The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-11-05

vlted. 81; ana II were, u uot So' ou'
there is stronger reason-my uncle Is
dying" n, ~.
looked so hearty - strong. apparently.
asa hickory trec2 Fo' the Lawd! Wat
Ills yo uncle. Mr. Brockle"
something like rush Of blood to tho
head; am not sure. don't think the
doctors know, although there are enough
Of them there to kill stronger man than
ny Uncle Peters"
An unconscionable lie. Brockle knew
yery we'll the misfortune that befell his
uncle. He realized the truth the moment
he heard of his uncles sudden illness.
When he visited his uncle, it was to sat-
isfv himself of the correctness of his
conclusion. All he saw, and all that he
heard, cor,oborated this opinion. His
Uncle Peters was as good as dead.
ST pondered afew minutes, then, look
ing up at Mr.. Brockle, said: Your uncle
is a powerful rich man.~powerful rich
man."
Yes" said Brockle, my uncle must be
worth good desl-I don't know how
much.
This was feeler.
"Yo' doan'? I've heard de Squire say
old Tom Peters was wuf mon half million
solid-solid, suah. O, yes! n Use heard
udders say de same. only dey 'spected
Tom Peters didn't know how much he
was wuf. Q, yes! an he gwine die, an
leave all dat money, jes' same as po. man
like ST Harkess. A heap O. talk III be
made bout dis, I reckon-no end o talk
bout yo' Uncle Peters, case it's so sud.
den like. IS yo' been dar?-jes' now-jes'
come from yo' uncle's?" -.
Sis curiosity got the better OF him.
The news was stunning.
I've Just left him. I am going to send
out another doctor, although 1 doubt II
any doctor can help him now. l must
ride on-my horse is rested now. =.
AS he spoke he gave his horse the rein,
struck him with the switch, and soon 81
Harkess was left 'plodding beside his
wood cart alone.
dat hoss want bit blown-not
mite. Dat Giles Brockle's eyes no good
-doan' like bone in he body. specks
he doan like ST Harkess. How he fly up
bout de 'Squire's folks! Whose business
is it f de Squire gives whole pile o,
money to do bride? Tom Peters dyin'!
Dar's riches fo' yo'. De riches man dis
side Johnstown dyin'. Is all de doctors
no count? Wonder whar all de.money'l
90 now? F Giles Brockle gets his hans
on it-um! won't he scrunch it-he'u
scruuch every dollar! He won't scatter
it free! Mo- like he'll put it in big
box-a box so heavy dat de debbil cant
carry it OF, wild big iron bands, n big
ring fastened in de fo'-dat's how Giles
Brcckle II keep his money. He look
les like fox, dat Giles. Nebber liked
him-spec he jes feel de same to ST
Harkess. Who keers Ole man Peters
dyin! LIES mighty onsartin.
81 was plunged in deep thought Tor
time. Then he reused himself sud-
denly.
why wouldn't no 60 to de weddin' if
he war invited-an' why airt he invited!
Eehbcrll a1 mo foolish questions, Si-
de tongue am unruly, ST Harkess. Gwine
fer anUddcr doctor, an no jes' done tole
ne dar's huff doctors dar to kill he Un-
cls Peters. Guess Giles Brocklo won't
cry none!"
With that ST Harkess turned his horses
head up tie leno to the Squire's house.
and looking up at the heavens wondered
when il would stop raining.
Guess I'll uIbitch, au' do some chores
'rcun' de hcuse--might as well let de
hoss rest. Dar's de folks goin' in to de
wcddiu'-guess Sid better be handy in
Johrstown 10 help fotch dem home.
Meanwhile Giles Brockle rode on with
contracted brow, looking neither to the
right nor left His horse plunged knee
deep in the soft mud at times, but Giles
adapted himself to the horses move
ments involuntarily. He was accustomed
to the saddle from boyhood. Once he
put his hand to his vest pocket, pulled
out heavy silver watch, and glanced at
it. Then he uryed his horse faster, and
ten minuts leter reined up in front of O.
handsome residence in Johnstown.
Dismounting very leisurely, he advanced
10 the door and rang the bell. When
servant appeared, he said, shortly: Say
to Miss Parker, Mr.. Brockle desires to
speak to her in the drawing-room." The
servant stared nt him; she was on the
point of replying when he added: 1T is
matter of the utmost importance-say l
wish to speak to her alone" =.
The servant obeyed. Giles Brockle
meantime inclined his ear. There were
sounds of merriment in the upper rooms
ind in the rear part Of the house. While
he stood thus, q young lady simple clad
fitted down stairway. Tho moment She
Leheld Giles Brockle, faint flush Overt
spread her cheeks, then she became pale,
She entered the drawing-room before
him, and stood waiting, looking mean
while toward the door.
You need not fear. shall not stay
long have come again to ask you to
Miss Parker made q movement. She
was passing him in silence when he put
out hand and caught her by the arm.
please answer-if you do not you may
rue it. Once for all-is there nothing
that will change your mind? I have como
again-I swore I never would-but you
see me back again because-because my
uncle is dying. He may not live week
he may be dead now. 1t is impossible
for him to survive long. Think! No
man ever loved woman more than L"
She checked him then by lifting hand
warningly. =.
"Mr. Brockle do not speak of love and
the change your uncle's death will make,
in Your circumstances in the same BREATH
1t is the greatest insult 7 have been SUBJ.
jectcd to az your hands.
a man offers you all he has or hopes to-
have in the world-and you are insulted,"
said Giles, hotly. She was leaving the
room. She could not speak, her pride
was so great.
He caught her wrist. d.
Il am going now-you have refused me-.
You have made your choice. Now, mark
me. You will live to rue your choice.
You have taken terrible chances,
Rose"
How dare you!"
Miss Parker, pardon me-" Ills eyes
shone with n baleful light, his thin lips