The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-06-25
BY HUGH WILSON AND w. G. BENET.


parlor and sat down.
"Sidney, DEAR" commenced Lydia.
"My love-my life-what?' cried the
husband, raising himself to an upright po-
sition.
81 want to ask you question"
"Ask me hundred"
cit ia very important one, Sidney"
"Ask it, -life-my charmer."
at is about your business, my dear hus-
hand'
"Ah-the very thing I have long been
anxious to speak about, my angel. l think
ought to 60 into business soon. Ihave an
excellent pportunity-one of the most
liberal offers For twelve thousand dollars
can buy out one quarter of a hourishing
concern, and for four-and-twenty thousand
can have half of it. 1t is splendid offer,
1 assure you."
"And do you mean to buy it? ?" asked
Mrs. Collins
"I wish to do So"
"Then of course you WILL" suggested
Lydia.
"Ah-that depends upon circumstances"
replied Sidney. "I am willing to put all
my energies and business tact against cap
ital, and 60 it."
II do not understand you, love-
"Then l must speak plainly resumed
Sidney. If you will furnish the money, l
will do the rest"
"Me furnish the money" uttered Lydia.
Yes, angel"
But-you-have-money"
"Not enough to pay months board,
sweet charmer. "But I have tact, and
Bless me! What's the matter? Have you
got a fit"
"No money" groaned Lydia, sinking
back upon the sofa, and covering her face
with her hands.
"Do not trife with her feelings, Sidney"
interposed the mother. "You are cruel"
"But have only spoken the truth"
"Did you not bring some eighty thou
sand dollars from California;"
"No.
"Then you have deceived lis most
cruelty, sir"
"But my wife has money"
"Not dollar"
care you in earnest"
"I am. What little money we had has
been swept away by an unfortunate specu.
lation."
"Then, by heavens" cried Sidney, "1
should say that I had been slightly de-
ceived. You know that the impression
prevailed that you had money, and you
knew l was aware of the fact that Mr..
Collins left over ten thousand dollars to
each of his daughters. Why didn't you
tell me of this before?"
"Why didn't you tell us that you had no
money 2" returned Mrs. Collins.
"simply because 1 never professed to
have any,
"Then what was meant by that account
in the paper p
"Oho!' exclaimed the husband. "You !
got hold of that, did you? And that ac-
counts for the peculiar warmth of my le-
ception That, it seems, worked the change
that gave me the love sought. | under
stand it now. But, upon my word, there
got ready to start for home, my cousin
received a summons to attend to some bust
ness which he feared would detain him till
the sailing of the next steamer, and as his
gold was already on board, and he did not
wish to remove it, he placed it under my
care, and it was so consigned to the list.
But at the last moment, he finished his
business, and was enabled to come with me"
"And Frank is the wealthy one" gasped
Lydia. |
'"Yes. He delved and dug, while
speculated; and he made fortune, while
didn't"
ooh how have been deceived" cried
the disappointed wife.
"Grossly deceived" added the mother.
Sidney started from his seat, and having
walked up and down the floor few times,
he stopped and faced the two women. He
was very calm, and the bitter expression
which had dwelt upon his face gave place
to mocking smile.
"I guess we had better not deal too much
in accusations" he said, for don't think
either of us can claim much charity on that
score. We have both of us-perhaps all
three of us-playeda pretty kind of a game,
but it seems we all held losing hands. You
were not averse to little bit of deception
for the sake of securing rich husband and
perhaps am not free from the same wea k
ness. However, we've made slight mis-
take, but the things done, and it can't be
helped; so we must make the best of it,
We had better keep it TO ourselves than
have it get out. Folks would enjoy it huge
ly if they knew what a mistake you had |
made in your game at fortune hunting. All
there is about it, we must turn to now, and |
work. I am caught, and I will make the
best of it; but just let me assure you that l
will not submit 10 any further fault-6nding
or recrimination.'
When Nellie found herself within 4 COM
Portable, well-furnished house, and knew
that it was her own, and that her husband |
was wealthy, she sank upon his bosom and
wept in her joyful gratitude. She tried to
chide him for having deceived her, but
very soon he convinced her that he had not |
deceived her at all.
"This blissful hour" he cried, "has been
my goal for years. Through all the weary
seasons of toll have been sustained by the |
hope that in the end this fair hand should |
be mine; and not a joy has. my wealth
promised me that did not look to you as
sharer in it."
Nellie believed him, and she was happy
HAPPY az she deserved to be---happy as
only such pure hearts can be.
Frank went into business, and he hired
his cousin Sidney for a bookkeeper, and
paid him good salary. Lydia had come
to her senses, and when her mother went to
live with Nellie she resolved that she would |
make the best of the estate which had fallen
to her lot, though she will never cease to
regret, during the moments when the old
thoughts of fashionable life come over her,
the slight mistake she made in playing her
Game OF Life.