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

Miss Hargreave-
Pausing, + looked steadily at him. He
was seated opposite to me. The morning
light fell full upon his open countenance.
What interest can you have In the new
arrivals?" he asked. DO you know
them?" And, as he spoke, he leaned back
in his chair and looked ct me as unwaVer-
ingly as I at him.
They are so unlike the stamp OF peo-
pie one would expect to see here" l went
on, slightly disconnected by his GOODNESS.
They appear ladies Of position, yet
seem to have no servants with them. l
have made up my mind there is some
mystery connected with them"
Il can give no information whatever"
he answered coldly.
But, in spite Of all the self-control he
evidently could exercise, I thought I de-
tected evasion in his words.
You will probably be called in to at
tend the invalid?" I said half jealousy.
He arose and pushed back his chair.
MY dear fellow" he exclaimed, what
q mere boy you arel Have I not told you
a hundred times I can read you like a
book? You have taken into your head
that T know something Of those people,
and are trying to get it out Of me. Pray
spare yourself the trouble. I assure you
I never saw the ladies in my life until last
evening. I should not even have known
you referred to them as Mrs. and Miss
Hargreave had T not, like yourself, looked
in the visitors book and read their names
there"
AS he spoke he stood erect, his finely
shaped head thrown back, his eyes un-
f~inchingly fixed on mine.
It was impossible to doubt his words.
I felt shame even to have called forth
such assurances.
Taking no heed Of my hurried apology,
he looked at his watch.
1It's time for me to 90 and see some
sick people in town." he said. Will you
walk with me?"
I acquiesced readily, and we set off.
When We had passed through the grounds
and into the road, why do you stick to
that wretched bank, Dudley?" he asked.
I've been thinking over your case seri-
ously. You are not constituted for the
work, either physically or mentally"
IF you can put me in the way OF earn
ing my living honestly otherwise, Doctor,
I shall only be too thankful, I answered
warmly. "Beggars may not be choosers.
I'll tell you how I'm placed. My grand
father made q fortune; my father lost it
on the turf-and died five years ago.
When I could fully realize the fact that
I was penniless, I left the Southern
county where I was known and came to
the North, o stranger. 7 had lived as Q
country gentleman lives, hitherto; but ]
knew now that I must work. It was no
easy task to find employment. At last !
took this clerkship in - Bank, where ]
must remain till fortune turns hel
wheel. She's slow enough about it inmy
easel" And I laughed q little bitterly.
You should marry an heiress, my dear
boy. You are ~good-looking, and, what's
more, you know it."
AYE! To my cost"
1How's that?"
Because if I had been a plain fellow,
or even ugly, I'd have stood q better
chance Of doing what you suggest. My
employers perhaps might have invited
me to their houses; as it ~is-having mar.
.riageable daughters, they are afraid OF
me. The apple Of her fathers eye
might think Jack Dudley q hadsome
fellow, and he might have worldly wis
dom sufficient to follow up his advan-
.tages. Well! he's never had the chance
yet, that's ALL"
Fate is not always cruel. Something
may turn up, and shortly, too"
Il don't expect it."
1T is the unexpected that always hap
pens,'" quoted my companion, and
scarcely had he spoken than he took
leave Of me at the house Of n Of his
patients.
In this manner our talk abruptly ended,
and 7, turning, retraced my steps. 1T is
the unlocked for that always happensl"
Somehow these last words Of DR.. Cas-
coigne's haunted me.
As I entered Glendale House I saw the
visitors book lying on the hall table. By
no means absently, but quite conscious
of what I was doing, I opened it and
read AGAIN the names Of the new arrivals;
then I walked upstairs, turning deliber-
ately in the direction I believed the
rooms q, %, and 20 to be situated.
found myself in a short corridor. II
led to these rooms only, and gave one the
idea of being q private, if not somewhat
isolated, part of the building.
I had never penetrated there before,
nor, in point of fact, could I have framed
any legitimate Reuse for being there
now. At the end was a window. I sat-
down on the w~indow-seat.
Scarcely had I done so than some Ole
turned the handle of a door, rafting it
Mostly and impatiently. 1t was the han
die of No. 2s.
Presently there was a smart rapping,
as of the knuckles against the wood
work. This was repeated more and more
loudly. I approached the door.
Il am locked in. Bring a key-in-
stantly," ON excited and im%perious voice
demanded.
YES" I responded, in an eager whis-
per. And in less time than it takes to
tell, I had gone to the service-room,
snatched the key of No. % from its hook,
was upstairs again, and had turned it in
the lock!
ROBBED from head to feet in some costly
floating Oriental stuf-her dark hair
hanging like q cloud about her. her red
lips quivering, and gypsy-like eyes fash
ing, with what seemed to be electric
sparks-breathless, painting, stood the
girl whom I had seen the evening before,
the most beautiful being I had ever be-
held-nay, it seemed impossible that in
the wide world there could be such an
other. She drew back when she saw me.
Il supposed it was q. chambermaid
passing" she began, apologetically, evil
IDENTIFY striving to regain her composure.
This, however, appeared impossible. Her
will was powerless to curb her excited pas
sion.
Il cannot help it! I I'm driven to it
whatever you may think of mel" she
went on, recklessly. Il must place conf
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