The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-16

since the famous day of the picnic out
side the walls, and she furthermore found
it necessary to attend an archaeological
lecture that same evening, leaving
Georgiana considerably at home in the
hotel. Nor was she surprised when,
upon her return, the girl threw herself
into her arms with a glowing face and
whispered tremulously that Mr.. Payton-
"Benedict" been here.
That "Benedlct" told the chaperone
all that she wished to know. The beau
tiful diamond engagement ring which
came the next day apprised her of moth
ing new.
They were to be married Immediately
upon their return to America in the
autumn.
A month before sailing they found
themselves in Paris.
And here Georgiana received letter
which made her turn very white. She
was alone when it came to her and she
said nothing of it for several days. Dur
ing those days she passed many hours by
herself, seemingly almost stunning the
society of Payton. 49,
"Do you know what ails Georgiana"
the latter said, anxiously, to Georgiana's
chaperone.
"No," replied the latter with some
impatience. "Girls are very queer any
way, and Georgiana especially so. She's
super-sensitive. One can never tell how
things are going to affect her. She may
have something on her mind. 1 think
she has"
The knowledge of what that "some-
thing" was came upon Payton like a clap
of thunder out of clear sky. He was
sent for one day and, arriving, found
Gcorgiana sitting with lowered eyes
alone.
"My darlingW exclaimed the young
man. "Tell me what troubles you. 1
know there is somethingW
Georgiaua drew away from his arm with
little shrinking shudder.
"Please don't!" she murmured.
Payton stared.
"Come now, Georgiana," he cried
vigorously in moment, "this thing must
stopl 1 will know what has become be-
tween us-what has estranged US"
"Nothing-oh, nothing can ever es-
TRANCE me from you, Benedict" said the
girl, quivering. "But-"
"But2 Well! I am waiting!"
ooh, Benedict" she suddenly walled,
"don't be too harsh with me! If you
only knew how 1 have sufered-how
anxiously have striven to do right-you
would not be so unkind! Oh, I think
you ought to help me instead Of making
it all so hard"
eff you will explain what all this is
about, perhaps"
II will explain" sne interrupted, ris-
ing. "Severini-you remember Sever
ini2" she stopped herselfto to ask, in pit
iful, pathetic attempt to gain time.
II should think so" remarked Payton
with grim sarcasm.
eyes. Well. He-he is dyingw
"Dyins"
huO III lS L udfc hillSu AiLu.
"You killed him." shouted Payton.
"Look here, my girl, are you in your
right seuscs2 Come to yourself, Geor-
giana!" The lover was thoroughly
alarmed.
Georgiana slowly shook her head. All
her agitation had subsidized and she was
very calm.
''No, I am not mad, though you think
I am. I see my duty very clearly. l
don't expect you to see it in the same
light. But-but-I have come to the
conclusion that it would be very wicked
in me to marry you. 1t would bet
would be like marrying over grave"
Payton stood in stony silence.
~ could never be happy; my con-
science would never rest. If you will
think of it you will sec that it would be
impossible"
All her faltering phrases broke against
his obdurate silence as against wall.
She raised her eyes at last appealingly to
his. But there was no help in them.
~ don't Know" Payton said finally,
'what to think of you. Either your
conscience is morbidly diseased or you
are the cruelest creature God ever made"
GOA, don's-don't say that" the girl
walled. And then she saw that he had
turned toward the door. "You-you
arc not going from me so-without a
worda" she faltered.
"What would you have me say2" was
Bencdict's savage response. And then
Gcorgiana was left alope again.
Those were dreadful weeks that fol-
lowed for her, but she was upborne by
the consciousness of having done duty
that must have been sacred, because it
was so very, very hard to perform. Pay
ton had already sailed for home without
sending any sign of relentiug or toward
forgiveness. Aud thus it seemed to
Georgia1a that the sacrifice was fully
consummated. To all that her elderly
friend could say she only replied:
81 could not be happy over the
wrecked life of another. They tell me
that that poor man is dying for love of
me. It seems to me impossible, in
credible, and yet they assure me that it
is so."
eyes, it is rather incredible" said the
older lady dryly. "Men have died and
worms have eaten them, but not usually
for love"
EYES," Georgiana humbly assentcd,
''I am not worthy of it in any way. But
it is so. And II cannot be happy