The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-04-18
From Sin to ContritiioD
Lucy NaTilghan's Sacrifice.
The Story Of a Hasty Marriage and
Its Tragic Sequel.
BY ERNST BRUNCKEN,
A,tthor of 'Ihe Biblion,antac's Crime"
"a Terrible Secret" etc., etc.
CHAPTER I,
A NAUGHTY WOMAN.

Receive that woman into my mouse as
. daughter-in-law? Never!"
Mrs Warringhsm was highly indig.
nant And had she not reason to be SO
ut proposition which in her eyes ap
peared simply monstrous?
Here was her eldest son, Ralph, the
heir Of splendid fortune, a young man
of whom it was predicted that he would
become celebrity in his chosen profes-
sion of medicine, gentleman who
might, If he would, marry the most
beautiful, the richest, the most aristo-
cratic girl IN the country. And to
think that this son proposed to throw
himself away on On actress! To be sure,
Mrs. Warringham had q right to be in.
dignsnthA ~ { 3
: : aBut other gentlemen have married
actresses, auntie," said Hattie Becksord,
= her niece. who was standing by the win
dow, trying to conceal the varied emo
tions that chased each other over her
pallid features.
sHold your tongue, Hattie" Mrs. War.
ringham said. in an exasperated tone OF
&c voice. "You speak like the inexperi-
enced, silly child that you are"
The young lady was silent. Her nm
gers nervously clutched at the heavy,
velvet curtain that half concealed her
slender, graceful form from the view OF
her aunt An oppressive pause occurred.
The ticking Of the clock on the mantel-
piece was distinctly, irritatingly audible.
Battle stood motionless; her eyes glanced
out Of the window, but there was moth
ing to attract such intense attention on
the green lawn outside. Her looks were
directe> into vacancy. 'y -..a
Minutes passed. Why was 1t that
T.. such q pang had torn her heart when
she heard from the malicious lips Of the
visitor who had just left the
house the first insinuation that
her cousin, DR.. Ralph Warringham,
Intended. to marry an actress? 1t was
not offended pride. Surely not
Hattie's youthful, inexperienced mind
hardly understood why an actress
should be regarded unworthy the hand
Of 8 gentleman of family and fortune.
And yet she felt unutterably sac. A
thousand lovely pictures OF the past
crowded upon her memory. She re-
,nembered how Ralph had played with
her when she was a little girl of six and
ahe'a strappfng lad OF sixteen; how he
had swung her high up in the air and
laughed at her childish glee; how he had
brought her toys and candy. And then
came 8 day. when she would no longer
allow the young Sman to treat her so
Familiarity, when she blushed at his en-
trance, and blushed again for having
blushed. And at last, how long ago she
{ did not know, but 1t seemed like ages,
there came day when she became con-
: :scious that Ralph did not treat her
as he used to do, that he was cold and
Indifferent in his 'demeanor toward her.
She did not ask herself what the reason
of that change might be-; she only sui:
fered, and was silent Now she knew
the reason. And suddenly she made an
other discovery q discovery which
drove the blood into her face until it
burned like fire. Yes, there was no de-
nial; she was in love with Ralph War;
ringham, and she was madly jealous Of
thai woman-her rival whom she had
never seen.
Yet she could not bear to think that
Ralph should be deprived Of her he had
chosen-deprived for some contemplate,
narrow-minded prejudice. Her love was
too deep, too true, to harbor wish that
abe should be. made happy at the eX;
pense of him she loved. Her love was OF
the kind that sacrifices; not Of that
which knows but itself.
A half-suppressed sob startled her oui
Of her sad dreams. Pressing her hand
upon her throbbing heart, she turned
around and saw with amazement what a
change had come over her aunt during
these few minutes OF silence.
That proud lady, who had always
known how to surround herself with q
dignity worthy Of queen; who ha6
never shown, even to her immediate
family-her sons and niece-that she
knew the softer emotions OF the heart;
thetsame lady now was the very picture
" Of weak, broken-hearted, helpless won.
an. Leaning back in her fauteuil, hold
ing her handkerchief before her face,
she strove in vain to repress the tears
that flowed down :er cheeks and moist
ened the dainty te1rc-s Of lace and linen.
Her indignation, that had been exhibited
30 vehemently but few moments before,
had given way to a feeling composed
Of modification at the insult offered to
her pride by the gossiping visitor who
had brought the news with ill-concealed
malice, of the jealousy mother feels
when she sees herself lose the first place
in her sons heart, and OF the more Sc
we're wound inflicted on her pride by the
threatened humiliation to the family.
When Hattie saw her aunt in such .
distressed state of mind she knelt down
by her side and endeavored to Soothe her
with all those fond endearments known
to women. She gently drew her aunt's
hers. She softly stroked her hair and
q <ySA 20 p,,i of cbo xun,,lH philAi
Z and the naughty woman, who at
line disposition Of mind, suffered her
gentle endeavors with the helpless p;ia
fility Of q babe.
@Do not WEEP, auntie," Hattie said,
when Mrs. Warringham had succeeded
In partially recovering her composure.
sDo not weep. Ralph asSuredly will not
do such thing il it is so averse to your
wishes"
Mrs Warringham made no answer,
but despoadingly shook her head. All
she knew but too we'll that her son had
inherited her own headstrong stubborn
ness, and that nothing, not even the en-.
treaties Of mother, would restrain him
from pursuing an object whose attain
ment had become settled purpose.
: @Perhaps it is not true at ALL" Hattie
suggested. at would not be the first
time that Mrs Cabling has lent herself
20 the propagation OF idle rumors.
Here was a ray of hope. Mrs. War
rineham's tears ceased to flow, and her
confused thoughts began to become more
collected. Perhaps it was not true! 1t
could Lot be true. How, improbable that
Ralph should forget himself so far;