hoping and trust
inc all the while that she whom We have
both learned to suspect may yet be exon
erated!"
"I dare not hope that!' Malcolm NUT
tered, despairingly. "Everything isagalnst
it,"
$50 It has been against others, often and
often ere now," Millicent replied, in cheering
tones. anyhow, / pledge myself to do
nv best to learn the truth for your sake
and hers, as well as the love I bore the
dead"
Malcolm took her hand and shook it
warmly. eff YOU can do this"
81 will do it," she cried emphatically.
"And, if ever 7 grow faint-hearted and
frightened ut the nature of the task before
me, will think of you, brooding in your
chamber over your harassing doubts, and
nerve myself to it again ~
"You are q brave grip Ssii Malcolm
with honest admiration. "And will no
longer hesitate to confess that I would give
everything I prize in the world to know
Sybil Derwent innocent; even though she
is not, and never can be, anything to me
now?" 90
Again Millicent cast at him swift glance
fraught with the deepest compassion. She
had gained an insight into what this man,
of a reserved nature and deep feelings, had
been enduring ever since the death OF Wal
ters.
Leaving with him her mothers address,
she left him, her resolve strengthened by
this interview. Hitherto she had felt doubt
full of success. and had asked herself wheth-
er the projected enterprise was not both
rash and useless. But now she had re-
ceived an incentive to persevere; for might
it not result in bringing back peace and
happiness to the heart Of the generous and
GOOD man who had been Walters most
faithful friend in his lifetime, and who, with
the exception of herself, was the only per-
son who had really and unselishly mourned
his untimely death2