The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-06-03
A POINT OF HONOR.
By ANNA SHIELDS.

By ANNA SHIELDS.
It is fact too we'll proven to need
comment here that mental excitement
} will produce upon the human counte-
nance change III re rapid and lasting
than even physical pain. But it would
have scarcely seemed possible that one
hour could have made beautiful,
blooming face so pallid and deathlike as
that of I,aura Gardiner became in that
brief time one June morning, when oil
nature was in jubilant mood.
She was young-not more than twen-
ty-and had been Julius Gardeners wife
a little more than one year. They had
been married at. time when the firm
employing Julius had wished him to un-
dertake prolonged Southern and West
.ern trip to collect outstanding debts,
aud the young couple had made this
business errand their wedding tour.
Early in March they had returned to
their home, and a few weeks later wee
blossom had come to bind the parents
hearts in yet closer bonds of mutual
love, little daughter they named for
Isaura's long dead mother, Bertha.
After the baby came to gladden. her,
Isaura found her time so filled with ma
ternal cares that she had never availed
herself of her husbands permission to ex-
plore the old homestead, until the June
morning already mentioned.
1t was very large, rambling old
country house, the legacy of three gen.
erations of GARDENERS, to the last survivor
Julius, and Isaura was sure that it was
filed with treasures of past occupants,
though its owner laughingly assured her
that he was quite sure she would find
but little to reward the thorough ram
sacking she threatened to make.
When she was first engaged to Julius
Gardiner, I>aura had thought she would
bring him a fortune equal to his own
patrimony. She had been from infancy
the supposed heiress of maiden aunt,
who had a moderate income under her
cwn entire control and no heir but her
niece. But, from some unexplained
freak, the venerable maiden, upon her
.death-bed, left her home and money to
found an asylum, bestowing upon her
niece her clothing and jewelry, the ono
much the worse for use, the other of but
tri6ing value.
Isaura had been sorely disappointed,
but Julius had laughed at the long face,
assuring her ne had ample means fol
both; his private fortune and large salary
combining to make handsome income,
So Isaura had forgotten the temporary
trouble very quickly.
On the June day, already referred to,
she had at last explored some 81 the long
closed rooms, and entered one early in
the forenoon, her face bright as tht
June sunshine pouring in at the open
windows, her cheeks rivaling the blush
roses ciambering over the wide porct
roof to nod at her, her eyes rs clear and
blue as the summer skies arching over the
old homestead.
In one brief hour She came out again
But the pretty pink flush was gone from
her cheeks, leaving them as white as new
fallen snow, her eyes wele heavy and dull
Is lead, gazing vacantly forward with ar
expression of utter misery; her step was
slow and feeble, and she trembled as il
unable to support her own weight. She
seemed to have aged years in that one
hour of anguish passed in the room en-
tered with such light step and happy
heart.
Slowly she went to her own room.
Baby Bertha lay in her dainty cradle
sleeping profoundly in a morning nap,
and the young mother, sinking upon hel
e. knees beside her, found some relief from
her agony in passion of tears and sobs
Again and again her husbands name
mingled with the means wrung from bel
white, quivering lips, till the violence o
her grief wakened the sleeping child
who broke into wailing cries. For I
moment the mother forgot her own grief
as she soothed the little one with al
loves tender caresses, kissing the velve
cheek, and whispering soft words of af
fection.
But when the child lay Quilted in he
arms, the shadows fell again over 1sau
ra's face, and her tears dropped fast upo:
the little face nestled against her bosom
The burden of grief was not lifted
though the first wild paroxysm was over
Isaura Gardiner was q fair woman, tai
but slight, and possessing much beauty
of purely blonde type, ripping, COLDER
hair and blue eyes, with a soft, delicate
complexion. Her disposition was gentle
and loving in remarkable degree, suit
ing we'll the exquisite beauty OF face ant
= form.
1t is no exaggeratiou to say that sh'
actually lived in her affections: and Ties
were centered absolutely in her husband
and child. Orphaned when only ter
years old, she had been under the guar
dianship of her aunt, passed from ONT
boarding school to smother: spending
even her HOLIDAYS IL the care Of hel