The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-10-05

| To this frightful speech the pool
woman replied by wild cry that seemed
to rend her while her eyes dilated as if
under the influence of strong poison.
Leland strobe across the room and
through an open doorway, slamming the
door behind him, and so disappeared.
ANY, who had listened. motionl less and
! pale as marble, renamed IN the same
lifeless attitude. her eyes fixed, her hands
clenched, yeatning from the depths OF
| her heart that death would summon her.
Suddenly singular noise, seeming to
come from the next room, struck her ear.
! It was only a convulsive sob, or violent
and smothered laughter.
The widest and most terrible ideas
crowded to the mind of the unhappy
woman; the foremost of them, that her
husband had secretly returned, that he
knew all-that his brain had given way,
and the laughter was the gibberish of his
madness.
Feeling her own brain begin to reel,
she sprang from the sofa, and rushing to
the door threw it open.
The next apartment wa3 the dining
room, dimly Ii hted by a hanging lamp.
! There she slw Leland, crouch ng upon
the floor, sobbing bitterly, and beating
his forehead against chair which he
! clutched convulsivelv.
| Her tongue refused it's Office; she could
find no word, but seating herself near
him, felt the beating of his heart and wept
silently.
He dragged himself nearer. seized the
hem of her dress and covered it with
| kisses; his breast heaved tumultuousiy,
his lips trembled, and he gasped the al
most inarticulate words: Pardon! Oh,
pardon me-"
This was all. Then he rose suddenly
and rushed from the house.
He hurried to New York.
Bitter WEAKNESS, disgust of life and
disgust for himself were no new sensa-
tions to this young man; but he mad never
experienced them in such poignant in
tensity as at this cursed hour, when flying
from the dlshonored hearth Of the friend
of his youth. He knew he had trampled
all honor under foot Like Macbeth. he
had not only murdered one asleep, but
had murdered sleep itself.
| His reflections became insupportable.
He thought successfully of joining Stan
lev in Africa, of enlisting to fight In dians.
and of getting drunk ere he reached the
Hoffman House.
Chance favored the last design. for as
he alighted in front of the hotel he found
himself face to face with a pale young
man who smiled as he extended his hand.
Leland recognized an old friend.
The deuce! You here, Charley? l
thought you in Europe"
| II only arriy ed this morning
Quite we'll, hope?"
yes, and anxiors for one of our OLD
times. How are all our fast friends?"
About as usual, think. And if you
are really anxious for time, SO am /. The
truth is, am a bear, savage, a ghost!
Assist me to return to life. Let MS 60 and
sup with some of these sprightly people
whose virtue and temperate habits are ex-
traordinary.
Agreed, with all my heart"
Half an hour later Warren Leland,
Charley Raymond, and half dozen guests
of both sexes took possession of an apart
respect.
Next morning. at gray dawn, the party
was about to disperse, and at the mo-
ment rag picker, with gray beard, was
wandering up and down before the hotel,
raking with his hook in the barrels and
piles that awaited the street scavenger.
In closing his purse with an unsteady
hand, Leland let fall shining old piece,
which rolled into the mud at the edge Of
the sidewalk. The rag-picker looked up
with timid smile.
All" be exclaimed; what falls into
the gutter should belong to the glonner. "
Pick it up with your teeth, then, an.
swered Leland, smiling, "and it is yours. "
The man hesitated, flushed under bis
sunburnt cheeks, and threw look Of
mortal hate upon Leland and the laugh.
ing crowd round him.
Then he knelt down, buried his chest
in the mire, and sprang up the next mo-
ment with the coin clenched tightly be-
tween his sharp, white teeth.
The crowd applauded. The rag-picker
smiled dark smile, and turned away.
Hold on, my friend!" cried Leland.
touching his arm; would you like TO earn
ten dollars more? If SO, strike me in the
face; that will give ycu pleasure and do
me good"
The man turned, looked him steadily
in the eye, drew back little, and raised
his fist to strike, and then, letting it fall,
exclaimed:
No! Keep your money, and III keep
my wrath We shal II meet again. And he
walked away.