The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-24

He hadn't meant to be so abrupt; he
had meant to keep his secret II little
longer, but it had slipped out accident
ally among the poetry and domestic de-
tails, and he was very glad it was over.
Miss Smith vas of course very much
surprised. The curate had caught her
hand as his accents grew more impas-
stoned. She allowed him to retain it
till he had finished, then drew it geNtly
away.
"Mr. G~rosvenor." she said, quietly,
81 will answer you fairly and frankly.
Before you made me such an offer you
should have ascertained TO whom you
were speaking"
What do you mean"
"You do not know who or what |
am"
81 know that you are an angel"
Miss Smiths lip curled slightly, but
her voice trembled rs she answered:
CAS- you have gone so far it is only
right you should know something about
me. My name is not Smith. That is a
false name" e.
"a false name!" the parson gasped
Dear me! why do you want Il false
name?"
"Listen and I will tell you. Did you
yer hear Of a terrible crime for which
two men and two women were con-
demned? 1t was called mystery at
first. But when the facts cam to light
it was called a murder One man
starved his wife to death. and the other
people helped him. He wanted to
marry a younger woman. and this
younger woman was n Of the accused
81 remember the case" stammered
the curate. cit was very awful; hut
I don't see what you've got to do with
The perspiration stood on his crow
and he began TO mop it with his pocket
handkerchief. Half expected to hear
that Miss Smith was a relative OF one
ofthe criminals.
"You remember" continued the
girl, speaking rapidly nov and without
emotion, ''that all four were condemned
to death. but the young girl was at the
last moment granted 4 free pardon and
allowed to return to the world and to
her friends"
Yes" gasped the clergyman, IL re-
member; but what has all this business
to do with you?"
"This," answered the lady whom he
had Just made an offer of marriage; 81
was the girl for whose sake the murder
was committed; I was the girl who was
condemned to be hanged by the neck
and then granted q free pardon!
am"
She stopped. The Rev. Charles
Grosvenor had reeled back against the
stile and closed his eyes.
Excuse me-" he muttered; ga little
faintness, that's all" :.
He pulled himselftogether, stammered
q little, coughed. and fora minute seemed
at n loss what to say.
She broke the silence first.
81 have told you now the secret OF
nv life. am here with my mother,
and here wish to remain unknown:
forgotten by the world. We are bound
TO live under an assumed name. We
should be hooted and stoned if it were
known who we really are. Will you
keep my secrete"
Certainly" stammered the curate;
and I trust -"
"That 1 shall keep yours. Rest as
| sured of that MIR. Grosvenor. l will
forget that anything has happened this
morning beyond the ordinary inter
chsngps between clergyman and parish
ioner."
She smiled and bowed and passed on.
He walked back slowly TO the church,
muttering to himself, What an escape
who'd have thought it
The Rev. Charles Grosvenor is stilltha
! curate of ChumlciGh. and Miss Smith
and her mother still live at Labournam
cottage. Tne parishieners, however,
notice that the visits of the clergyman
to the cottage are few and far between,
and that when he calls he is generally
accompanied by one or other Of his lady
visitors.
; And old Dame Turvey, who knows
| everything about everybody and is a
| great authority on village matters. as
sures every one that she can't make it
! out ut al, for she was quite sure the par
son was sweet in that quarter, and she
| quite expected that Miss Smith would
have presided at the parsonagete table.
Something must have happened very
! unexpected to break it all off," concludes
the worthy dame, for it was all altered
like \ minute"
Dame Turvey is right for once. What
happened was very unexpected, and it
made such m impression on the Rev.
| Charles Grosvenor that he will remem-
Der il to the end Of his life.