The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-03-04
That same day Thatcher received q

Ihat same Qay InaICner reCeiFeu
little note. Only few very brief words.
But, as he read them, he wondered,
half stupidity, whether the day would
ever come when any word from that
source would be aught but command
for him.
Mrs. Percival was waiting for him
when he went in-AIrs. Percival2 In
the middle of the room he stopped short.
As she first turned her face upon him he
had not known her.
"You-who have been ill!' be said.
She did not seem to hear.
"He-he is better2" she asked, speak
ing in a dull, rapid, altered way. ''l
have sent every day-twice day-to
inquire. They have never known it, OF
course"
"Yes. Ramon is better. He may
it is likely that he will-live."
Some dreadful tension in her appeared
to give way. She breathed quickly once
or twice--long breaths that were aim ost
like gasps. =.
"I-I waited to tell you-how 1t was"
she resumed. She did not look at him.
She held her hands clasped in front of
her. The fingers were bloodless, in
spots, with the pressure. "I-I tried to
shake him off-after what you told me
about the girl. Then he said he would
break his engagement. He asked me to
marry him. I refused. 1t could not
have been, everl Ever! He was mad
to think of it. T told him SO. And
that night-I-I heard what he had
done"
eyes," said Thatcher, after moment.
Then he added: "I think-I hope-all
may still be we'll between them-be-
tween Ramon and that young girl.
When he recovers he may appreciate
what her devotion has been-and the
past Mill be forgotten"
She turned her white face upon him.
81 believe" she said slowly, with a
sort of wonder, "that you are trying to
give Inc grain of comfort! There is a
strange fidelity about you. You do not
wish me to reproach myself as you see
that am doing. Well, it is something
to feel one has friend, little as one may
desire it. am going away-for long
time, pcrhaps-and 50 don't mind say
ing this to you: I shall never forget the
experience of the past week. How near
1 came, though without intention, to
wrecking two lives. That girl!
How I have thought of her! There!
Enough" She broke off. "All this
is mawkish, perhaps. I am a frivolous
woman-the frivolous tone alone be-
comes me. Good-bye!"
And yet he fingered. Then he turned
toward the door. But when he had
reached it he stopped; he looked back.
"Laura!" he said. "Laura!"
A little shiver ran over her. Her eyes
seemed to dilate.
"Laura!" he said again. What did he
expect2 He did not know. But some
thing in her eyes had set all his pulses
leaping.
"Laura," he was saying, "Ihave loved
you all these years."
But she had covered her face with her
hands.
"Oh, no, mol All, how can you be so
good to me! I thought you heated me,
despiscd mel" She dropped her hauds.
''That belief has been killing me all
these yearsi"
"Laura!"
"No, no; let me tell the truth once!
And then let me go! I loved you'll
ways-always-even when sent you
awayl If I seemed to flirt and draw
men on, it was to cheat the pain here!"
She struck her breast. "And now you
must let me go! You must let me go!
Hughl" ::
She was tight locked in his arms.
When she raised her face again she
looked as she had done eight years be-
fore when they had first loved each other.
And Hugh bent and kissed her lips
New York Mercury.