The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-01-13
CHAPTER VI
A sTEpMoTHER's CONFIDENCE.

Nadlyi That was just 1t. l was mad.
" in love in every sense OF the term.
I had succumbed at once to the pas
sion as many a better man had done
before as many Will continue to DO
until the end of time.
What was to come Of it? l wondered,
as I sat smoking in my room all through
the small hours. The girl was at least
as much in love with me as l with
her; Of that I had not the least
doubt. She was of age; !, my own mas
ter; none could say us nay. But, alas,
the means-the means most certainly
we're wanting! Even supposing Mrs.
Hargreave approved Of me sufficiently to
make her ~stepdaughter o handsome al
~lowance, would my pride permit me TO
live on that?
ought to have left for Coaltown by
the earliest train on Monday morning,
but, Of course, under existing clrcum-
stances, that was out Of the question.
At 7:3O, when I opened my door. l
found a letter lying-a letter addressed
to me in an unknown hand. Tearing In
open I read these words: .
DEAR ME-. DUDLEY: After what has oc-
CURED between my stepdaughter and your:
self, you will scarcely be surprised that l
should desire an interview with you. VIII
you call upon me at II o'clock? Believe me
sincerely yours. MARTHA HARGREAvE.
wrote, agreeing to call at IL O'Clock
for the fateful meeting, t~elegrsphed to
the bank that my absence that day was
unavoidable, and scarcely knew whether
I stood on my heels or my head till l
found myself entering the door OF No. ~.
Mrs. Hargreave only was in the room.
She received me with a solemnity OF man
ner for which I was quite unprepared,
though, considering the numerous une1-
pected events that had occurred to me
lately, I need not have been surprised
at anything.
When we were both seated, MI.
Dudley, she began, you would, Of course.
not expect to hear from me yesterday. I
passed the whole Of the day in prayer
prayer for guidance, Sir, and think my
petition has been heard" .-
A dead silence ensued, during which l
wa intensely conscious that my heart
wal beating twenty to the minute faster
than it ought to do, my countenance be-
trayinp sentiments which it would be
better policy to hide; but I spoke no
word.
you have told my ~stepdaughter that
you love her" said Mrs. Hargreave pres
emily. -,
Now that she was coming to the point
I was ready enough with a reply.
HIlove her dearly, p~assionately. Butt
fear-in one sense-hopelessly."
why do you say 'hopelessly?'
BECAUSE I have not the w~herewithal to
support q wife.
Probably you have heard my husband
died q wealthy man?"
Il have reason for supposing 80, GER
tsinly."
1And, naturally, you expect Miss Har-
gresve to be an heiress?'
Pardon me, Mrs. Hargreave. will be
perfectly frank with you. Hearing that
Mr.. Hargreave died rich, it would have
been but natural for me to expect he had
left his wealth to his only child. But
it has come to my knowledge--no matter
how-that everything was lett TO you. II
I understand rightly, Miss Hargreave
has not a shilling; but that does not pre-
vent my loving her. As to my own affairs,
I will tell you in as few words as possible
all about them"
And I did. When I had ended, she
said:
THANK you. will be equally candid
I had heard something of this-
.Ah, from DR.. Gsscoigne, thenl He is
the only man to whom I have spoken OF
myself since coming to the North"
And you showed great discretion and
considerable d~iscernment Of character,
Mr.. Dudley, in making q friend OF such q
man" :.
May I ask how long you have yourself
been acquainted with DR.. Gascoigne?' IN.
ouired I, waiting with peculiar interest
for her reply.
I'll had a slight attack Of illness a
few days ago, and consulted him. In the
course of conversation I asked If he
knew you. He said he did, and on my
making further inquiry he spoke of you
in such high terms Of commentator that
that"
She paused in evident embarrassment.
It became my duty, obviously, to assist
her. Almost beside myself with happi-
ness, I did so thus:
In fact, having heard SO much in my
favor, I need not regard my case as alto
gether hopeless?"
Here I must remark that never once
while maKing her explanation did Mrs.
Harereave look at me. She sat with her
eyes fixed on the carpet, her hands folded
together on her lap. Occasionally she
came to q dead stop, and sometimes her
voice sank very low and trembled.
ITO De CONTINUED