The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-02-10
looking up the crops in the upper part OF

dlc-hOrSe and go. Ou KNOW BrOWns 3
old horse, don't YOU? When you wish to
obtain the remedial blessings of a severe
lake storm just get astridc of That quad
ruped and whip him into trot." He
laughed in something of his old pleasant
way over this little joke, and I, heavy as
I was at heart. forced myself to join in
the mirth, hoping that even this little
moment of forgetfulncss might do him
some good. Ny dear friend
started on his trip the next Mon
day, and was to return on the following
Saturday evening, and I, at his request,
promised to await his coming at the
office. In my letter mail of Friday
found a letter for him-thc first, other
than business one, I had known of his
receiving since his engagement with me.
1t bore an Irish postoffice stamp, and l
placed it in his office box, with the hope
and prayer that it might bring comfort to
his troubled spirit.
1t was nearly 9 o'clock when I heard
his slow and languid step upon the
stairs. T was writing at my desk, and
as he came and plrced his hand upon
my shoulder, I looked up and saw at a
glance that the journey had been of no
benefit to him. He made an effort to
greet me with his old-time vivacity,
but it's soul was gone. His fine eyes
retained their brilliancy, but were
sunken and almost hidden behind the
heavy eyebrows. There was a little
more color in his face than when he
left me, but exposure to sun and wind
might account for that. He tried to
talk cheerfully of his trip. 81 will
have three crop columns for you, dear
old friend!" he said, "and the Examiner
people (the opposition iournaD will just
go mad with envy when they see it. They
have sent nobody out, yet, and we are
ahead" And so we talked on until the
subject was exhausted, and then he
stepped to the letter rack and took
the contents of his box to his
desk at the opposite end of
the room. Soon I heard him spring to
his feet and turn the key in the door;
then I felt the painful grasp of his hand
upon nv arm and turned to look at him.
Ny God, what change! To his wan
and shrunken face was now added the
whiteness of death! "Oh, John!' he
cried, in piteous and despairing tones,
"My heart is broken. Read these lines
and I will tell you"
The passage he pointed out in the let
ter he held in his hand was this:
'Toward the end she never complained,
nor seemed to shrink, as before, from
their harsh upbraidings; but just wasted
away day by day, and died with your
name upon her lips"
"Now you know" the stricken man
confined, "what it is that has made my
existence of late living death, and
drained my body of blood and vitality.
She was beautiful, gentle hearted girl,
and I knew months ago that her family
was killing her because of her love for
me. I have corresponded with her old
nurse, who has been with her, and I
know all. I could tell you much more,
but there is no need. I left home to save
her, as I hoped, from abuse; but they
lied to me. May God curse them here
and hereafter"
All this time he had been excitedly
pacing the floor between my desk and
his own, with the fatal letter crushed
tightly in his hand. What could I say
what comfort offer? I could
only beg him to 20 home with me and
take sleeping powder. "sleep" ne
cried: ''no sleep has come to me for
months! John, promise me one thing
it will do no harm to any living creature,
but will be better in every way Promise
me if should-if we should be eseparated,
that you will do all in your power to pre-
vent any search for my relatives. 1t is
foolish whim of mine, I know; but prom
ise, dear old fellow"
pressed his hand in token of acquies-
cence, and turned away to hide my own
emotion. and when looked again he was
burning the letter in the stove. Other
papers he took from his desk, and de-
stroycd in the same way. This done, he
came to me in calmer mood, and, TAX
ing both my hands in, his, he said:
"John! you have been q good, kind
friend to me. and I don't remember that
I ever thanked you for it. do so now
with my whole heart. have been very
lonely at times, but you have been COM
fort to me. And now," he added, in
voice soft and sweet as little child,
"and now, if you don't mind, will rest
awhile before going home. Twill be very
quiet, and may sleep."
I thought it would be we'll for him to
rest a little before our long walk up the
steep bluff to his hotel, and so told him.
He again took my hand as though 10th to
90 from me, and then walked slowly to
his chair. He had acquired habit OF
resting by placing his elbows upon his
desk and supporting his head between his
appraised hands. Looking after him, l
saw he had taken that position now; then
I turned to my work, which was very
pressing. wrote on, I know not how
long, when suddenly a great fear came
upon me, and springing to my feet, l
went to him.
His noble head was bowed low upon
his quiet breast, and his arms were ex-
tended as though at last his dead love
had come to his embrace and borne his
soul away.
Perhaps she had! who knows3-J II
Shipman, in the Journalist.