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

Yet under the influence OF some odd alb
straction he was affected by it less than
ne could have believed. He even achieved
rude 0ow as be bolted the door and
ushered her into the office. More than
that, he found himself explaining to this
fair trespasser the reasons Of his return
to his own home; for, like direct man,
he had a consciousness OF some lncon-
sistency in his return, or in the clrcum-
stances that induced change OF plans,
which might conscientiously require an
explanation.
You see, ma am, rather singular
thing happened to me after passed the
Summit. Three times lost the track,
got off it somehow, and found myself
travelling in a circle. The third time,
when struck my own tracks again, I
concluded I'd just follow them bsck
here. I suppose I might have got the
road again by trying and f1ghtin' the
snow, but there's some things not worth
the fghtin'. This was matter OF busi-
ness, and, after, all, ma'am, bu siness
amt everything; is it?"
He was evidently IN snme unusual
mood, the mood that with certain reti-
cent natures often compels them to
make their brief confidence to utter
strangers rather thar impart them 10
those intimate friends who might after
ward remind them OF their weakness.
She agreed with him pleasantly, but
not so obviously as to excite suspicion.
And you preferred to let your business
20. and come back to the comfort OF
your own home and family"
The comfort Of my home andfamily?'
he repeated in dry, deliberate voice.
We'll, I reckon I amt been tempted
much by that. That ism t what meant.
Buthe went back to the phrase, repeat
ing it grimly, as if it were some manda-
tory text. The comfort Of my own
home and family! Well, Satan hasn't
set that trap for my feet yet, ma am.
No! Ye saw my daughter3 we'll that's
all my family; ye see. this room' that's
all my home. my wire ran away from
me; my daughter cleared out, too; my
eldest son, as was with me here, quo lied
with me and reckons to set up rival
business against me. No." he said,
still more meditatively and deliberately,
1T wasn't to come back to the comforts
Of my own home and family that faced
round on Heavytree Hill, l reckon.
AS the woman, for certain reasons,
had no desire to check this suspicious
and unlooked-for confidence, she pa
tiently waited. Hays remained silent
for an instant, warming his hands be-
fore the fire, and then looked up inter-
negatively.
"A professor Of religion, ma'am, or
under convictions"
Not exactly" said the lady, smiling.
Excuse me, but in spite Of your fine
clothes, I reckoned you had a serious
look just now. A reader OF scripture,
maybe?'
II know the Bible"
You remember when the angel with
the flaming sword appeared unto Saul
on the road to Damascus?"
Yes"
1T mout hcv been suthin' in that style
that stopped me-" he said slowly and
tentatively. Though naturally I didn't t
see anything, and only had the queer
ieelin'. 1t might hev been that that
SHE'D my mare off the track.
But Saul was up to some wickedness,
wasn't he2" said the lady, smilingly,
while you were simply going some
where on business"
Yes" said Hays, thoughtfully, but
my business might hev seemed Ike per-
secution. I don't mind tellin' you what
it was II you'd care to listen. But meb-
bee you're tired. Mebbee you want to
retire. You know" he went on with q
sudden hospiteble outburst, you
needn't be in any hurry to go; we kin
take care Of you here tonight. and it'll
cost you nothin'. And I'll send you on
with my sleigh in the mornin'. Per'aps
you'll like suthin' to eat-a CUP OF tea
or-I'll call Zuleika," and he rose with
an expression of awkward courtesy.
But the lady, albeit, with self-satis-
fed sparkle in her dark eyes, here care
lessly assured him that Zuleika had al
ready given her refreshment, and, in
deed, was at that moment preparing her
own room for her. She begged he would
not interrupt his interesting story.
Hays looked relieved.
We'll, reckon I won't call her, for
what I was goin' to say amt exactly
the sort O. thin for an innocent, simple
sort O. thing like her to hear-I mean,
he interrupted himself hastily, that
folks Of more experience Of the world
like you and me don't mind speakin OF.
I'm sorter takin' it for granted that
you re married woman, ma 'am."
The lazy VINO naa regaraed n1m with
sudden rigidity here relaxed her ex-
preston and nodded.
Well" continued Hays, resuming his
place by the fire, you see this yer man
I was goin' to see lives about four miles
beyond the Summit on a ranch that
furnishes most Of the hay for the stock
that side OF the divide. He's bin holdin'
off his next years contract with me,
hopin' to make better terms from the
prospects of a late spring and higher
prices. He held his head mighty high
and talked Of waitin' his own time.
happened to know he couldn't Go it.
He put his hands on his knees and
stared at the fire, and then went on:
"Ye see this man has had crosses and
family trials. He had a wife that left
him to join a lot Of bally dancers and
painted women In the Frisco play
houses when he was livin' in the South
ern country. You'll say that was like
my own case-snd mebbee that was
why It came to him to tell me about it
but the difference betwixt MIN and me
was that, instead Of restin' unto the
Lord and findin' him, and pluckin' out
the eye that offended him 'cording to
the Scripture, ne followed after her, try
n to get her back, until, fndin' that
wasn't no use, he took big disgust and
came up here to hide hisself where there
wasn't no playhouse nor play actors,
and no women but Injin squaws. He
prc-empted the land. and. naturally
there 6ain' no one es cared to live there
but himself, he had it all his own way,
made it pay, and, as was sayip' before,
held his hea5 hjuh for nrjcae Npe1l-you