The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-23

"That is only the carrier with tn
-four"
"Ask him if he has seen herr"
Mrs. Dotty went into the hall. Almos
instantly she returned. ..- -
"He has not. He says there is tht
body of young woman at the. town
morgue."
"Whatm
Godfrey Kirke leaped from his chair.
tHe says that the body of young g1rl
was found in the East Branch to-day"
Godfrey Kirke sank back in his seat.
Mrs. Dotty smiled hard little smile tt
herself as she closed the door and wen,
away. Sue knew how many friends
Bessie had. She shrewdly suspected il
she were not found at one place she
would be at another; and she was malici-
ously and pleasantly conscious that she
had given the hard-hcarted old man 8
genuine scare.
Long the latter sat where she had left
him. Thinking. For the first time in
years he was thinking, sadly. seriously,
solemnly. Thantsgiving-eve! In his
wife's time the house used to be gay and
cheerful on that night, so filled with com.
fort and bright snticipations, 80 odorous
with the homely fragrance of good things
in the kitchen, so delightfully."- merry with
the brisk hustle attendant on the NOR
rows festivity. Now it was desolate,
dreary, darksome with depressing and
unutterable gloom. Whose fault was its
Hist decided Go lfrey Kirke, as savagely
relentless to himself in this moment az
he would have been to another. His
when his devoted wife had dropped and
died under his ever-increasing arrogance,
dictation. His! when Maud married the
first man who offered himself, to escape
from her fathers pretty rule. His! when
Robert ran away to escape the narrow
obligations and unjust restrictions laid
upon him. HIS! when the child his
dead daughter had left him could no
longer endure his brutality, or accept
from him the scant support he so grud-
giugly gave. His fault-all hisl In
those lonely hours the whole relentless
truth dawned upon him, as such truths
will dawn, in most bitter brilliance. He
dropped his head on his hands with a
grosn.
He looked around the dim, shabby
room. He looked at the dying fire in
the CRATE. He wondered of what use
would be to him now. his twenty thou
sand in bonds, his eight hundred acres
Of meadow land, the money he had out
at Interest. He rose in dazed kind OF
way, shadowy purpose taking definite
ness in his mind. He wished he had
been better to Besse; he wished-but
what was the use of wishing nowi There
could be but one satisfactory answer to
all his self-condemuation. A shot from
the revolver in the drawer yonder, that he
had always kept in readiness for possible
burglars. H rose. He moved toward
the table. His figure cast fantastic
shadow on the wall. The tears we're
streaming down his cheeks. There
might be thanksgiving for his death,
though there could never have been any
for his life.
Harkl
He had the weapon in his hand. He
started nervously. Was that Bessie's
vooiceG He turned, dropping the revolver
with a clatter. Yes, there she was, not
three feet away, fresh, fair, damp, smil-
ing. :,
ut is the queerest thing" she said,
coming toward him as she spoke. 81
felt-badly-yesterdaY and I went over
to Mrs. Faruham's to see if she could get
me work. I met Mrs. Nelson, and she
asked me to 60 home with her. Dicky
was i'll. and she wanted me to stay over
night. She sent you a note. At least
she sent the boy with it, but he lost it,
and only told her so this afternoon. AS
soon as I knew that started home
alone-although Dicky was no better"
"Yes9" said Godfrey Kirke. He was
listening with an unusual degree OF ln'
terest.
"And tonight, when I was almost
here, (Nelsons' ls quite two miles away,
you know, I got lost in the fog"
Her grandfather regarded her IN
amazen ent. What made he pale cheeks
so bright2 What excitement had
blackened her gray eyes?
"And-a gentleman who was coming
here found me, and-and brought me
home. Please thank him, grandpa.
Here he isl"
With An inc,edulous, gasping cry,
Godfrey Kirke retreated, as big brown,
muscular fellow came dashing in from
the hall.
"Robert"
"Father!"
Then they were clssped in each Others
arms.
sim back from the sea for good,
father. And 1 chancsd to find my little
niece Bessie lost out there in the fog. a
young lady, I VOW! And was think
ing of her as a mere baby yet! Just
think! She tells me Charlie Nelson
wants her
"No? Well, Charlie is fine fellow.
He can have her--a year from to-day.
So now YOU know why the Kirk
homestead is dazzling WITH lights anc
flowers, and why it resounds with laugh
ter this Thanksgiving; why old Godfrey
wears brann-new suit, and flower IL
his buttonholc; why Robert, in hi'
RIG htful place, looked so proud and
pleased, why dear, busy little Mrs. Dotty
beams benignly; why Bessie, gowned II
snowy, shining silk, thinks this is q