The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-15

other. He was looking through hi!
wardrobe one day, and came out to Myrs
with the hat in his hand, and sitting
down, began to tell her its romantic his
tory. Myra listened with her needle sus
pended and her lips apart, her face paling
and flushing with warm, womanly sym
pathy. Her pretty eyes filled with tear;
as she read the little written scrap Philip
placed in her hand. She went over j,
silently two or three times, with very
sad, compassionate glance; then, to Phil
ip's anna :ement, tore the paper into
shreads and threw them from her out
of the window. The wind lost no time
in carrying them away.
"Myra! he looked almost wildly after
the flying pieces. ''What in the world
induced you to do that?"
''It was the right thing to do, dear, "
she answered, with quivering lips. "No
woman should betray her heart in that
way. If ever could be tempted to for
get pride and dighity so foolishly, I
would be obligel to any one who would
destroy the evidence of my folly"
"But supposing I should find the
owner-the person to whom that paper
was addressed9"
''That isn't likely now, Philip; of
course, if you do find him, you could tell
him. But, Philip" looking earnestly at
her husband, ''if I were you, would
never tell any one else. Such things
seem pretty and interesting; but they
are more than that. They belong to the
hearts deep experience, and we should
not hold them lightly to talk of and
smile at. No, think the poor girl who
wrote those impusive words would be
glad to know they ale destroyed. Be-
licve me, Philip" smiling at him gently,
"women can judge for women. have
done what is right"
Philips answer was hi, usual one when
Myra looked particularly pretty, as she
did just now.
"You arc an angel" he said, after.
ward, "and, of course, you are right;
but I am thinking of the mans side,
don't you see2 That message belonged
to him, whoever, wherever he is, and T
would never think of stopping it on its
way. To my masculine view it seems,
don't you know, little ike-like
robbing the mails"
"It isn't like that at ALL" said Myra,
in a mil lily argumentative tone. ~
wouldn't do that myself. And, beside,
if the mails are going to bring trouble to
people, they ought to be robbed-the
sooner the better"
ooh, my dear grill" said Philip,
laughing.
"Well, of course!" rejoined Myra, de-
cidedly. 'sBut it is so hard to make
men understand things as they really ore.
Philip"
eyes, my love-"
~ want you to promise me that you
won't tell any one-auy one-about that
scrap of writing, unless you find the
the person for whom it was intended.
want you to promise this for the poor
foolish woman's sake. Won't you, dear
est2"
'T promise-for this poor foolish
woman's sake" said Philip, looking
down with rapture at her lifted eyes;
and he was nearer to the truth than he
knew.
One bright Sunday morning not long
afte: this, when there was cradle In
their house. and in it q little golden
head, worth all the rest of the gold in
the world, card was brought to Mrs.
Northam. 1t bore the name of Walker
w. Carroll. She passed it to her hus-
band with shade of annoyance on her
face.
"Ah, this is your old friend, Carroll, I
one you have spoken of 80
olten?" he remarked, pleasantly.
Eyes. I hadn't heard that he was
back from England, though" Myra was
brush over her hair, and look
ing at her face as she spoke. 'Iwonder
if his wife is with him2 But what an
hour to call! 1t can't be half-past nine"
"Lucky we are up" said Philip, with
a laugh; or, rather, thanks to that brigand
and pirate in the cradle there. He never
seems to enjoy his sleep until he has
robbed us of ours. Sha'n't I 60 down
and receive your friend, if you don't feel
quite ready, Myra."
81 am quite ready now, thanks said
Myra, promptly: ''and don't leave the
baby, please, till Maggie comes up"
She passed Philip in crossing to the
door, turned back and kissed him, and
went down stairs.
A tall, brown and bearded stranger
was standing in the parlor, looking at
the door expectantly as che entered, both
hands outheld in friendly welcome.
"Willm
"Myra!'
~ am so glad"
"Such q lovely surprise"
"And how have you been 2"
'I heard you were married"
"And you never wrote"
Who can reproduce the first hurried
words of greeting after long separa-
tion2 Speech and smiles, and bushes
and eager looks mingle inextricably.
at ouce. After a moment or two the
mists of feeling clear little; it is easier
to speak, but not so imperative.
Myra sat down by her friend on little
sofa. The welcoming look had not quite
gone out of her face when she said, i'm
pressively:
"Will, must ask you something now.
Do you remember the little hallmark I
made you before you went away3 Iput
it in your hat myself the night before
you sailed"
'.Do remember9 should think Sc!