The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-12-30

III " aye "AOA IoO "o"o "a ~
~@S One evening in October,
U|o6M 1880, I was standing beneath
CssV MM the portico of a building
NHNM with which one is not usually
~ NHI inclined to associate romance.
TI3AB-namely, q hydropathic es-
WS@N Enlistment.
0SSN The wind howled dismally
@~through the trees Of the ave-
W~ nue., carrying away IN sWlrls
R>ath the last remaining leaves OF
fSSe autumn. The view, ranging
q q Dover q wide extent Of hill and
I dale-wss blurred and al
most blotted out by scuds of flying rain
clouds. A dreary prospect truly! though
here and there might be caught glimpses
of the winding Tyne; We1ham's Abbey
tower could from time to time be seen,
while Rilston's ruined walls occasionally
revealed themselves In ftful CLEANS OF
sunset light -.
ing myself to be alone, most thoroughly
and heartily sick of It'll"
aOf what. my friend? The weather OF
the place? In either case l can only say
you are a most ungrateful man."
The speaker was the doctor OF the es-
t%ablishment. who had followed me out
unperceiyed. He was q considerably
older man than myself; yet, notwithstand-
ing nearly twenty years disparity IN our
ages, and only two weeks acquaintance
ship, an intimacy had sprung up between
US which might well have been dlgnlted
by the name of friendship. He was more
reserved than I, but when he spoke about
himself it was Of his life in India as an
army surgeon; and certainly that country
had left its marks on him.
He was not tall, but a ~soldier-eyery
inch of him; and his head, which was
partially bald, would have delighted a
phrenoloeist. had dabbled a little in
the science Of phrenology myself. and
may say here that DR.. Gascoigne's Gran.
ium was n of the finest I ever saw.
Yes, you are decidedly an ingrate,'
continued the Doctor. You arrived here
o fortnight ago q brsken-down invalid.
The fine air, the rest, not to mention my
cheerful society, have made you"
-Convalescent. Therefore, what posi-
BILE reason have I for remaining? ! am q
Door man, as I told you, Doctor; and, e1.
cept for the generosity of my employers,
could not have afforded to come here.
But they consider my health Of service to
them, so on my return tomorrow I mean
to get into harness and devote myself t.
working off my debt. I am not alto.
gether an migrate, you see!"
~You are really going tomorrow"
Il have decided to leave by the first
train in the morning"
I had scarcely answered him when
mud-bespattered travelling carriage dash.
ed up to the door. The top Of it, even
the driving seat, was piled with luggage.
One of the horses was ridden by a post.
boy. =.
new arrivals. Apparently they we're by
NO means unexpected, for the manager
and m~ansgeress came promptly upon the
scene; and two men with q csrrying-chail
hastened to the carriage door.
The first to slight from the vehicle was
. lady, seemingly Of middle age; a VIC.
man whose transparent, delicate features,
care"worn expression-but, above all, heI
where have attracted notice. Hel
closely braided hair was smooth and
light; her brows and eyelashes colorless-
almost white. She spoke a few words to
Mrs. Hill, the ~manageress, though the
reply Of the latter was alone audible.
I'VE have very few visitors in the house
now, madam; and I have done all I can
to insure privacy. This is the tea hour,
and I think the invalid may easily be
taken to your apartments unobserved."
There was then no chance of escape
for either DR.. Gascoigne or myself.
Willingly OF unwillingly, we must remain
where We were stationed, and witness
the entrance Of this invalid whom it was
evidently desired nc visitors prying eyes
should see.
The lady vent down the steps and re-
turned presently, walking beside the carry.
ing-chair, ON which reclined a figure
wrapped in a long dark mantle, and
closely yelled. :
At the moment of passing me, however,
gust Of wind swept through the portico,
and, as though in some mad frolic, flung
back the veil from the recumbent figure.
What met my sight? Why, the laughing
gaze Of a pair Of the darkest, most
roguish eyes imaginable! The rest Of the
features were handsome to a degree,
though they wore q somewhat disdainful
expression, while a slightly ~satirical curl
on the exalisitely chiseled lips added to
-rathars:tASA detracted from-the fasein-
ating bsaAtypf the face.
The .s1der.Iady, with an impatient ges.
t1re, seplacedfhe veil, keeping her hand
ON Il, land bending forward, spoke words
seemingly Of angry and harsh expostula.
ton. A half stiled ripple of laughter
was waited toward me as the little pro-
cession passed along the hall,
When Gascoigne and I}wsre once more
alone, I touched hip;ppstbstgl sleeve. 'Ye
godsl what a loveINeI SSS5Y-" I cried;
then stopped suddentiys4asaI felt his arm
tremble. slY54$ga3s
He had turnedGp&3asdAe ashes, and
looked as IL man might do who believed,
he had seens ghost NTH Q muttered
excuse he left ne, andI saw him no more
that night.
Some hours later, I inspected the Wis.
itors' book. The names of Mrs and
Miss Hargresyeappeared to be newly en-
tered there;sths numbers Of. then: rooms,
81, %, and29. ~ #&n
Long aftsf tie gas wass sssinguisfsd,
and every sound In the ho1sslAss hushsf6.
I sat up smoking in my Ts8hMSYhinkinS III
those laughing gypsy and tEs
strangely beautiful faSsss$sSs&nia1fDR.
too, on the signs of the DoctSsa
and wishing that the incident Nbtlds:oc-
CURED a,week earlier, SO thstthe tnlslaess
Of that far niente time might ht$es11ep
relieved by endeavors to clear St9fesafe
mystery.
CHAPTER II. s1& sSS
YOU SHOULD MARRYAN aEIREss.r'Gs
It was later than usual whenI sVgxe
next morning; toe late to Join the public
breakfast table; q1ite too late, alas, to
catch my train. grdering, therefore. a
cup of tea to myIonn, ! dressed DELHI.
e~rately; the weathsr had undergone q