The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-04-07

himself for the part he had acted IN
it, I drew from him, little by little
the secret story of his life.
Some ten years before those days
: of which I write, when in the
Guards, and deeply dipped in debt by
extravaganza, he had, unknown to
, his family, married secretly q bcauti'
full girl who was penpyless, at the
, very time his friends were seeking to
retrieve his fortune by wealthy
alliance. An exchange into the Line
-"the sliding scale"-because neces-
sary, thus he was gazetted to our
regiment in India, at o period when
his young wife was in extremely deli,
cate health; 80 much so that the
idea of her voyaging round the Cape
tho was no P. and O. Liners was
not to be thought of as it was ex-
pressly forbidden by the medical
men; SO they were to be separated
for time and that time of parting,
so dreaded by Constance, came mex
orably.
The last fatal evening came-the
last Sidney was to spend with her.
His strapped overlands and bullock.
trunks, his sword and cap, both
cased, werc already in the entrance
hall; the to.morrow's morning would
see him off by the train for South.
ampton, and his place would be va
cant; and she should sec his fond
hazel eyes no moro.
"Tears again p said he, almost i'm
patiently, while tenderly caressing
the dark and CLASSY hair of his girl
wife, "why on earth are you sad,
Conny, about temporary separatlon!'
"Would that I could be certain
that it is only such!" she exclaimed.
"Sad, oh, can you ask me, Sidney,
darling? The prcsentiment of great
sorrow 10 come is hanging over me-"
"a presentiment, Constance DO
not indulge in this folly"
"lf did not love you dearly, Sid
ney, would such a painful emotion
rack my heart ?"
alt is the mcrest superstition,
darling, and you will get over it
wnen l am fairly away"
Her tender eyes regarded him wist
fully for moment, and then her
tears fell faster at the contemplation
Of the coming loneliness.
After G pause, she asked: "Are
there many passengers going out
with you?"
"a fcw-in tho cuddy," he replied
cardssly.
"Do you know any of them?"
ayes; one or two fellows on the
staff"
And tho ladies ?" she asked, after
another pause.
II don't know Conny dear, what
do the matter to me?"
II heard incidentally that-that
Miss Dashwood is going out in your
vessel"
"Indccd, l believe she WILL"
Constance shivered, for with the
name Of this finished firt that her
husband had been moro once linked,
and his change of color was unseen
by her as he turned to manipulate
cigar. So for four, perhaps six
months, these two would be together
on the sea.
"Sidncy, darling" said she, ener;
gctically, "do forgive mo if am dull
and sad-so t.iste-this evening"
II do forgive you, little one"
"You know, Sidney, that l would
die for you "
ayes, but don't, Conny-for l hate
scenes" said be, playfully kissing her
swcetly sad, upturncd face, and the
poor girl was forced to be contended
with this mattcr-offact kind of ten
dcrncss.
So the dreaded morrow came with
ite sad moment of parting.
TO muffle the sounds of the depart
ing wheels she buried her head, with
| it's wealth Of dark, disheveled hair,
among the pillows Of her bed, and
some weeks weeks of the most utter
lonclncss-clapsed, ere she left it,
with the keen and ardent desire to
recover health and strength, to the
end that she might follow her hus L.
band over the would of waters and
rcjoin him; but the strength and
health, so necessary for the journey,
was long of coming back to her.
She had hoped he would write to
her before sailing from Southampton
q single line would have satified
the hungry cravings of her heart;
but, as he did not do SO, she supposed
there was not time; yet the trans
port lay three day in the docks after
the troops were on board. He would
write by some passing ship, he had
said, and one letter, dated from the
Ascension, reached her but its cold
and careless tone struck mortal
chill to tho sensitive heart Of Con-
stance, and the one or two terms OF
endcarmcnt it contained were mani
Ily forced and ill-cxprcssed.
She consulted the map, and saw
how far, far away on the lonely
ocean was that island speck. Months
had elapsed since he had been there !;
50 she knew that he must be IN India
now, and she had the regular mails
to look to with con6dence-a conf
dence, alas that soon faded away.
Long, tender and passionate was the
letter written in reply; she fondly
fixed the time when she proposed to
leave England and rejoin him, if he
sent her tho necessary remittances ;
but mail after mail came in without
) any tidings from Sidnoyr and she felt