The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-12-12

next would be from London, where she
would remain a fortnight, William made
up his mind to be in London for that
same fortnight, and devote all his tire
less energies to finding the girl he loved,
and who so persistently kept herself
from him.
And so, one stormy night in early Au-
tumn, it happened that William Dayton
was led to Stein Hall, where huge pla-
cards announced the appearance of
some popular dramatic reader, whose
name he did not see for the crowds that
we're passing in with him; and he took
his seat with a strangely homesick, lone
some feeling coming over him as he re-
allied with a new keen appreciation the
magnitude of the undertaking that had
brought him to the city with it's thou
sands and tens of thousands of people
who had never as much as heard Of Louie
Harland's name.
Or - Claud Hamilton's either, he
thought, with a thrill Of fierce jealous
rage. Claud Hamilton. for whom he
feared, Louie was gradually playing him
false, whom
And Just then the enthusiastic ap-
plause of the vast crowd made him look
up to see whom they were welcoming
with such warm, glad greeting-made
him look up to see a slight girlish figure
standing in the center of the stage; a
stylishly dressed, elegantly-looking lady
in trailing black silk, heavy and lustrous,
with frills of exquisite lace falling over
her white-kidded hands and braceleted
arms, with q ruff of the same himsy
snowiness circling her slender, round
throat, where a massive gold pin caught
it in rich plainness of elegance.
A girl with a rarely intelligent face,
and dark, intense eyes; with a pure, pale
complexion to which all the storm of ap-
plause brought no flush of gratiied
vanity, with a grave, expressive mouth
that made William Dayton, almost un-
able to resist the temptation he felt, to
rush to her and ask her if Claud Hamil-
ton had de6led it with his love kisses.
For it was Louie Harland-Louie, who,
had risen like a star in her profession'of
dramatic reading - Louie, who had
crowded houses when she appeared, and
who was coming a fortune as fast as q
pair of woman's hands had ever done.
Then she commentators of the very
ballads she had many a time rendered
for them at the old farmhouse, when
Mrs. Simmonds would wipe her eyes,
and old farmer Simmonds forget to draw
on his pipe until it went out.
And William listened, and the vast
audience listened, spellbound, to the
sweet, pathetic voice, round and full, as
q silver bell. Then folio wed an uproari-
GUS encore; then other Rotations and
other applause, and then-it was over,
and William saw her retire off the stage,
and it seemed to him that he had sud-
denly gone into a dark place.
It was easy enough to obtain Miss
Harland's address-everybody knew it,
and so the next morning he was shown
to Miss Harland's parlor, where Louie
herself sat, alone, with her little writing
desk before her, at which she was busy
when he was shown in, taking her so
completely by surprise.
She arose instantly to greet him, her
face flushing warmly enough at sight of
him, and aver as she came across the
floor and he saw the glow on her cheeks,
he found himself asking himself if it
were Joy at seeing him or consciousness
of disloyalty to him that occasioned it.
At all events her words were kind and
"Will! Is it possible? Dear, old
Will, how glad I am to see you'll" :
And in spite of all his fear and doubt
William took her in his arms and kissed
her.
"I was starving to see you, my dar-
ling. I could not live without you any
longer. Louie ! 80 this is the mysteri-
GUS secret you have been keeping from
US, from mel"
She looked bravely, proudly in his
face.
"You speak almost reproachfully,
Will Can you find it in your heart to
eensure me because I vented to wait
until I could come, an honor and a help
to you all? Will. don't look at me So
what is the harm in il? "
A"There is no harm in it, Louie. No
one is prouder of you and your grand
success that I-if it hasn't turned your
heart from me. Louie d! Louie if you
knew how your letters have stabbed me,
if you only knew the anguish, the fear,
and the tormenting doubts that have
driven me to you-not' able to endure
them"
Louie's eyes were perfect revelations
of amazement.
evil My letters Your doubt
and fear!-W1l, your doubt and fear of
me?" y,.-
"Of you, Louie! I could not bear
your frequent, yes, continual, ceaseless
mention of Claud Hamilton's name 4;
Louie, I feared you were learning to
love him. and that I would be for
gotten"
His voice was an honest index of his
feelings. It was intense, earnest, SO
eagerly auguishful that it touched Louie
very tenderly.
twill, how could you? Oh, Will I"
Then half smiling, with q suspicion Of
tears in her eyes, and a look that vas
equally ~reproachful and amused, Louie
rang her bell, and gave a message in an
undertone to the servant that answered.
Then she turned to William again.
$50 you have been jealous of Mr..
Hamilton, Will2 Wait a moment, for I
want totell you something. Mr.. Ham
ilton is one Of the dearest friends I ever
had. Hehas been good to me, Will, oh,
30 goodl Always he will come first on
the list Of my friends ; always"
She was interrupted by some one rap
ping on the door, then entering unsum-
moned. A. little flash of mischievous
excitement, accompanied by that same
look of reproof, was in her eyes as a lit
tie old gentleman, with a pleasant placid
face came in, with spectacles on his
eyes, and a head bald and shiny, a little
old gentleman as ugly az well could be
imagined, but such a cour teous, high
bred gentleman, for all that, it was mani.
fest at q glance.
"I sent to have you meet Mr.. Dayton,
Mr.. Hamilton. Gentlemen, allow me to
introduce you-Mr. Hamilton, my dear
odp;eor op5 hucipooo onopf o,5 Gip5oof