The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-10-21
1ut no one had, or would acknowledge,

ance, but with something that suggested
the seafaring man.
His portmanteau-I see he had q
small one-his papers, and his things
generally, must be taken care OF, said.
SSome one will, no doubt, turn up to
claim them"
of course, of course" said the manJ
ager; Tne ponce VIII see to Inat. a most
unfortunate affair."" he repeated, recur.
ring to his first and chief trouble, 'tc
happen now, just at our very busiest time.
I only trust it will not empty the hotel.
He was paid percentage on the busi-
ness done, and was thus intimately con.
cerned in the return of the season.
No one will much like to remain, be.
gan one Of the visitors.
Don't say that, Mr.. Sarsfeld. You
must not desert Us at such moment as
this"
Il meant remain on this floor. Oul
room is close here, and my wife will be
terribly put out when she hears what has
happened. The screams frightened hel
dreadfully. Both she and her sister are
inclined to be rather nervous, you know.
Il will change your room at once, Mr.,
Sarsield, if you wish, said the manager
eagerly.
Il think, perhaps, it would be just a.
we'll not to tell the ladies the whole truth!
at ,east, not just as yet" said new
speaker, an intimate friend, as I knew, Of
the Sarsfelds. I had seen him continu.
ally with them.
@You are right, Fawcett, quite right,
replied Mr.. Sarsield, gratefully; they
must not know"
Twas locking at him as he spoke, and
fancied saw his face darken and grow
somewhat somber. It was face habit.
ually grave, almost stern, with rather
sad, pale eyes, preoccupied and thought.
full in expression. His thin lips were
drawn down at the ends, and the lines on
his forehead indicated that he must have
known anxiety-great trouble, perhaps
in his time. A man already past the
middle age, with his hair turning to sill.
yer, but still upright in carriage and Of
vigorous frame.
His friend whom he addressed as Faw.
cett was man still in the prime Of life,
but looking probably much younger than
his real age. He was slightly-built and
had well-preserved figure, good-look-
ing face, with which time had dealt
lightly, and the fair auburn hair that sell
dom turns gray until late in life. With
his smiling lips and elaborately polite
manner, he seemed anxious to please all,
ladies especially, ard with this idea, no
doubt, paid scrupulous attention to his
personal appearance, from the perfectly
fitting boots to the large points of his
carefully waxed mustachios.
Upon me, must confess, the impress
sion he had made had been far from IA
yorable. 7 did not like the look in his
eyes, which, in deed, prejudiced me the
more against him, besides they we're Of
different colors-one hazel. brown, the
other violet-blue. I thought their ex-
preston false and the man altogether un-
pleasing. But then was half jealous Of
the fellow. He was far too we'll estab-
lished in the good graces of the young
lady in the blue peignoir whom have
already mentioned, with the frank con-
fession that I admired her, although I
scarcely knew her.
It was of the young lady, Miss Clara
Bertram, and her sister, Mrs. Sarsfeld,
that they were speaking.
Perhaps ought to 60 and reassure
them" continued Mr.. Sarsfeld.
Shall I 60 with you? AS far as the
door, mean. I could escort them down
stairs away from all this. suggested Cap
tain Fawcett.
mo, no; had better 60 alone. My
wife might suspect something" And
saying this Mr.. Sarsfeld pushed his way
out.
I was near the entrance to No. SO my
self, and I saw that ss he reached the
passage he was barely in time to prevent
the ladies from joining the rest Of US in
the death chamber.
They were at the door. One, Mrs. Sars-
field, dressed for the morning; fine.
handsome woman, with deep, dark eyes
and a grand figure. The other, my
beauty, still in her blue peignoir, but she
had hastily twisted up the rich coils of
her lustrous hair into great loose knot,
from which hung black lace mantilla
down to her shoulders.
You here, Anna?" he cried, in voice
in which there was more of vexation than
surprise, and your sister? This is no
place for you"
I'VE came to see for ourselves. There
was SO much excitement; the screams, the
noise in the passage" began Mrs.
Ssrsfeld.
aWhat has happened?" interrupted her
sister, with almost wild eagerness. Her
magnificent eyes we're still dilated, no
doubt With nervous historical fear. =.
A genueman has Deem rouno dead IN
his room," said Mr.. Sarsfeld, with as
much nonchalance as it was possible to
employ in conveying the painful fact.
Dead! In which room?" asked Clara,
quickly.
mo. 99."
She seemed to have anticipated the an
swer, for already she had drawn the folds
Of the black lace mantilla over her face,
and stopped, with quick gesture of
dread. as though expecting blow.
Dead" repeated Mrs. Sarsfeld.
How? When? Who is he? What did
be die off,"
Her answer came from Captain Faw-
cett, who by this time had slipped up and
stood by her side. He whispered Just one
word into her ear, the meaning Of which
I gathered from be horrifed start she
gave.
-Murde-!"
She had no time to frame the whole
word, for her husband had seized her by
the arm and was dragging her away.
Il tell you this is no place for you, An
ma. See, Clara is half fainting."
Even as he spoke the girls face grew
CHASTITY white, and her tall, slight frame
swayed to and fro. as though but for his
arm she would have fallen to the ground.
Come away, come awav," said MRS.
Sarsfeld. hoarsely.
1t <as clear, too, that she was oven
come with the horror of the scene.
Snatching at the arm that Captain Faw.
cett offered her. she retreated along th
passage, while her husband followed,
half leading, half supporting his nearly
unconscious sister-in-law.
I returned to No. SO, where the man.