The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-07-14
A ROMANTIC AFFAIR.

had absolutely not franc in his pockets
wherewith to purchase lodging or a
meal. The downcast profile was clear cut
and firm, arguing powerful individual
ity in its owner, and yet the mania had
seized him, as it had seized many
weaker man, and he had staked his all
and lost over the gaming tables at Monte
Carlo
The moonlight touched his bowed head
softly, silyered the outlines of his figure,
revealed his haggard whiteness. 1t fell
on something else-something that gilt
tered in his hands like steel.
stop. Don't do that"
1t was a womans voice that spoke,
womans touch that rested lightly On his
sleeve, womans great dusky eyes, set |
i'll face such as one sees but seldom in
a lifetime, which were raised to his. |
She had strolled from her party to enjoy |
alone the beauty of the evening, and alb !
sorbed in meditation had wandered far |
ther than she knew.
The mans arm dropped to his side.
He looked at her in silence, wondering.
admiring, perhaps little ashamed.
"Why did you want to do it2" pursued
the gentle voice. docs life seem so
evil thing to you?"
Il have been fool-a mailman! lam
ruined! wish to God l had never seen
this cursed place"
But you are a man. You can work
You can regain all that you have lost"
He shook his head
Il cannot find employment here, and l
haven't the means to get away, have
had the viatiQue already, and | went
back to the tables thinking to have one
more bid for fortune and lost The au-
thorities will not help me twice"
Her hand slipped into her pocket and
out again Adroitly she drew the pistol
away from him and pressed something
in its place.
See, have bought this thing fyou,'
she said hurredly. You need not feel
too grateful. Compatriots should help
each other. If you want to repay me,
swear to yourself that You will never do
what you attempted just now. must
leave you now. Goodby."'
She was gone before he could stay or
thank her-swallowed up and lost in the
shadow Of the trees.
Miss Ferris, allow me to introduce to
you Mr. Fergus Landeck."
The first time they had met alone be-
meath the stars at Monte Carlo, now they
were amid a fashionable London crowd,
and she was in evening dress, with dia-
monds sparkling at her throat and in her
hair.
For an instant she returned his gaze,
questioning, Qerplexed; then there was a
flash of recognition, and he saw she knew.
Twill you take me into the conserya-
tory, Mr.. Landeck? 1t is 50 warm here.
They left the ballroom and strolled
under the dOmed glass where the palms
and lilies grew.
"You have not forgotten, them" II
was his voice, low and tremulous, which
broke the silence.
mo; nor you, it seems"
There are moments in mans life
which he never forgets. That was one
OF them. Do you know have Otter
wondered whether we should ever meet
. again, but | dared not indulge hops
, until this evening, when for the frs
! time | learned your name. Miss Ferris
shall We sit down for awhile2 Wait, LEI
, me fix that cushion for you. am very
, grateful for this opportunity Of speaking
to you alone. WANT want to return
to you, with many thanks, the-the gift
You gave me five years ago. All, don
! say no. The obligation under which you
. placed me will none the less exist, and
and | shall always keep the little purse
! always-in remembrance of that night
I and you"
$ Fortune has evidently favored yol
. SINCE" she said after pause.
D Yes. fortune has indeed favored me
Miss Ferris, your gift was like the en-
|, chanted purses in the children's fair,
i tales-bottomless It enabled me to reacl
: the Transvaal goldfelds. worked har,
!. there; saved u little; by and by specu
n lated much. Sometimes people grow
v rich there in a month"; week. wa
' one of them. Whatever touched scenes
c to turn to gold; whatever l did was right
t Money came 10 me in thousands-tens Q
i thousands hundreds even On the da
: sailed from Cape Town, three week
ago, | was one of the richest men in Sout
Africa, and if it had not been for you
should be lying in a suicides grave"
10 Something glistened on her lashes. Sh
N dropped her eyes and toyed with tn
a. feathers Of her fan.
"a Il am glad, so very glad, you hay
n succeeded"
=, His gaze fingered on the subtle outlin
:, Of her figure, the curve of her full whit
throat and cheek. the brown hair wit
!, the threads of gold which waved an
= curved about her brow and neck.
2 "And you his voice sank lower sti
you have not marriedT