The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-07-18

/ helped to find their old familiar places on tn
piano at Horewood five years ago. She feel
rather than knows that the past is not all
blank to Miss Fouriers brain, but no word o.
recognition has passed between the girls ant
it is plain at any rate that nothing OF tha
dreadful episode in Leah life IS suspected b.
the Ashtons.
Ten minltes-a quarter OF al hour goes
slowly by, and Leah saunters back into The
drawing room. with spray Of maidenhair in
her hands, and the passion of her song still
half. slumbering in those deep mysterious eyes
"Mr. Ashton is going to be kind enough to see
me home" she remarks generally for every.
body's information, and Margaret feels the same
sudden chill that had come to her the night
before for the first time, when her lover had
undertaken the same surely unnecessary duty.
1t is almost relief to her to remember that
this is her last evening with the Ashtons, and
that the next day Arthur is to take her back to
London.
Nevertheless. the chill comes back to heI
heart more unmistakably than ever next night,
for Leah Fourier, and the conservatory, and
Arthur Ashton are all left behind. He found
that he could take another weeks holiday, ne
told her, and she could not be selfish enough
to propose that he should spend two days IN
travelling, merely for the sake Of taking he1
home. So their goodbye was said at the little
his pocket as he was taking her ticket, and she
could not help seeing that it was bit of maiden
hair fern. 1t was pity that it should bt
crushed under a strangers foot before he could
recover it-but then there was more in the con-
servatory!
Four, five days without letter, during which
time the chill never leaves her heart, and ther
there comes what she has been looking for. He
asks her if she is good enough, unseltisi
enough. to forgive him, and ad1s Of course
that he can never forgive himself.
Well, Leah is his body and soul, II M
chooses to take her. Would he choose if he
knew OF the corridor at Horewood, and hat
seen the lips he loved glowing themse Ives will
sweetmeats that soft, compassionate hand,
thrust by stealth within their reach? Sheput.
away the thought from her with shudder
calling upon God not to tempt her to como be
tween him and his happiness. II it can all be
hidden from him it would be sin i'll her, OF al
women in the world, to say word which might
dash the cup from his lips. She would drinl
her own cup instead, and try to sweetcn it by
the thought that the man she loved was happ.
with the girl for whom she had once felt sc
The months go quickly enough by, now thai
Margaret no longer counts how many there are
between the seed and blossom of her happi
ness, and she knows that Arthur Ashton mus'
have brought his bride back with him by thi:
time to his London home. Margaret shudders
as she remembers that there is still secret
hidden from Arthur Ashton in Leahs mysteri
GUS eves-a secret which she alone can read land
would give half her life to be able to forget
Would it ever happen that he should come te
her and curse her for having hidden it from
him, to revenge herself?
That she is revenged, God knows how un
willingly, Margaret sees the first time she holds
Arthur Ashton's hand i'll hers again. He has
written to ask hor if he may come to hel
and satisfy himself of her forgiveness, and hel
love is dead enough in her heart for her to bt
able to tell him ''yes" She has even ceased
to wonder at the drcariness Of her own life
and is vaguely conscious, ms he takes her hand
Of the same great pity for him and the woman
who had supplanted her, that filled her heart
rs she went down the staircase at Horewood
leaving the cold corridor and the locked door
behind her.
"You have found out how little was worth
your regret?" he says, forcing an uneasy laugh
as he sees that the old quiver he remembers IL
, her lips is there no longer.
"No, not that" answers Margaret, simply
"but it is quite true that I regret nothing
nothing at least that She stops, knowing
that it l. too late to tell him now what she doe'
regret, and what she tries to persuade herself
she is mistaken in regretting. "You must he
very happy-you are happy. are you not?" She
| asks anxiously.
"How long do you expect bridegroom
happiness to last?" he asks, in reply, with ar
affectation Of leyity that tells Margaret she ha'
been sacrificed in vain. "Leah has been talk
ing Of coming to see You for the last month, dc
you know"
"She is very beautiful" said Margaret, irrele
vanity "Is she quite well?"
"Well? Of course she is" he answers, in moi
quite so even a voice. "Why should she moi
he well?
Margaret's heart turns sick with the horri
BILE apprehension that he has already learned tc
suspect reason why. 81 only meant that
should be very glad to see her." she answers il
what she strives to make her natural voice
:'Will you tell her so from me?"
| "You knew her before that time you came t
stay with us, did you not p he asks, looking a
he: with Keen, inquiring glance. '"Why die
you never tell me Of that?'
"Yes that is, met her years ago." answer!
Margaret, hesitatng. ~ did not think she re-
membered me; but knew her again as soon at
saw her"
"Did you ever quarrel?" the bridegroom
asks, little puzzled by her manner.
"Oh, no." replies Margaret, with shudder
thinking Of the crouching figure and thu
greedy, clutching hands that she had stolen W
the long corridor to soothe into content
"But she was always strange girl; and
mover understood her quite" she adds rather
lamely.
"Yes-strange-- that is the word, is it not 2
! he says, eagerly. "Sne is nervous and depressed
sometimes, YOU know, but that is nothing
| She used to be that that is what you mean,
! it not?"
| 1t goes to Margaret heart to see the wistfu
! look with which he waits for her answer, striv
/ ing to put away from his thoughts tho awfu
fear which she knows has already oTershadowet
his life.
81 think she was always nervous" sh'
answers, wishing that she dared say something
! to comfort him, if she could do SO without
: lie. "But of course now that she is happy
| there is nothing to be anxious about in that"
! "Tell her how glad shall be, if she likes t.
come" she says, earnestly, when Arthu
! Ashton takes her hand in his again to SO,
! goodbye.
"Yes, will tell her, he answers. but all tn
unreal cheerfulness has died out from hi
voice. sit will do her good to have frient
! like you some woman to whom she can talk.
! Margaret does not answer, for the tears ar
| filling her eyes; but Is needs no words to tel
Arthur Ashton that the heart he has thrown
! away Is large euOuSu lOT W udt ue dbhS VI L.
The months 60 by, but Leah Ashton still onl.
talks of coming to see the girl whose place il
! life she has taken from her; so that Christina
comes around again without Margaret having
seen her rival, since the evening on which
Leah came ont of the conservatory. with tn
! spray Of maidenhair in her hand. There is
! reason why Mrs. Ashton should stay in her Owl
/ house now, and Margaret is not surprised 10 se
! in the paper one day that Arthur Ashton ha
another cause for being "very happy. Sh
almost persuaded herself that he may be so b,
this time, and writes to tell him Of her hope
with her dear love to his wife. She did not thinl
that such letter required immediate acknowl
edgement, and openshis reply little anxiously
hearing that it has been brought by spocia
, messenger.
! Come, if you can, at once-she is asking
for you. God have mercy upon me! A. A."
He isswaiting for her at the door as sh
drives up and even in the gas-light she can SCI
upon his brow an awful dread that his praye
will not be heard.
"You are not afraid 70 sec hcr?'
Margaret puts her hand in his by way o
reply, and her very touch seems to give hin
courage.
"She is not quite herself, you know-no
sensible meanbut the doctors say that
common. And your name has been on her lip
all day. She will be calmcr when she sees you
,rtn oh ,nf