The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-04-18

made the sway she obtained over his
heart more absolute. Had she behaved
otherwise his sentiment would have
proven only feeting fancy, and never
ripened into the passionate love he now
felt.
Miss Lyons engagement in the city
came to an end, but when she departed,
her admirer kept up an eager CORE
spondence, to which she replied with ap-
parently equal eagerness As yet not a
word of love had passed between the
two But when Miss Lyon returned,
Ralph, whose passion had been famed
by her absence into an all-consuming
fame, no longer restrained himself, and,
without care for prudential considera-
tion, declared his love, offered his hand,
and was accepted. OF course he was
accepted. some cynical people might say.
What actress, or what other poor girl,
for that matter, would not accept the
hand of a suitor who was at once hand
some, clever, young, wealthy, of the
highest social standing, and who pro.
fessed to love her with all the ardor of q
noble and generous heart? But this con.
sideration never entered Ralph's mind.
He was in love, and not for moment
did he doubt that his love was returned
with equal fervor and disinterestedness
He went home that night as in .
dream. Never before had the stars shone
30 brightly, nor the atmosphere been so
clear, nor the flowers eXhaled such sweet
odors. The cabman who had driven him
home was not little surprised when his
@fare" gave him fve-dollar note, and
told him to keep the change. CabbJ
knew nothing of love, and probably as
cribed the Doctors lavishness to 1ntoxi.
cation. He took the FIVE dollars, how.
ever.
Well, DR.. Warringham was intoxi.
Gated. But he was intoxicated with
that strong wine which every one Quaffs
at least once in his life. Miserable he
who never tasted the strong wine OF
love!
All night the Doctor, in his dreams,
was in paradise. But next morning he
came down upon earth with one foot at
least For The first time since he had
seen Miss Lyon 1t occurred to him thai
his family would hardly think Of her as
he did.
How was he to tell his mother that ha
proposed to marry an actress?
The thought was anything but agreear
BILE, and Ralph was in that frame OF
mind when men will not suffer them.
eelves to be bothered by disagreeable
thoughts. He brushed it away as he
would fly.
notwithstanding those haunting, dis.
agreeable ideas, Ralph had succeeded to
come as near to perfect bliss as mortal
men are destined to come, when he sat
by his study window that afternoon,
smoking, musing, dreaming and some
times feigning to read.
The form Of that young gentleman In
the rocking chair by the open win
dow would have been splendid subject
for a painter
Ralph Hutchinson Warringham was
decidedly handsome. His features had
the regularity almost Of the statues OF
antiquity. His broad forehead indicated
the cleverness which everybody admitted
he possessed. His well-deyeloped chin
gave 10 the face an expression of energy
and pertinacity, while the full lips and
the blooming complexion were signs that
a healthy sensuality was not wanting.
His hair was of chestnut color, and he
had the good taste not to follow the bar
baric fashion which crops gentlemaa's
hair as short as that of jail-bird. His
dress was elegant but sober, as becomes
a physician. Ralph Warringham had
decidedly the exterior of gentleman.
The same air Of good breeding and re-
fnement could be observed in his sur.
roundings. No loud, gaudy colors
marred the harmony of the impression
which the furnishings of his study made
upon the observer. Everything In the
room, the tables, desks, chairs, book
cases, were solid but simple. Every
thing was evidently for use, not for mere
show. For this very reason, the ensem.
BILE was so much more artistic Even
the pictures on the walls might be said
to be there for use. They consisted OF
portraits of celebrated physicians and
subjects relating to the medical profess
sion.
Ralph's reverie was interrupted by the
entrance Of his brother Walter But
the two brothers were no sticklers
for etiquette in their mutual intercourse.
After brief salutation Ralph fell back
into his musing attitude, while Waite r
stretched himself comfortably upon the
sofa.
A short pause ensued At last Walter
said:
81 wish you would oblige me with a
cigarette, Ralph"
aHelp yourself, dear boy" the Doctor
replied, pointing to the cigarettes that
lay on an artistically engraved cigar
stand. Then his eye followed again the
little blue clouds of smoke that curled
upward from his cigar, while his
thoughts wandered to the hotel where
his lady-love had her abode.
~ wonder whether she is thinking OF
me now?" he thought, and blushed at
the idea like girl. He felt the blood
rise to his cheeks, and cast quick. en-
barrassei glance at his brother to see
whether he had noticed the blush. But
Walter was busy lighting his cigarette,
and had not paid any attention to the
play of emotions on his brothers face.
Another pause Of several minutes en-.
sued. Both young men were silently
enjoying the fragrant weed and follow.
ing the train Of their thoughts.
There was great similarity between
the features of Mrs. Warringham's two
sons, but those of Walter, who was vwo
years younger, lacked the reinemen,
which gave Ralph's face an additional
cnarm. His face showed unmistakable
signs Of coarscness, and in moments OF
passion it sometimes assumed an aspect
Of outright cruelty.
While he was lying on the sofa and
blowing the cigarette smoke from bis