The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-25
But-Dinah Aun-not to-day. II
can't take you this afternoon. You shall
90 Tomorrow. instead"

But-Dinail Aun-not to-day. Il
can't take you this afternoon. You shall
60 Tomorrow, instead"
"Why can't you take me?"
Business" he shortly replied. And,
his gig being just then brought round,
White Bess in the shafts, he got into it
without more ado and drove away,
calling out goodbye to his wife.
"I'll be even with you, MIR. James,
nodded she.
The sun was setting when he drove in
again and round to the stable yard.
Leaving his horse and gig with Evan, he
was crossing to the house when his at
tention was caught by huge vol lume OF
black smoke putting out Of the chimney
of narrow building that was formerly
made to serve as brew-house and wash
house, until the larger one was built.
AS it was out of use now, was not IN
tact used for any purpose whatever, or
entered by anybody from months end
to months end, Mr.. Harbury naturally
thought of fire. He rushed TO it like
mailman.
In the fireplace under the furnace =
FIRE blaZed away, upon which more coal
had recently cen thrown. winter than
death James Harbury made one frantic
move toward it, while a yell OF what
really seemed like terror broke from
him. Another yell succeeded, and still
another; then he collapsed utterly, and
fell upon a low wooden stool In wild
despair.
"Good heavens!" exclaimed Dinah
Ann, who had been STOPPING over some
blankets in the far corner. "What IN
the world is the matter? Is it spasms.
James? Let me run for the camphor."
"Camphor, indeed!" exclaimed the
unhappy man. Bring poison, rather.
Poison. You've ruined me-"
"He's of his Lead" was her pitiable
suggestion. "Int me rub you, James.
Where is the pain? In the chest"
He flung his arms around in all direc-
tions, so that she could not get to his
chest, or to any other part Of him who
lighted this tire?" he gaspcd.
Phoebe lighted it. l ordered her.
The fue in the proper wash house has
taken to smoking fri fully. The
blankets are to be washed to.morroW
and will be put in soak to night. But
what is the fire to you, James, that you
should be put out about it?'
Its everything to me, he family
answered. "Five hundred pounds has
been burnt up in it."
Rising from the stool land Dinah Ann
wondered the creaky old thing had not
come down with his weight-he has
tened indoors, sat down by the table
and buried his head upon it. She found
him so, his face hidden in his hands.
"Now, James, you must tell me what
all this means-if you arc not quite out
of your senses. Come! I intend to
know"
eyes, you may know it now" he
said, lifting his face and its despair. :"
had placed in the fireplace Of that old
furnace, in my old green pocketbook,
f5OO in banknotes. And-and they are
burnt! They are burnt, Dinah Ann"
Dinah Ann paused. "Where did the
notes come from?"
From your brother-to me. A long
while ago, years before / knew you,
lent friend over f40O. He ran away
with it to Australia, and lost my
money, and set him down as rogue.
But he is not so dishonest as thought
him; he has made his fortune out there,
and is back again in Lond On now, and
last week he transmitted the debt and
interest to your brother for me, t2Go. l
brought the notes home the night harry
drove me here"
And now Just tell me, James, how
YOU could think Of putting banknotes
into such place as furnace hrehole?"
Il did it for safety. Nobody ever
went there, and the furnace was never
used"
"Safetyp Was there not your bureau,
upstairs in the bedroom?"
That's never locked"
"Why, it's salways locked"
Anyway, the key is never taken out
"Ah, I see what itis-you were afraid
I should see the money and want to
spend it,"
sum like that coming Unexpectedly" he
meckly rejoined. "Bonnets and frills
and fresh chairs and tables-you'd not
have known where to stop"
"Well, / must say, James, you have
been rightly served for your want OF
confidence. No husband ever has q
concealment from his wife, If she's
good wife, but hei s sure to be paid out.
It is loss though, f500w
He groaned. My business in Nor
than this afternoon was to consult with
your brother about good investment
for it."
whats this?" asked she, placing be-
fore him the identical green case-with
the banknotes inside it. James
gasped. -,
"Ah, it's my dear Dinah Ann now
and where would you be without me?
7 have given you a GOOD fright, how
ever. Don't you conceal thing from
me again, James"
II don't think I will" he said. "How
hes it all come about?"
"Why, I have just been playing lit
tie as well as you. Twas at the gate
last Thursday night, and heard what
you said to Harry as you got out of the
gig. 1t excited my suspicious and my
curiosity" -.
"But what did I say?" asked the
farmer, really not remembering between
the excitement of the past misery and
the present happiness.
"'Not q word, mind, to Dinah Ann.
Not word, for you life, mind, to Dinah
ApoliD