The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-24

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thirty" said Rachel, in a cold harsh
voice, which surprised herself, "and if
he loves you should advise you to mar
ry him."
"You are such a dear, good creature" !"
cried Laura, kissing her, land am so
glad that you do not care anything about
him. 1t would be so awkward, you
know, if you did. But I hear him COM
ing to his room and we must be quiet.
So good night and pleasant dreams"
Pleasant dreams indeed! Poor Rachel
never closed her weary eyes that night,
and the next morning she looked so worn
and i'll that even selfish Laura insisted on
bathing her head and coddling her to
sleep on the sofa.
1t was early autumn now and the even
ings were growing chilly. Rachel had a
fire lighted that night on the sitting
room hearth.
Laura, all in diaphanous cloud of
white muslin and azure ribbons, sailed in
Just before it was time for DR.. Moore to
come from his Office.
ga fire! wood fire" she cried, gayly;
Chow charming! Royal and I are to prac-
tice that new song together, and really,
it would have been chilly here without
the fire. You are very thoughtful, Cousin
Rachel. Iwondcr if I will be as good
when I am as old2"
She went close to the fire and held her
small, white hands out to the ruddy blaze.
Her sweeping skirts trailed over the
hearth-a breath of air from the open
door as Aunt Edith came in swaycd them
little nearer, tongue of fame seized
upon the flimsy fabric, and in an instant
the unfortunate girl was wrapped in a
cloud of fire.
A fearful temptation besct Rachel.
Do not temptations, at times-tempta-
tions dark and evil-beset the best of
us? If Laura perished, Royal Moore
would be hers once more. The thought
went through her brain like lightning,
but she cast it behind her with i'm
patient scorn.
The next moment she had torn up
the hearth-rug and wrapped it around
Laura, and forcing the screaming girl
down to the floor, she succeeded in
smothcring the flames, just as DR.. Moore
entered the room.
She thought it very strange that he
should spring to her side, and ask if she
were burned, before he every looked at
Laura; but afterward he lifted the poor
young girl in his arms and carried her up
to her room and dressed her wounds and
soothed her as best he could.
By-and-by he came down, and found
Rachel out in the moonlight under the
yellow naples. She had bandaged both
her hands, for they were fearfully
burned, and she had told DR.. Moore she
was not hurt.
"My dear little girlm he said, draw
ing her into the sitting-room, ''you have
deceived me-you are burned. must
see after this myself" And he took off
the wrappers and grew pale at sight Of
the poor SCARED and blistered hands.
She submitted to him quietly. His
touch brought back to her some of the
sweetness of the old time. And she had
made up her mind to tell him this very
evening that he was free.
"Rachel," said he, when he had fin
ished dressing the burns, II want to talk
to you little while. You have given me
no chance lately, and I have been very
unhappy over it. I have at times almost
began to fear that after all you did not
care for me as I thought you did"
II desire your happiness above any
thing else," began Rachel, bravely, "and
when I saw that you were pleased with
Laura, and indeed it is not strange, for
she is young and handsome"
sPleased with Laura, said DR.. Moore.
II was never pleased with her, dear. I
have been playing, you will think, very
mean and dastardly game, but my con-
science approves me! Two years ago,
Rachael, that girl firted with my brother
Henry and broke his heart! He was
young, romantic and very susceptible!
Her beauty enthralled him. She, like
the hcartless flirt she is, led him on until
he knew no rest nor joy away from her.
Then, when his devotion became trouble
somc-for there was another suitor on
hand-she laughed at him for an idiot
and frankly told him she had never
thought of marrying him.
"She had only been amusing herself,
and had supposed he was doing thes same.
It was so ridiculous for people to get in
love. Henry went to his lodgings,
entered his room, locked the door, and
blew out his brains! And when this
girl, who had caused his death just as
surely as though her own white hands
had held the pistol-when she heard of
it, she cried out: 'What fool! But
there! always thought he was rather
weak somehow! and he was so fond of
me! Dear me! how disagreeable it is to
have men falling in love with onen By
the side of my poor brothers dead body
I made a VOW that if ever destiny threw
this false and treacherous girl in my way
Iwould punish her for her sin against him,
and I have kept my word. Perhaps it is
not noble or generous for me to say it,
but I believe she loves me. And, Rachel,
darling, love only you!"
Despite poor Rachel's' involuntary
shrinking back, he took her into his arms
and kissed her in the old slow, sweet
way.
So her lost happiness came back.
Laura Sayres was not able to leave her
room when Rachel and DR.. Moore went
quietly to the village chapel one morning
and were married.
And when Aunt Edith told Laura OF