The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-06-02

mluQ u Gle CAUSE VI oA4' w VSAeSAo AS%eas
Are you satisfied"
Malcolm was obliged to answer in the
negative.
you are not? All, thought as much.
When was young man like you are, Mr.
Malcolm, I used to get out of heart some
times, just as you are now doing, whenever
case got very confused and difficult; and
found that the best thing could do was
to put it out Of my thoughts for little
while, and then 90 at it again freshly.
3 : think you andI had better try that plannow.
9 IN 90 and Keep A. promise made to Mrs.
Cayson 81 King her to concert; andyou:
would do well to have a bath, a nice little
dinner, and good nights rest; for, upon my
word, you are looking quite worn out. You
are, indeed. And to-lnorro% we will, If you
please, take quiet review Of what we have
done, and decide upon our future proceed
ings." g.S -.
Malcolm agreed with the wisdom of his
counsel; and, when the lawyer lett him,
he resolved to follow part Of it, and get
little rest, his nights OF late having been
90 wakeful, that both eyes andhead ached
wretchedly. He had thrown himself on a
couch, and was giving orders not to be dis
Wueu lC lCuilS'i OAiSto I" ApiJ "ao
below, who urgently begged to see him, if
only for five minutes.
Could it be Sybil /? and, if 80, why did
she seek him again? After little hesita-
ton, he babe the servant show his visitor
up; but she refused to leave the vehicle in
which she had arrived, reiterating her re-
quest that Mr. Malcolm would come to her,
if only for moment,
Thus urged, he descended. As soon as
be approached the cab, tho lady, who was
seated in it, threw back her veil, and dis
played the sweet, though pale and fearful
face of Violet Lindsly.
She blushcd when she saw his surprise
and, holding out her hand, hurriedly said,
ri will not detain you, except to answer
one question. Are all our friends safe"-
and her voice dropped to whisper-"and
innocent ?'
"Have you not seen your guardian and
his daughter?' he queried, little eva
sively.
"Sybil has been brought home very i'll,
she answered-"too i'll to answer my in
quiries and Mr. Derwent has gone to
transact some business which could not be
delayed 50 you see that there is no one to
tell me the particulars of what has hap
pened, and l am very anxious and very
miserable. Dear Mr.. Malcolm" land now
the real cause Of her uneasiness was ex-
plained-"what is this that hear about
Mr.. Aul ray? You were my fathers
friend, ard you will be indulgent to me,
or should be ashamed to trouble you with
these questions !" she blushingly added.
"My dear Miss Lindsly, shall gladly dc
anything to serve you, and never think II.
O. trouble. But do not know what you
have heard about Mr.. Aubrey, or should
answer you at once"
Touched by the grave kindness OF his
manner, she dashed away the tears that
were coursing down her cheeks.
"Thank you-thank. you. 1t Is but
few words that I have heard, for I was not
alone, and Mr.. Derwent could not stay to
say more then. But learned that MIR.
Aubrey's replies were considered unsatis-
factory, and that he-that he-Oh! MIR.
Malcolm, do tell me truly whether he is
safe, and if anything will be done to him ?"
Poor Violet had sought for words which
should neither express too much, nor too
little. Whilst eager to learn how far YER
non Aubrey was implicated, she was fear
full of saying anything that might induce
others-tosdoabthi him -also..--->--.---
"Make yourself easy, Miss Lindsly. Mr..
Aubrey has quilted this neighborhood, and
has no pursuit to fear"
Her eyes sparkled joyfully.
"This is good news, indeed Then ne is
quite safe, and every shadow is cleared
from his fame, is it not p
Malcolm would have evaded replying, for
his own doubts of Aubrey were too recent
ly aroused to be CLOSED over.
"He is safe if he is innocent" he said,
when her urgent looks besought an answer.
His measured words chilled her.
"Ifhe is innocent, do you say2 Oh, Mr..
Malcolm, hope that you don't think he
knew anything about Mr.. Walters death,
do you?" ...
As the soft, blue eyes questioned his so
anxiously, Malcolm longed to be able to
answer her as she wished, and send her
away happy. But he was too truthful to
deceive her, and 80 he stood silent.
Violet was unused to sorrow. In fact,
the only grief she had ever known had been
the death of her excellent father. She was
therefore soon overcome, and OWNED the
worst from Malcolm's manner. It cor
roborated those conjectures Of her guardian.
which had already cost her so many tears:
and with a moan, she threw herself back in
the cab, sobbing 80 piteously, that Malcolm
began to be alarmed.
But she did not seem to listen to his
soothing speeches.
"Please to tell the man to take me back
to the LODGE she said, 'I wish had not
come, though you have been very kind,
Mr.. Malcolm bnt I could hope little
till heard what you said. You will think
me very silly, I dare say, to be in such
trouble about Mr.. Aubrey but we were
children together, and-and, on, me 1
wish were child again, that could DO
as used to- do then-go to sleep, and for
get all this misery"
She looked so young, so helpless, now,
that Malcolm sighed as the cabman, In obe-
dience to his signal, drove away.
"Poor little thing p' he muttered. "lt
seems hard that she should be drawn into
this complication Of trouble. Her sunny
nature will be terribly warped by con-
tinuance of such dark days as the present
ones. She knows that Aubrey is not clear
of some connection with poor Rob's death;
but she evidently does not connect Sybh
with it too ; nor would l, for worlds say
only add to her present unhappiness. Sy6s!
and Aubrev, one or both, guilty. What
strange mystery is it that turks beneath
their dark and troubled looks? and what
must do to penetrate it, and bring home
The guilt to the actual murderer"
With these questions continually recur-
ring to his mind, Malcolm again sought his
touch, and, after tossing about for several
hours, he sank into deep and dreamless
sleep.
When he opened his eyes, MIR. Cayson'
snuff-box in hand, and his gaze fixed upon
the clock, was sitting by his bedside, i'm
patiently waiting his awakening.
cat last! Pom my word, my dear slr,
never grudged any one their rest as have
you yours, during the hour and seventeen
minutes that have been sitting here"
"You have news for me ?" Malcolm ex-
claimed, starting up and beginning to
dress.
Mr.. Cayson nodded. ri believe have.
am ready to rescind my snappish remarks