The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-09-15
I have good news for YOU, Eugene

have good news for you, Eugene"
said Grover, also much affected. "Look
up, you have another visitor whom you
have not seen-Hugh Gordon, or Roland
Walliugford, as we must now call him"
"It was him I saw in that awful light
mare scene in the grove, then," said Eu-
gece, scanning his features closely. "But
why is he herep"
"To free you, my friend"
"To freepe?-how can he do thatw
Roland arose from the chair into which
he had sank on first entering the room, and,
without word, handed the scrap of paper
to Eugene apd turned away again. :.
Don't turn away from me-" said Eu-
gene, sadly, II have caused you great
deal of trouble, know, but you must be-
lieve me when I tell you that I was inno-
cent Of any malice toward you"
~ believe you," said Roland, grasping
the young man by the hand. II know now
that you have acted frankly and honestly
all through this sad business. But you
have not read the paper yet. Please do
So"
Gree free! free again !" cried Eugene,
e1citedly, as the full import Of the confess
sion came to bis mind. els this your writ
.
"No," WAS the reply. ri confess that I
never should have thought of this most
important link in the chain Of evidence"
"Who did think Of it, thenP"
"Roland."
Glow can ever thank you ?" cried Eu-
gene, turning to Roland.
I only did my duty" said the young
man.
III would advise you two gentlemen not
to swear eternal friendship just yet" said
Grover, with laugh, "for you know the
property question is not settled yet"
Both Of the young men smiled.
Owe won't even quarrel about that"
said Eugene. 'The attorney was frank
enough to tell me that if the man who call
ed at his Office that night had lived, the
estate would have gone to him, and know
now that he spoke truly, for tho efforts he
used to put him out Of the way would not
have been made to shut off an idle claim.
So you really are Roland E. Wallingford,
the dead mil-owner's nephew ?" he added,
addressing Roland.
'Yes," replied the other, "but I won't
ask you to believe mo until you have seen
my proofs.'
"Never mind the proofs" said Eugene.
ri am determined to celebrate my freedom
by Withdrawing all claim to the property"
"You will do no such thing" said Rol.
and. ri want to compromise the matter
with you. Don't interrupt me, he said, see-
ing that Eugene was about to object ~
don't want any more trouble with this at
fair. The will must be admitted to pro-
bate in your name, for that will save delay,
and then you and Grover must keep tho
mill for your share and will have the
bank account and the village property. I
will withdraw my opposition to-morroy."
"But you are getting the worst Of the
bargain" said Eugene, "besides you really
owe nothing to us--at least to me-"
"The worst Of the bargain! !" laughed
Roland, "why, do you know that the cash
and bonds in the bank foot up to nearly
half million2 And as for yon, my friends,
owe my life to Grover, and my honor to
you, Eugene. So we will consider the
matter settled, and will say no more about
it. But come" he added, looking at his
watch, at is nearly morning, and the girls
must be very anxious
The three friends, after kind good
night to the friendly officer. then entered
the carriage and drove rapidly home.
The joy of the two girls over Eugene
release cum better be Imagined than de.
scribed, and so we will draw curtain over
the kisses and tears with which they vel.
coined him back to freedom again.
After witnessing the union of sister and
brother and the two lovers, Roland sank
back upon the sofa.
"My work for tonight ia at last accom-.
plished," he sud. fhintly. and before any
one could reach him he fell back in dead
faint.
All was commotion in the room in an in.
stant.
1--WE were all go absorbed in our own
happiness" said Bertha. "that we acted
selfshly in not caring for this generous
friend before. Run for the doctor, some
one"
A few moments, however, proved that
this last action was unnecessary, for Rol.
and began to recover.
His first sensation after regaining con.
seriousness was the touch Of warm pair OF
lips in clnging kiss to his forehead, al
though Bertha insists to this day that she
knows nothing about it!
"Bertha," he said, drawing the blushing
girl closer to his side, lyon said yesterday
that you WoulO answer questIon ! aSAee
you then when told you why made such
haste. Shall I tell you now2'
'"There is no need Of that" said Bertha,
with smile, for have guessed your Sc.
cret already"
"You know then that feared should
lave only your hate after I had robbed
your brother Of this property" said Rol.
and.
"You use too harsh word." said Berthe
''the property was never his"
"But you will answer my question now,
won't you, Berthn7"
The young girl made no reply, but this
time she made no effort to escape from his
encircling arm, and as her hoad dropped
upon his shoulder, he know that he was
answered.