The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-03-12

we will send you home early in the
morning"
"But Carrie |"
"She will be frightened, no doubt,
but it will be for q few hours only"
And Mr.. Morrison, seeing the gather
ing pallor of the pretty face, hastily
sought a cab, put Ellie into it, his wife
following. ,
In the meantime Carrie, in the quiet
dress she always wore, thinking regret
fully that fnery of any kind would only
make more conspicuous the disGguring
scare upon Ter face, waited for Her
bert. She could not help a little thrill
of pleasure at the thought of a quiet
evening with him alone, for her aunt
| generally nodded in silence over her
knitting. She had faithfully tried to
keep Ellie ct home; that having failed,
she could enjoy the evening. Ellie was
very exacting of her lovers attentions,
if lover he was, keeping him beside her
constantly; while Carrie, as was hablta'
al with her, kept in the background,
listening to her sisters lively chat, and
wondering why she could never Jest and
frolic with Herbert.
The little mantel clock was striking
eight when he came. Aunt Fanny. who
had been all day shopping in the keen
winter air, had yielded to the droWsy
influence of the warm room, and was
quietly asleep in her armchair; but
Carrie was awake, and went forward to
meet the visitor.
81 am very sorry Ellie is out" she
said, "but I'll try the duets with you,
if you wish"
A look of pleasure flashed into Her
bert's face, but shy Carrie, looking
down, missed it.
"But you usually have Ellie"
"Ellie does not sing as well as you
do. Her voice is not as good, and she
is careless. But before we try the duets,
sit here a little while and talk to me.
I SO seldom see you alone"
She sat down, wondering O little at
the request, but the wonder grew deeper
as Herbert talked to her. Little by
little the truth came homo to her that
Herbert Brandon was glad, not sorry,
to find Ellie gone; that the words her
sister had spoken in jest. supposing
them far from any truth, we're indeed a
fact, and that it was her owr plain face,
not Ellie's pretty one, Herbert came to
see. In words whose earnest truth
could not be doubted, Herbert told her
how her gentle sweetness, her useful,
cheerful life had won his love, and that
his hope of happiness for life rested
upon her answer to the simple, unmis-
taxable question that came out at last:
Twill you be my wife, Carrie? Can
you give to my keeping the happiness
of your life, believing I will earnestly
endeavor to guard you from every sor-
row. know T am not worthy-no man
can be worthy-os such q treasure as 1
ask; but I love you, darling, I love
you"
He knew his love was returned when
the shy but happy eyes were raised to
his own. Yet in%voluntarily one little
white hand was raised to cover the dis
figuring scar. Tenderly Herbert pris-
oned it, and pressed his own lips upon
the cheek.
"Let me help you e forget that" he
whispered.
They talked long and earnestly, each
learning much unguessed before OF the
others heart-contidence, till the clock
chimed eleven.
"1t is time Ellie was home |" Carrie
cried, starting at the sound.
UWhera has she gone }"
"To Hyde Park with Granville Fer
guson."
Herbert started as if he had been
shot.
"Granville Ferguson? Carrie, I
must 60 out. I can get q cab. But it
is too late. Some of her friends will
surely be there"
"Why, what is the matter ?" asked
Carrie, frightened at his evident agita-
ton.
81 meant to tell you this evening,
but I forgot everything else when l
found you alone, Carrie. Granville
Ferguson is one of a gang of forgers.
Hill Lyman is o very intimate friend OF
one Of the detectives, and this afternoon
he told me they had secured the proofs
against him for which they had been
waiting for months. he has in his pos
session this evening a large sum derived
from forgery and he was doubtless
arrested OF the park. Hill told me the
whole plan and invited me to 60 out
and see the fun as he expressed it ;
but seeing no fun in the downfall Of a
man We have all met as a friend more or
less, I declined. If 1 had only asked
sooner for Ellie I might have gone to
the park. Did she expect to meet other
friends?"
"She spoke of some ladies Mr.. Fer
guson was to meet" said Carrie, who
was really crying at the thought of her
sisters position, "but I do not know
who they were. She always does meet
friends at the park, but I could not tell
where to look for her. Oh, Herbert, it
is dreadful! What can we do?"
81 will 60 out on the chance OF find
ing her."
But when he reached the park the lake
was deserted. It was useless to seekfo
Ellie at that hour among her large cir
clio of friends, and Herbert could only
return to Carrie with his tidings.
Aunt Fanny was awake and thorough.
ly terrified by that time. She enjoyed a
sensation and seldom had so fine an op-
portunity for Mysteries, and 80 fell into
them Oh the spot.
1t was a dreary night for Carrie after
Herbert left, for she could not listen to
har aunt's dismal forebodings without
some answering fear in her own heart.
But quite early all terror was dissipated
by Ellie's appearance.
81 came az early as they would let
me-" she said, after telling the event of
the evening; "but I have not closed
my eyes all night. I knew you would
be uneasy about me-"
She looked pale and wan, and Carrie
saw that there was q deeper sorrow than
she confessed in her warm heart. She
hustled about, insisted upon putting her
to bed to rest, brought her up . cup of
coffee and petted her in a loving, tender
fashion, that Ellie could not resist. For,
q short struggle with herself, she
81 am ashamed of it,
Carrie, now; but I did like him so
much, that when he asked me this after
noon to marry him I only put him off
for a few days, meaning to say yes then.
I did not quite like to engage myself
till I had told you and Aunt Fan.
Carrie, was Herbert here?"
W - l. H. s--l- e..