The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-02
tsIt is all I have left.n she moaned,

all of his fathers the child may ever see.
How could you think of it, father9 1t
was cruel-cruel."
"'Twas all wrong. yes twas, Libbie,"
the man asseuted. ''But it bruck me
heart to think O. you and that leetle 'un
sittin' here supperless. I heerd the bells
tollin' up in the city and the horns
a-blowin', and l knowed that everybody
was havin' good time on Chrismiss Eve
night, while you was starvin'. couldn't
stand it. 1 Isneaked away with the ring
to pawn it or sell it, l didn't care what,
till heard the little creetur's cry, and it
brought me to myself agin. His childr
I says to meself. His child! And I
right ebout and comes back here with the
ring to you, Libbie-to you, me poor
gall"
He sat down on box and ran his hand
through his tangled hair and saw the
woman dry her eyes and look at him
kindly and pityingly. Once or twice he
bit his lips and shook his head, as though
a struggle were going on within'him and
then, in broken voice, he said: "Libbie,
I've scmethin' t. tell you, but I've been
ashamed t. open me mouth about it.
There's times now when I look back t
the days when you was bright gal, and
poor Ned-yes, poor Ned-I never called
him that before, but now must-when
poor Ned was maxim love t. you and /
was maxim brute o. meself t him. He
wus a good lad, but I wus so cusscd
stuck up with me shop and the loafers
about it that used t. brag about me that
I wouldn't stand his marryin' you. When
you tuck him, and I hunted him away
with me abuse and me drink, didn't
think the day would come when I'd be
sorry for it. But it has, Libbie, it has.
He's gone. Maybe gone for good"
The woman was crying again, but she
wiped away her tears at this and raised
her pale face again.
"Oh, don't say that, father, don't say
that" she cried. Ned will come some
time. He will find US yet. 1t seems so
strange this long waiting. But he said
he would come to claim me as his wife
when he was able to support me, and
he'll do it. I remember when he went
away. He said to me: 'Libbie, your
father forces me to this. Come with me
or stay with him, which ever you wish,
but depend upon it that shall be ack
soon to claim you, my little wife, AMI
when I do I'll come like man, will
ing and able to take care of you and
take odds from no one.' Then he said:
Whenever you see that ring think of
me and remember that l will be working
hard to keep my word lie went away
then and I have tried never to doubt
him. But it is so hard to wait and wait
and hear nothing. He may be dead. He
cannot be untrue. Disappointed and
perple1ed as l am I will not believe it.
But no word, no word. 1t is that is
killing me-"
Old Tom arose and walked the length
of his cabin, then turned about and came
back to the seat on the box. Then he
leaned over to her and said:
I'm agoin' to tell you somethin' Lib
bic. It's somcthin' oughter told you
long ago but didn't have the courage,
me gal, to own up to what scoundrel I
wus."
The woman dried her tears and there
was o look of interest in the pale face
that encouraged him to 60 on. But he
still hesitatcd and said to her with
trembling voice, "You won't cuss me,
Libbie, will you; bad as I may be you'll
forgive me now that I've come around
and mean to do better"
Size remained impassive and only said
eco on, father"
IL will. l will, if it kills me. Libbie,
don't you worry yourself on account O.
Ned's stickln by you. He wus true to
you all along. He wrote to you. He
sent money to you. He neTer forgot
you, poor boy, and IL tuck letters,
money and all.
The man groveled down upon his
knees beside the box and his head sunk
upon his hands. He was that moment
the vcriest picture of humiliation and re-
morse. But she before whom he hum
bled himself did not seem to see him.
Her eyes were fixed on vacancy and her
lips opened and closed as though she
were speaking to some one unseen.
Then she rose with cry of edward,
my husband, whom I would have
wronged by doubling. come to me; come,
or I will dic," and fell on the floor in a
swoon.
The old man. all in tremble, crept to
her, raised her in his arms, dashed water
into her face, laid her down again, aud
rushing to shelf, felt for bottle ard
held it to the light. Empty! A curse
upon the fiery brew that had brought
ruin and was gone when it might do
good! He knelt again, beat her hands,
wrung his own. and then starting up
like madman, dashed out into the air,
leaving the woman lying in the cabin as
though she were dead. Over to the pier
and across it he hurried. Heran to the
side of the big bark. There was no
there, but he sprang for the
ower rigging, grabbed it and clambercd
A.