The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-08-25
the start is everything. ot course I antic-
ipate no trouble, but 1t is best to be safe"

he IQOuSuGs SlS i4hFC poooSSSlSA VA
the keys OF the house, and the keys OF the
mill are probably there. She knew HE
when child, and she cannot refuse to help
me now. But how shall get out OF thus
house3 don't want to pain my friends
by appearing obstinate, so there is nothing
to do but to steal out like robber after
they have retired. Thank God l know The
secret passages, and can enter the house
without being seen. My friends here viii
surely forgive me when they know all"
Then he thought with start, which
frightened Bertha from his side, that tho
man he was planning to defeat was the
dearest friend of those who had sllcl-
tered him in his dire misfortune.
"What strange mixture it all is he
muttered to himself. 81 find HILL here
whose name is exactly my own, whose pre-
tensions match with mine, and who Is Of
my own age. lie claims my property Oh
the strength of the similarity, and resorts
to questionable means to get HE out Oh tue
way. But, as ii to repay me III part lor
the trouble he is n.aknng Inc, lie ttncon-
sciously allows his sister to SIT here aud
care tor the villanous cul his ;ltioruey H.
ficted.'
Hugh, with all his misery, smilei when
he thought OF another colnpIcatlulI Which
was entering into the case. For :. uliu luca
was in his mind that Bertha lcuurr carc
had more than repaid him for all the pays
ical anguish he had suffered, us he suptvs-
cd, at her brolncr's hands.
"Do love this glrl already - he qucs-
toned himself, us ne heard her moving
quietly about tho chamber. ''Psltm -
he added, ri will go away from tins louise
in day or two and forget all about her.
But his heart gave the lie, to his will,
for it sent quiycr vi regret tu his BRAIN
at the thought vt leayinS, and whispered
to him that he WIS pvwvriess tU forget
her.
"She will hate rather than love me-" his
brain Went on, "wnen she KNOWS Who l ALI
and why l came to this village" but out
OF his heart came the sweet assur..ncc that
love, once won, stopped ut no worldly COLI
sideration and that, If he could gam Bcr-
tha's love at all it would be love tnat
would outweigh everything else. But
could he try would it be honorable to DO
80, knowing the gulf which he believed sep
arated her interests from his own!
Seeing that her patient was awake, Ber-
tha stepped to his side. Your rest has
worked wonders" sine said, your fever
has entirely disappeared. You have unly
to keep very still now and You Will soon be
quite WE'LL. -,
were reading," said Hugh, realizing the
fact for the tirst time. What u sleepy
head YOU must think me; but my lack ot
manners brought its own punishment, tor
I missed hearing the remainder OF the
poem"
"Not word Of apology said Bertha.
with a smile, you See started to read
you to sleep, and if you apologize you
will take away al the credit OF my sue
cess
81 see that youlnean to have it your own
way" said Hugh. "Where did you leave
off? You see / shall want you to begin 1T
that place the next time
Bertha picked up the book and read
"She is com ng. my own, my sweet;
Were il ever so airy tread,
NV heart would hear her anu beat
Were il earth III an earthly bed.
NV dust would hear her AMI beat,
Had lain for century dead;
Would start and trcmble undcr her feet,
And blossom in purple and rcd"
"Ah," said Hugh, "the ending could not
have been more appropriate, tor the stanza
is the end Of love III the poem. We shall
BEGIN with despair ut the next reading.
But do you bellcve in all that, Miss Bcr-
thu p
"In the reality Of the authors picture,
you mean?'
"Yes; do you think such love as that
ever exists?'
al am sure / can't say" said Bertha,
blushing, "but 1 don't see why it should
not"
"I believe yon are right" said Hugh.
al believe that the earth is not wide
enough, uor Heaven and earth far enough
apart to keep HE away from one that l
loved"
At this moment Fanny and Grover en-
tered the room and the conversation sank
into general channels. The girls, however,
soon took their departure, and Grover and
Hugh were left alone.
You are looking finely" said Grover,
"and appear to be recovering fast"
"Do YOU think so?' said the other, co.
gerly. II am glad of that, for | have
favor to ask OF you'll great favor, and,
you may think, a strange one-but 1t ID
every thing to me-
"Name it," said Grover, Il will do all in
my power to help you"
"Ncw don't say a word until am done.'
began Hugh, "for all you can say will iiSv6
not the slightest effect upon me. First,
you are to lean me n suit Of your clothes,
and large, warm Great-coat. Then you
must let me out of this house after tho
family have retired, and stay here, without
watching me, until return, which will be
in about two hours"
"This is indeed astrange Request" began
Grover, "nnd don't think"
"Wait," said Hugh, "until you hear HE
through. 81 must 90 out tonight, and
when YOU came in I had fully resolved to
itcal out of the house and let no oneknow;
but that course seemed dishonorable after
all the kindness have received from your
hands. But I must do that still if you r.
fuse. You know now that my case must
he a desperate one, my friend. Will you
help mc?' ~
"Yes." said Grover, frankly, "1 will, but
do it in defiance Of my Judgment. You
must be very certain, however, that there
is no other way, for the exposure in your
present condition will entlanger your life"
al am aware of that" said the other,
sadly, "but there is no help for it. must
CO.;
every WELL" replied Grover, "as it Is
nearly night now, l will make the prepara-
tions at once As you would be taken for
ghost on the street how, of course you must
have a suitable disguise. Have you far to
walk?'
LESS than half mile in ALL" said
Hugh, "and if you knew how strong l am
getting already you would not doubt my
ability to accomplish that successfully"
Eugene called to take Bertha home short
" after tea, and, as H. previous night had
been one Of unrest to very member Of the
little household. not light was burning in
the house, save the one in the sick room,
ut ten o'clock.
Shortly aftor that hour, therefore, young
Gordon, warmly dressed, for the night was
chilly, and thoroughly disguised, stepped
softly from e.. III i n and disappeared
in the direction of Walingford house, leav-