The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-05
CONSEQUENTLY.
CHAPTER T.

night, and water in places still flowed
slowly through the cutters. Nature wa
almost at her best. The grass in the
yards and little parks was one solid
emerald, not yet Drowned or shriveled
by the increasing heat. Roses seemed IN
spontaneous growth, and everywhere gave
color and perfume. Children were play
ing on the walks, and nurses lolling on
the benches of Pacific Circle, as. it was
then called, where the Dupont statue now
stands. In spite of the greenness of the
grass and the freshness of the flowers, it
was excessively hot. The whole surface
of the ground except the streets where
the asphatum had dried was steaming.
The heat was Of that moist, suffocating
kind that makes US say it is going to rain
again.
Oliver walked on briskly, for he had to
be at the Treasury building at nine
o'clock, and dried his ruddy face as well
rs he could, from time to time, with his
handkerchief. AS he reached the N
street crossing Re kesitated and looked at
his watch. 1t had suddenly occurred to
him that he would ike glass of mineral
water. With the thought came the con-
vict;on that this would not only be re-
freshing but highly med. .cinal, and that
his system stood in great need of
it. There was place on Fourteenth
street where he liked to get it.
This wa; now considerably out of his
way, but as his watch showed that he
still had fifteen minutes in which to get
to his desk, there was time enough. The
extra walk was desirable for one who
had to write all day. Why should he
not 90 if he wanted to? Ninety-nine
young men in hundred would have
reasoned about as he did, and would
have considered it q mere whim to be
indulged Or not, according to individ-
ual fancy. He had not the faintest idea
that anything depended upon it. Never
theless it was an epoch in the life of
Oliver Harmon.
About the time Oliver looked at his
watch an elderly gentlemen was just
coming out of the door of his house near
the Thomas Circle This gentleman, whom
we will call Mr.. Amidon, was going down
town, and would take the street car at
the Circle. He stopped moment to
speak to his daughter, then walked
slowly down the steps. He was not a
very large man, but had something of a
bulbous appearance. He carried gold
headed cane, and walked very slowly.
What with the little delay on the steps
and with Harmon's rapid walk, they
would come together at the precise point
where the old gentleman would take the
street car. Oliver had often enough
heard Mr.. Amidon's name, but he did
not know him by sight. This ignorance
was fully reciprocated by Mr.. Amidon,
who not only did not know Oliver Har-
mon by sight, but had never so much as
heard his name.
The old gentleman signalcd car, and
was walking across the street, when
suddenly the bright sunshine began to
grow dim. The car wsvered before his
eyes, and obje: IS rose up and danced in
the air. He thought if he copL' -each
the car and sit down that he would re-
cover in q moment. Leaning heavily on
his cane, he took step or two forward,
cropping with his feet. Unluckily his
foot struck something that slipped or
rolled away, and throwing up his hands,
he fell backward, AMI the darkness
closed over him. 1t would have gone
hard with Mr.. Amidon at this instant if
some one had not observed the whole
movement, and darted forward in the
nick of time. A carriage was whirling
about the Circle between the track and
the sidewalk, the eyes Of the Eegro
driver being on everything except his
team and the road. A clutch at their
bridl S brought the horses up so suddenly
that tn iver had nearly pitched head
long from his seat With white eyes and
blank astoniShmcnt he looked down to
see man almost under his horses feet.
When the light began to come again
20 Mr.. Amidon, he looked up to see a
young man tanning him, and saying,
cheerfully:
"Feeling better, aren't you2 You'll b.
al right in miuute, I think"
The cd gentleman had not realized
that anything much was wrong. 1t was
only slight attack of vertigo. not at all
uncommon. He would get into the car,
which was of course waiting for him :;
but he was little surprised that it had
moved away. In fact, two or three had
passed the same point since he fell.
He looked around to see quite little
crowd collected about him He Was
lying in the shade of tree at the edge
of the sidewalk. His head, which had
very little hair on it, was covered with q
wet handkerchief. His collar was un-
buttoned and limp, and his shirt-front
much demoralized. The pungent smell
of ammonia was in the air and in his
nostrils. Then he began to realize that
something had happened, but he could
not remember what.
When Mr.. Amidon seemed pretty we'll
recovered, the young MAN said: "Shall
! call cab for you now?"
"Thank you. live very near here,
and if you will help me to my feet think
can get home.".
He got up, but stood so unsteadily on
his legs that the young man could not
think of letting him 60 alone, and SO the
two walked slowly along to the high
steps the old gentleman had descended
ten minutes before. He sat down wearily
on the lower step while hi, companion
ran up to ring.
Miss Nellie, sitting at the window. at
this instant looked out and saw her
fathers tumbled and generally disre-
spectible appearance. Full of great
fri:ht, she rushed out and narrowly
missed upsetting the young man com
ing up.
"Oh, you poor dear papa, what is the