The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-26

the betrayal Of the least emotion, he
answered solemnly, but not unpleas-
ingly: on,u ,o,,r ,atber,s
friend-his servant-his messenger.
"And-he has sent for mef"
Every word was a throb OF suspense
and painful uncertainty. A father!
Then she was not utterly friendlessi A
father! But why had he left her loVeless,
neglected, all these years?
Miss Chandler will tell you" an
swered the stranger. She recognizes
the authority by which ! appear"
Dear Edna, let it be smiles rather
than tears, spoke Miss Chandler. COM
iug to Edna's side and placing caress.
ing arm about her. 1T is all quickly
told. You have a father, and he has
sent for you.
But"
Il cannot tell you more. This gen.
tleman not only binds me to secrecy, or,
rather, leaves me in complete !gno.
rance Of the motive for all this mys-
terry, but insists that you shall leave at
once. Of one thing be assured, how
ever. am satisfied that you are going
into kind hands. All will be we'll. This
letter will convince you. 1t is from
your father" And Miss Chandler nodded
to the stranger, who handed Edna
sealed missive.
She barely glanced at it through her
binding tears. She read only the first
few lines, beginning:
INV child, there have been vital rea-
sons for my seeming neglect OF you,
there are still vital reasons why sud-
denly, abruptly, you must sever your
connection with your dearest friends
and hasten to me. When I explain you
will know why no one must know"
Edna crumpled the unfinished missive
into her pocket at this stage, for Miss
Chandler was giving her directions to
60 to her room and pack up hurriedly.
In that apartment Beatrice Mercer
Joined her. With strange, wondering
light in her eyes, she listened to Edna 8
story Of the sudden summons.
"Oh! / shall surely be allowed to
write to you, to explain everything
when I find my father" sobbed Edna,
as she clung to Beatrice in fervent
embrace. @Beatrice-Raymond2"
The scintillating eyes Of the dark
beauty flashed wickedly, but the express
sion was yelled from poor Ednas tear
blinded sight.
II shall tell him
THAT I could not bid him good-by;
they would not let me. Tell him I will
get him word as soon as I can. Oh,
this mysterious haste unnerves me! !
do not even know where I am going.
Good-by, dear friend. Good-by, good
by"
A clinging kiss emphasized every
word. The fearful Miss Chandler waved
her a last adieu from the door. Her
somber companion helped her into the
carriage, and the wheels grinding down
the soft road seemed to be tearing her
very heart-strings, as Hopedale faded
from view In the distance and the ve-
hicle bounded forward. carrying inno-
cent Edna Deane to meet strange,
solemn mystery.
Twilight closed In about the land
scape, as the carriage dashed across the
country for the nearest railway station.
Twilight, folding it's mystic shroud
about the old seminary structure, was
shut out securely from one room at
least.
With locked doors and shades drawn,
Beatrice Mercer sat at table In her
apartment, poring over letter, study.
ing it. .analyzing it, re-reading 1t.
1t was the crumpled missi7e. half
read by the distressed Edna. how had
it come into her possession? By de-
sign, the cleaning, calculating eyes
told, for those eyes had the mask down
now, all alone by herself.
TO BE CONTINUED.