The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-04-21

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pause and look in, she comes hastily
toward me. She is tall and thin, and
her face is pale, with great canning
eyes and dark hair.
"Who own this place. mi ?" sht
says, abruptly, opening the @. ang
coming to me.
MIR. EOrl"scuc," answer, DRAWN.
back, rather dismayed by her excilct
manner.
Mr.. Fortscue? I thought he was
dead, and that before he died the place
was sold"
MIR. Heath Fortescue-the sonia!
bought it back again."
l move to go, but the great black eye:
CLEAN, and she lays a thin hand on my
ARM. OBTAINING me.
Can you tell me where / can fine
Heath Fortescue?"
Just then I hear the chatter hoofs
and looking up, see my lover riding to
ward me. .
"Here he isif you wish him, madam
I o Y politely, relieved that she viii
not have to question me more, for, tc
tell the truth. I am in doubts as to he1
sanity, her facets SO strangely agltated
Il did not think to meet you, LITTLE
one. so early" says Heath, refining u!
beside me.
The woman shrinks back a moment
then springing forward, she stands di
rectly before him. | see Heath's face
change, first a wan crimson color, ther
a gray'pallor like a mask settles owe,
his features.
"Delia!"
He reels in his saddle. Then leaning
forward, he looks bescechingly. implor'
ingly toward me. I understand and &C
instantly.
Delia-that was his wife's name! Car
it be that it is his wife-that she is moi
dead, but living? Imove as in a dream
all sense of anything lost save the NOR
tai agony in his face. I reach home
and in NV room I watch the road: ]
see him 20 by leading his horse, while
beside him walks that tall, dark figure,
She is talking eagerly-he is silent; nc
does not look up to our house. ihes
have passed. I feel strangely glddy|,.
can l be going to faint? do not tel
papa. for there may be some mistake
Evening comes. and Heath IS down
stairs. I hear his step. As I 60 into
the library, I see by both their faces
that nv fear was true. Heath is lean
ing his head on his hand. Dear papa
takes me in his arms.
"Be strong, Joan, for Heath's sake"
Then he leaves me, and / goto Heath
side. We talk long, but quietly. reel
lifted out of myself at the sight OF his
suffering, and seeing me SO composed,
seems to calm Heath as nothing else
would have done. He rises to 60, ana
almost involuntarily holds out his arms
then they fall to his side.
Joan! Joan! it is hard!"
Eyes, Heath; but friendship still re-.
mains to US. Do not think OF me"
here l break down. "Oh! Heath, God
bless You and care for your"
He lifts my hand to his lips with q
reverent gravity.
Joan. you are an angel! I will DO
what is right"
But nay strength was short-lived, for
rs soon as he has gone l fall prone upon
the floor and fight with a hard struggle
against the longing to shrek aloud in
, my anguish.
, Papa does not come to me until |
have gained composure. No one sees
my weakness.
: Oh. il only that cousin had not be-
lieved 4 mere report-if he had only
waited to be sure!
have seen him. He has lately come
! back to his native place, and papa
pointed him out to me-. A morose- look
ny man. He quite frightened me when
I met the gaze of mis- sullen eyes.
A year passes, and the days 60 by rs
ever, save that each m seems more
monotonously weary than the other:
Few changes have taken place. But |
can now think of my dear friend as tet.
tered no longer by that wicked. wasted
life. Yes, Heath's wife is dead. She
spent her last days under the care of II
skilled physician in q quiet retreat pro-
vided o rher By her injured husband. He
briefly wrote to papa when it happened.
No message to me, for which l am glad,
! for though now there is 70 obstacle be-
tween us, I can never be his wife.
It seems to me that it is only right
that T should feel so, rs if l must sacrl-
fee my whole future to pay for those
stolen hours of happiness which
wronged another woman, though al!
unconsciously. Papa says that / am
morbid, but I do not think so.
Almost another. year has gone, and
Heath has come back. He is in his
house, the great mansion which was to
have been opened first but / do not al
low myself to think ofthe past. Icould
not ke ep my resolve if l did. for l have
seen him, and my foolish heart still
leaps and q%uivers as 81 old in his pres
encc.
He would not know it THOUGH, for I
am cold and still. Ills manner to me is
much the same. Any n would think
we were scarcely good friends TO soc US.
l can tell that he thinks that what he's
passed has killed my love for him.
1t is better so.
It is lust %dusk-not late. for the days
are short, and throwing y light wrap
around my shoulders, I sauntcr slowly
down the garden path to the gate. /
hear voices in the road, and turn to 60.
but something stops me. A hand
like ice clutches ut my heart, yet | stay
and listen.
Il tell you. Martha. it's no use your
following me this way. I've sworn to
kill him. and I will! A shot through
the window, where he always sits read
ing-no one will he any the wiser"
Then q softer voice in expostulation.
| cannot catch the words.
81 tell you he stole my Della from
me. Iswore then to be %revenged. You
needn't say she vas false Of her OWL
accord. I tell you this very night he
sLall know how cold lead feels"
In the dark two figures pass MET
man and n woman. The man is in
toXicated, I can tell by his thick, ex-
cited u%tterance. NO names were
spoken, but l know it is Heath he
threatens.
"Oh. Father in heaven" pray, rs /
ling my arms up in the dark, starless
sky. help me to save him"
Then l 60 swiftly back through the
garden, through the orchard, and out
upon q path which takes a short cut TO
the Fortescue place. l am at the great
gate, and looking feartully back down
the road / see = man walking swiftly
toward me with 4 pistolin his hand. !
am too late. He is u to me. His hand
is on my arm ! shrek aloud in my
terror: ,
Heath! Heath! Help" :
A quick step down the walk, and
Heath is by my side. "Joan-you here!
what is it? what has happcned?" Then
he sees the rufian whose rough grasp
is on my arm. With Il sudden move
| ment he wrests me away. and confronts
Ls,n ~-o .o,~~ooJ M ho &c