The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-03

was not to be quieted by any such pre-
lenses as these. It was all very well
for Ernest to say so, but his saying 50
did not deceive her. Having once
thrown her influence over Ernest. Con-
stance she knew would not be satisfied
to resign her power so easily. She
didn't doubt but that Constance would
in some way or other contrive to see
him, and this mornings paper had given
her clue to the means she had adopted.
Very we'll, Theresa, too, will be at
Victoria at IL noon.
The carriage had just returned from
taking Ernest to the station: it should
also convey her to the next train for
London. She would have sufficient
time to reach the trEsting PLACE 5yhoon
ccalment. How should she so disguise
ing unobserved? Then she remembered
that her Aunt Blake, who had been a
widow for a couple of years, had left
behind her a widows cap, bonnet and
veil, having the opportunity of visit
to her niece to resume the ordinary CO.'S
tune of womanhood.
BonnetS are not formidable thin gs
nowadays; and Theresa put her aunt's
weeds. with black Grape shawl, into q
travelling bag. She put on a black
dress with q white shawl over it, and
her usual travelling bonnet, that she
might not give rise to surmise at her
sudden assumption Of mourning, end
then started off.
The clock showed five minutes to
twelve when she arrived at Victoria.
She hurried off to tho ladies' waiting
room, donned her bonnet, cap, shawl
and veil, and came out upon the plat.
form demure wi dow.
Sure enough Ernest was there, walk
ing up and down. She gave a kind Of
guilty start as he passed her, and he
looked rather hard at the young widow
with the nice trim figure.
$50" she thought, that is the way
you look at young women when | am
not by"
The next turn that she took she
started as she saw approaching her
from the opposite side Of the platform
the very double Of herself. Black dress,
black Grape shawl, widows bonnet and
everything! She thought at the first
moment that there was a mirror oppo-
| site her, and that she saw her own re-
fiected image. But it was not so. The
lady threw up her veil and revealed the
! features of Constance Brown. 1t was
only for 4 moment, and then she drew
! her veil closely over her face, and max
ing a slight gesture, rs it seemed, Of
caution, she made her way to the book
! ing office. went UP to the porter, and
asked, in clear. loud voice when the
train started for Brighton.
Theresa glided into the office by the
opposite door. The pretended widow
! was waiting for her turn at the ticket
hatch. With the quickness of thought
! Theresa ran up to the barrier. A genial
looking old gentleman was taking his
ticket.
Might I ask you, sir, to get me 4
ticket for Brighton ?"
"Most certainly, madam" said the
old gentleman.
She grasped the ticket and hurried on
the departure platform, giving rs she
went the same signal with her hand
that she had seen her double make Just
before.
Yes, he had recognized the signal and
followed her ..... ......... .
- The train was just ready to start, and
she hastily jumped in a tirst-class car
riagc. A gentleman jumped in after
her.
Faithless fellow" she thought.
"Constance." said q tremulous voice
at her side dearest Constance"
"You wretch !" cried Theresa, sud
denly unveillng.
But this effect was not what she an
ticipaed. 1t was not her husband at
all; it was Captain Potter, late Of the
Plungers.
1t is now necessary to revert to the
proceedings OF Mr.. Black to account for
his presence on the scene.
Ernest had intended to take the news
paper up to town with him, having
been interested in an article he had not
time to finish. But having with his
customary carelessness, left it behind
him, he bought another ut the station,
and then the advertisement caught his
eye" Constance to Ernest" Yes, he
knew what it meant.
Ernest Black ard Ernest Potter had
been schoolellows and cronies in early
days; but their friendship Had long
since decayed. Potter was n reckless
spendthrift. who had been obliged to
leave the Plungers and sell his commits
sion, swamped with innumerable debts.
He had been an old friend of the
Browns, too, and Constance had for.
merly been infatuated with him; but
her father, who was very violent,
self-willed old fellow, swore that she
should never marry such scamp.
Constance had nice little fortune of
her own, and she had just come of age,
so that if she persisted in throwing her.
self and her fortune away, there was no
help for it. Still Ernest thought it was
his duty to stop it if he could. He fiat
! tered himself that he had some influence
over Constance; and if he couldn't put
an end to the affair altogether, he might
yet prevail upon her to have all her
money carefully tied up.
The advertisement meant an elope-
ment, Ernest thought-a clandestine
marriage, and the sacrifice of a girls
future 10 a worthless scamp. He would
be there, too, to save her if he could
At all events he found himself on the
platform of Victoria station at noon.
All! there was Captain Potter, as he ex-
pected. stalking up and down, evidently
expecting somebody. Ernest didn't take
any note of him; and Potter seemed
anxious on his part to avoid any recog-
milton. But there was no Constance.
He kept, however, a sharp lookout on
the captain, and, all of sudden he
noticed that his eyes lit up-and, turn
! ing quickly round, Ernest saw lady in
deep mourning pass into the booking
office.
Potter now took up a position close
by the wicket that opened to the depar-
ture platform, where the man stood that
punched holes in the tickets. Presently
p lady in black rushed rapidly past.
Ernest followed her few PAGES to as
sure himselfit was not Constance Brown.
No; the lady was of different carriage
and figure from Constance-more like
his own wife, be said, with a Jealous
pang that he laughed at himself the next
moment for feeling. Whoever it was,
she Jumped into the carriage, and the
captain after her. The guard whistled
off the train and Ernest turned away,
thinking that he had been rather Il fool
for his pains.
Then he saw another young widow
gazing eagerly about her, and running
here and there evidently looking for
some one she could not find. At last.
L l. II,