The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-30
coming on business, the letter expressly

of creditors he was pestered with, and
On the scarcity Of cash. Then he rung
for the waiter, and ordered a small bottle
of champagne.
With yawn he took up the letter once
more. At what hour was she TO arr1ve7
Twelve o'clock! What bore! He wonld
have to get up early in the morning to
meet her at the station Confound these
women folk! They are always bother
ing fellow!
his champagne and went over into the
card-room, where, IN the course OF the
evening, he lost several hundred dollars.
He was still in the same misanthropic
mood as the day before, when he went
to the station the following morning in
order to meet his cousin.
He took her to the hotel, and, after
both had had luncheon, expressed some
curiosity as to the nature Of her bus-
ness. which was 80 important that it
made her personal attention necessary
She was very willing to enlighten him
on that point.
"My conscience is troubling me-" Hat
tie said. 81 think I am really very
wicked, wicked girl But then it was so
soon after poor auntie's death, and I
could hardly think Of anything. So I
just said yes to everything"
The thought OF her dead aunt filed
the girls eyes with tears She brushed
them away with her pocket handker-
chief.
Walter looked bored. What in the
world was the girl driving at? What
had she to be troubled in conscience for?
He suggested that she might properly
come to the point.
sBut since have become calmer,"
Hattie resumed, II have been thinking
it over. am really just like thief and
robber. What right have I to all that
money!"
Walter in blank astonishment stared
at the young lady who asked such an
unheard-of question. Was she crazyP
Did she really mean to resign her for
tune in his favor? Anything might be
expected from silly girl with her head
stuffed full Of romantic notions
u do not understand you, Hattie, he
said.
Miss Beckford eagerly replied: @Why,
am not robbing poor Ralph? Does 1t
not all Of right belong to him? think
it is my duty to give 1t all to the right
full owners"
Walter still stared at her, but his stare
was now expressive Of Indignation.
"Nonsense!" he exclaimed harshlY, al
most rudcly. @Who put that foolish
notion into your head?"
"Nobody put it into my head, and
don't think it Is a foolish notion.
mean to do right" the girl said, a little
testify, for she resented the tone in
which Walter had spoken.
sLet me tell you that Ralph has no
more right to your money than the man
in the moon"
"Why, Walter, is he not your brother?
Should he not share equally with you?"
ale has been disinherited, and prop
erly so, by our mother, because he has
disgraced himself and the family"
sWalter, you should not speak thus OF
Ralph; he is your brother, whatever he
may have done"
"Brother or not, 1t served him right!
Besides" Mr.. Warringham added. sneer-
ingly, "he always said he wanted to earn
his living. Now he has chance to
do so."
"For shame, Walter!" The girls eyes
flashed. "But am resolved to restore
to him what is his due, and therefore
came to YOU"
aNonsepse!" Walter, in his eyaspera-
tion, now forgot all show of politeness.
"You don't know what you are saying.
Throw away fifteen thousand year as
if it was nothing"
sIt is mine. can do with it whatever
please"
@Can you?" Walter replied with
sneer. II think not. Not for some
time. Have you forgotten that you are
still minor, Hattie? Not cent OF it
can you dispose of without my consent"
Hattie was silent for few moments
She knew too well that Walter spoke the
truth.
aBut you will surely not withhold your
consent in this case? only mean to do
my plain duty.
II will most assuredly withhold my
consent"
ut can be Indifferent to you whether
I ON rich or poor"
at would be against my duty, as your
guardian, TO allow you to commit such a
preposterous folly. You are acting like
a child, on the spur Of the moment.
After short time you would blame me
for having permitted your quixotic be-
havior, and you would have right TO
hold me responsible"
While Walter spoke he assumed
tremendous, fatherly dignity that looked
most ludicrous, considering the small
difference in age between the two.
81 am not acting on the spur Of the
moment. have thought it over deliber-
ately and come to the conclusion that I
have no moral right to the possession Of
Ralph's fortunes"
"Well, you will have to carry this load
on your conscience as long as have any
authority over you"
The girl knitted her brows. "Thank
God, that will not be forever"
Walter laughed. @After you are twen-
ty-one years old you may give your
money to whomsoever you like" he said,
but added in his thoughts: aYou will
have changed your mind by that time, or
If not, I will find means to change it."
Hattie Beckford stayed in the city only
q few days. She called on few friends.
and once met Jack Spofford on the street.
She had not seen him since the funeral
Of Mrs Warringham
Jack had been OF exceeding service to
her during the dark time after that fate.
full day in September. In the tremend-
Gus grief over her dead aunt she had
forgotten the embarrassment which the
afternoons conversation might have
cast over their future intercourse. The
matter had never since been alluded to.
Jacks delicacy would not allow him to
press his suit while she was in mourn
ing. But they corresponded diligently,
and every line Of his letters testified to