The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-06-12

TOO vague 10 shape ltSelI lnCo connecteo
thought.
The next morning, as the family were
gathered around the breakfast table, 6
servant entered the room with note ad
dressed to "Miss Pomeroy." Graspine
it eagerly, spasmodically, Nellie tore il
open, and with blanched face read the
following laconic note:
NELLIE: All is over between US.
Thank God I have discovered you,
per6dy before it was too late. I had
the fullest confidence in you, Nellie
but that is past now.
leave for France tomorrow, never
! trust to revisit this country which
would now be but sad home for me.
Your once-devoted lover,
GUY HARTLEY.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pomeroy, occupied in
their own conversation, had not noticed
the sudden paling of their daughters
face, as she hurriedly scanned the familia,
writing, till, as she reached the fatal
termination, her eyes closed, and with q
low moan of agony she sank to the floor
in death-like swoon.
For fve years Guy wandered through
Europe; for five years he vainly strove
to find forgetfulness and happiness in
constant excitement and change Of scene;
but failing in this he had at last resolved
to visit again the land OF his birth, if
only to mark the ravages which time had
made among his old friends. So he re-
turned to London.
Not once had a suspicion of Fred Ac-
toms treachery crossed his mind, for to
Guy he had always shown the better
part of his nature; besides the proof OF
Nellie's duplicity had seemed too con-
elusive to admit of any lingering doubt
his love might have suggested.
And Nellie? Thrown into nervous
fever by the cruel note from Guy, she
wavered long between life and death;
but finally her perfect constitution
gained the victory, and she again min
gled in the gay world of fashion; but q
certain sadness was perceptible in her
manner, and a weary look in her blue
eyes showed that her heart was not in
terested in the gay scenes by which she
was surrounded.
Vainly had Fred Acton sued for her
hand. Feeling that he was in some
manner connected with Guys mysteri-
GUS behavior, she had only scorn to give
him. At first she had hoped that some
trivial act OF hers had displeased Guy
and he would soon return, but as the
weeks rolled on and no word came from
the absent one, she finally ceased to e1-
pect him.
Fred Acton, after repeated refusals
from Nellie, had at last given up all
hopes of winning her hand but, loving
her still, as much as his selfish nature
was capable of loving, he attempted to
drown his sorrow in the wine cup and,
with drinking and fast horses, was rap
idly eating up the handsome property
left him by his father. One day, while
riding at break-neck speed, his horse,
frightened at futtering rag, SHE'D, and
threw him When the hastily-sum-
moned physician had examined his
wounds, he pronounced him mortally
injured.
Knowing, then, that for him all
thoughts of revenge on Guy were use
less, and that he must soon render up
an account OF his evil deeds, his
thoughts turned to Nellie, with feeble
wish that he could undo the wrong he
had done her. So he dedicated letter,
confessing his sin, begging her forgive
ness, and containing the locket, and dis
patched it to the injured girl, who, true
woman that she was, could not but pity
the dying man, bitterly as he had
wronged her, and, that he might not die
thinking himself unforgiven, sent note
TO the hotel to which he had been car
ried, but the messenger reached there
only in time to hear that the unhappy
Fred Acton had breathed his last
Guy had supposed that Nellie and
Fred were long since married; but hard
" had he set foot in London when he
was recognized and accosted by one Of
his old friends, who, among the gossip
he had to rotate concerning Guys old
circle OF acquaintances, mentioned the
fact of Fred Acton's death, and also said
that Miss Pomeroy was as beautiful as
ever, but unmarried. At this Guys
heart throbbed wildly, and his brain
almost reeled with the idea that perhaps
his own rashness had dashed the cup OF
happiness from his lips. Could there
have been treachery in Fred Acton's
conduct, and had he wronged Nellie all
these weary years ?
Wildly he asked himself these ques-
tons while on the way to his hotel; and
by the time he had arrived there he had
resolved that he would ut least see Mel
lie and have an explanation with her.
Once more he turned his steps toward
the well-known house where he had
spent the happiest hours OF his life
once more he was ushered into the ia.
miliar room, where even the pictures on
the walls seemed to smile on him in
friendly recognition. Bronzed by travel,
the old family servant failed to remem
Der him, so he gave no name, merely
requesting to see Miss Pomeroy.
Nellie soon appeared; but hardly had
she crossed the threshold when the eyet
of love recognized him, and with a wilo
scream Of "Guy, dear Guy!" she was
folded to his heart.
Long explanations followed. Nellie
told of the loss of her locket on the day
of Guys last visit, and how she had re
GREETED it, being his gift. She also tole
Of the dying confession Of Fred Acton
and his restoration of her locEet, which
she showed him, worn on a blue ribbon
about her neck.
Guy, penitent but loving, was full!
forgiven by his deeply wronged Nellie
who, in the JOY Of such a reunion, hat
no heart to blame him. .
Soon after there was a grand wedding
in the stately mansion; and, although
the fair BRIDES ornaments were mill
white pearls, there hung suspended from
the central cluster of her necklace tin.
locket. bearing on it blue forget-me
not.
Neck ties are in gray green and mas
tic, and beige shades, beautifully EN-
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