The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-09-19
CHAPTER II.

The names stood unaltered on the
great plate; yet-except the sleeping
partner, away in India now-each one
represented by that sign was perfectly
aware that great alteration had been
growing in himself ever since Colonel
Conyngham and his daughter had been
living in Highborough. The strong bank
walls no longer limited his hope and am
bition. Beyond them stood revealed a
home of love, and ease, and sunshine,
brightly possible, and in this future the
only mission of the gool old bank was to
furnish the home with luxury.
It was winter night. The bank win
dows were bolted and barred, the great
books we're locked in the trusty safes,
and the manager was asleep up stairs,
with the blunderbuss beside his bed.
But in his brilliantly-ighted drawing.
room at home, the senior partner sat
alone-a striking-looking man in his
evening dress, with the hot-house flowers
fading in his coat. The room had been
filled with guests up to this time, but
now Mr.. Dart sat alone before the fire,
buried in thought which deepened
minute by minute, until the door was
opened, and Walter Maitland re-entered
the room he had lately left.
"I could not help coming back" he
said, beginning hurriedly to speak, as if
the words forced themselves from him
in his nervous haste. "There is one
thing about which 7 must speak to you
to-night-about which have wanted to
speak to you long time. I feel he
was leaning against the chimney-piece
opposite his friend, and looking with in
tense scrutiny into his quiet face" that
have been dreaming dream which a
word of yours could at this moment dis
pei. Tell me if greater kindness than
your silence, though the kindness is
sure to be the motive of that. Tell me
at once, Dart. It cannot be very
pleasant to you to see my anxiety. You
are far too good fellow to feel pleasure
in that"
"What am I to tell you ?" inquired
Maurice Dart. without meeting his COM
panion's eyes.
"Surely, you know. said to myself
when I met Isabel here in your house
tonight, I would find out if my fears
were we'll grounded; and if I could not
discover, I would ask you for the truth
before left. Dart, end this wearing sus,
pcnse on me. 1t has been growing
through all these months side by side
with my love, and has become unbeara
BILE at last"
Maurice raised his head now, and met
his companions anxious, questioning
eyes.
"I am glad you have spoken, Matt.
land," he said. "I have guessed al
your anxiety, while I have felt my own
and have often wished to break the
silence we have held on this one point
T fancied you had something to tell me
I fanc;ed so but now when saw you re
enter the ROOM"
"Indeed, no." exclaimed Walter, will
his usual frankness. I wish to Heave1
I had. I wish I dared to say that Isabe
had given me encouragement enough tx
make me even hope. And could no
ask her Toto love me while felt tina
you knew how useless it would be-"
"I do not know" returned Dart-hi
words sounding very slowly after Wal
ter's eagerness, yet all his self-commant
failing to hide their new ring of hope
"Isabel has never heard word of love
from me. She is gentle and kind, ant
willing always but [ cannot read be
yond."
ITO me, too, she is bright and pleas
ant always" put in Maitland, restlessly
"and I can discover nothing more.
fancied you could put me ont of on
phase of this uncertainty"
"And you are very glad to find can
not" said the elder partner.
And then their eyes met, with smile
which was strangely wistful for sucl
strong and manly faces.
"Dart," said Mr.. Maitland, "you ar
the elder man-the richer-the better
too. You shall speak first. Do it a
soon as you can"
Seniority has no claim in such cas-
rs this" said the senior partner. "W
can wait"
"I can wait no longer" put in tn
Younger man, impatiently. Anythin,
will be better than this suspense. VIII,
on earth should we wait? Isabel know
us both thoroughly now. She know
we are both old for this love of ours +
be anything but deeply earnest. Sh
knows enough of us and of our position
to make her decision easy to her. S
let us knov the worst, or-best. Yo
have the right to speak first"
civil not take it, said Mr.. Dart
speaking more quickly than he had ye
done. "Let us write. Let us write
together"
A few minutes silence, while Waite
thought this over-lcaning his head o.
the arm which rested on the chimney
piece. ......
"Let that be decided" urged Maurice
"We will write tomorrow. Let her re
ceive the two letters together, that sh
may think, Of us both together. Promis
me that your letter shall be ready TO
to-morrow's post"