The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-11-06

York graces on which the paternal Hays
had set such store. He complacently
explained the methods by which he had
deceived DR.. Dawson, how he had him.
self written letter from his father
commanding him 10 return to take HE
brothers place, and how he had shown
1t to the Doctor and been three months
In San Francisco looking for work and
assisting Lottie at the theater, until
conviction of the Righteousness Of his
cause, perhaps combined with the fact
that they were also short OF money and
she had no engagement. impelled him
to this present heroic step; all OF which
Zuleika listened to with childish inter-
est, but superior appreciation OF his
companion. The fact that this woman
was an actress, an abomination vaguely
alluded to by her father as being even
more mysteriously wicked than bel
sister and mother, but correspondiHSly
exciting as Offering possible permanent
relief to the monotony Of her home life,
seemed to excuse her brothers weak
ness. She was almost ready to become
his partisun-after she bad seen heI
father.
They had talked largely Of their plans;
they had settled small details Of the flu.
ture and the arrangement Of the prop
erty; they had agreed that Zuleika
should be relieved Of her household
drudgery, and sent to a fashion able
school in San Francisco with music
teacher and a dress maker. They lad
discussed everything but the precise
manner in which the revelation should
be conveyed to Hays. There was still
plenty Of time for that, for he would not
return until Tomorrow at noon, and il
was already tacitly understood that the
vehicle Of transmission should be let
ter from the Summit Hotel. The possi-
bic contingency OF sudden outburst OF
human passion not entirely controlled
by religious feeling was to be guarded
against.
They were sitting comfortably before
Che rep!enisbed fire, the wind was still
moaning in the chimney, when, in lull
OF the storm, the sound Of sleigh bells
seemed to fill the room. 1T was followed
by a voice from without, and, with a
hysterical cry Zuleika started TO her feet.
The same breathless smile with which
she had greeted her brother on hour ago
was upon her lips as she gasped:
Lord save US! But US dad come
back"
grieve to say that here the doughty
sedresser Of domestic wrongs and re-
triever Of the family honor lapsed,
wbtefaced, il his chair. idealess and
tremulous. Il was his Trailer companion
who rose to the occasion and even part
ly dragged him with her. Go back 10
the hotel, she said, quickly, and TAXI
the sled with yoC: you are not Iii 70 face
him now. But lie does not know ne,
and will stay TO the staring Zueika;
u am a stranger, stopped 10y broken
sleigh on my way to the hotel. Leave
he rest to me. Now clear out, both Of
Sou. III let him N"
She Looked so confident, self contained
snd superior that the thought Of oppo.
6ton never entered their minds, and
rs M impatient rapping rose from the
door they let her, with half-mpatient, t,
haif-laugh:ng gesture, drive them before
her from the room. When they had
disappeared In the distance she turn ed
to the front door, unbolted and opened
it. Hays b!undered in out of the snow
with Iunttercd exclamation, and then.
as the light IRON the open office door
revealed stranger, started and fell
back.
Miss Hays is busy" said the woman
quit thy, Il aID afraid, on my account
But my sleigh broke down on the way
TO the hotel. and ] was forced TO get out
here. suppose this is Nj Haygi'