The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-04-04
CHAPTER xXXIII.
NEW SURPRISES.

After DR.. Elfenstein had left the castle,
he leaped into his gig with light step
and lighter heart, and, touching his
horse with q whip, started off at rapid
pace for village about fifteen miles dis
'tants On the way he passed the post
Office, and running in asked tor his let
ters and papers,
Among the letters was one from New
York, and the black envelope filed him
with dismay, as he felt sure 1t was the
forerunner of sorrowful news.
Opening it with trembling hand, he
found his worst fears fulfilled.
1t contained the dreadful news Of his
mothers death, just two weeks before.
Heart disease had again seized q
victim. =
Without the least suspicion that she
was the subject of such malady, she
retired one night in cheerful spirits and
her usual health, to be found in the
morning a cold, breathless corpse.
Poor Elfenstein! the. shock was to him
a terrible one. lie mad loved his mother
tenderly, and was anticipating the great
est pleasure in soon seeing her again,
and perhaps inducing her to accompany
Qlm UdCh ~ IuSliSh hO"O-
Now all was vain.
She was dead; and all that remained to
tell of her memory was green place in
Greenwood, where they had placed her
by the side of her husband.
She had been buried over week; as
the August heat was so intense that
year, all thought Of keeping her body
until he could be summoned to the
funeral was impracticable, and Earle's
own GOOD sense told him that this was
the only wise course to be pursued under
the circumstances.
Controlling his feelings as best he
could, the mourning son resumed his
seat and drove onward, resolved, al
though dazed by the suddenness OF this
blow, to attend to his duties to the liv-
ing. even though his own heart bled.
We will not follow him upon that ride,
which proved successful-a physician Of
well-knoHn capability being secured to
attend to his patients during his sb-
sence-nor will we paint the incidents OF
his voyage, which proved to be short
and propitious, but will present him
next to our readers when just entering
MIR. Rappelye's house 81 Yonkers.
His appearance was expected, as be
, had ielegraphcd Of his arrival in New
York and intention Of leaving for his
residence on the early train.
! The same elderly colored man-waiter
Tony, answered the bell, and when
asked after his masters health, replied:
aTol'ble; only torble, massa. To-day
he seems lively agin, but Yesterday he
was way down at de mouf."
"Tell him, then, please, that DR.. Ell
fenstein has arrived and wishes to see
him, if convenient"
Bowing low, with several nimble flour
ishes, the sable servant Immediately van
ished, soon reappearing to conduct tho
visitor to the room Of the invalid.
A bright smile greeted him, and the
firm pressure of his hand told that h(
was truly welcome.
The sick man certainly had gained
some strength since he had left, for now
he sat beside window, in a large easy
chair, and It was evident that he coult
carry on q conversation without the
presence and aid of Mr.. Gray, his lawyer
After few polite and friendly re
marks, Dr. Elfenstein drew chair close
to his side, and, laying finger upon hi
pulse, smilingly said, as he did so:
VI am going to see now, my dear SIT
how much news you can bear to be told
Do you feel strong enough to bear goot
large amount?"
GraspinC his hand in one of his thil
ones, the poor man answered, eagerly: