The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-06-01
FOR ER|C'S SAKE.

bell and, alighting, she entered the
ball, running quickly upstairs to the
drawing room.
Her tall figure was still slight and
p girlish her blue eyes wore u look OF
tlation for her beauty had never
aroused greater admiration, her sue
cess had never been more triumphant
tran that evening.
Has baby been all right" she
asked her maid. cob, and can you
t Ii me whether Mr.. Fordyce has come
home"
MIR. Fordyce came home at ten"
was the answer. He has been in the
ttudy-"
Not waiting for the end Of the sen
tcnce Norah went down stairs again.
TOO bad, Digby. Shabby not to
tnrn up-"
Sho had begun to speak as she open
ed the door, but as soon as she saw his
face stopped abruptly.
The room was cloudy with tobacco
smoke. Though the June evening
was hot the fire had been Lighted and
the CRATE was full Of papers burned to
cinders but what astonished her the
most was Digby's W appearance. AS
he stood upright their eyes mot for q
moment; then his were cast down
shamefacediy. He had shaved Off his
heavy black mustache, Transforming
his swarthy, handsome face he wore
aoshootiug suit instead of his evening
clothes.
What is the matter, Digby 2" she
demanded--"if o really are you
self"
"I--I! / can't tell you, Norah."
Drawing nearer she rested her hand
caressingly on his shoulder.
Anything serious, darling ?"
"I've got to make h bolt OF it.
rrhn,,'s MOI a ,,irntn IN lnsn 10
morrow will be too late. | only wanted
to see you. | couldn't go without, hap
pen what might"
but ] DON'T don't understand"
she faltered, gazing into his face in
bewilderment.
"Iv played my game and lost that's
all. For the last our years I've been
a-Heaven help me 1t will be all
over the town to- morrow. | lost my
last chance to-day. My name will be
aby-wOrd."
Sitting down, she could still stare
up helplessly into his pale, haggard
face. The diamonds in her fair, brown
hair caught the gaslight and s%parkled.
"Barford will know everything di-
roctly he gets to the office tomorrow"
Digby continued, 81 must be out Of
the way before then. Norah, | should
like to see the yCungster."
Automatically she rose and left the
room, shivoring as she drew her rich
plush cloak round her shoulders. On
her return, she made a charming pic
ture, standing with the four-months-
old child 10 her arms just as she had
taken him from his cot.
Poor little begga.." muttered
Digby, bending over him.
Laying him gently on one Of the
large a~rmchairs, Norah faced her hus.
cand.
"I-I can't realize it yet she said.
- have looked forward to nothing
else the last four years"
Before--before you married me p
she demanded. "You knew this when
you first met me You knew it, and
asked ne"
Il loved you, Norah."
Love - she cried, contemptuously
And you loved me-"
81 loved the man 1 thought you
We're. A man who never eXisted.'
For Heavens sake be merciful!' he
said. buttoning his coat.
" You have made me a party to your
crimes" she cried, and raising her
hands, trembling with anger, she tore
from her hair the diamond tiara.
At least a word of forgiveness" he
said, taking up the jewel quietly, and
thrusting it in his jacket pocket
Just Il word before we part--it will
Do OECNcT, NOEdD.
" can't forgive YOU" she answered
1T is no use. | could forgive much
IL 1T had been since our marriage, il
might have been different. But yor
deceived me too utterly"
1t had fallen upOn her like q bolt GU
ofthc blue sky, without a warning sign
at the moment OF her supreme success
HencefOrth she would be known only
as the wife OF q %defaulting solicitor
Her Iowa sppmpl tn hn ,cu.bnl tn,,+L
or with her hopes. Long after he had
gone, while the child lay sleeping or
the chair, Norah stood in the smoky
room, half dazed by the recent dis.
closure, till the day broke, and a new
era in her life began.
IL.
Digby ?"
Major Armistead glanced round the
dining room. He was tall and spare,
the more noticeably because he ALWAYS
buttoncd himself tightly in a long
frock coat. His darkly tanned face
appeared above a very high collar he
wore an enormous iron-gray nous
tache. Long u widower. since Norah's
marriage two years ago, he had lodged
near Hyde Park, possessing only a
small income besides his pension.
She took his hand and kissed him,
then looked out Of the window.
"A delicious morning after the
rain" she faltered.
Come, come you didn't drag me
out before breakfast to tell me it was a
fine morning, Norah. Little chap all
right ?"
"Oh, Eric is splendid" she said.
Then what on earth Is it? You're
not looking well this mornine--too
much dissipation. Isn't Dlgby down
yet? :"
Hes gone : gone away. He is
ruined"
Ruined Digby Bless my"
" Worse," she continued. HE has
committed a crime. You can hardly
realize il? Neither could ] but it is
true. He has committed a crime. All
this" she waved her hams as she
glanced round the large, hapdsomely
furnished room, "ali this is the result
am wearing some of the proceeds, |
can't stay, father take me away from
1t ell-me and poor little Eric"
The evening papers were full of the
nows, and sold largely In nseouen
The hue and Cry being raised, and a
reward offered, a few days later the
might've was arrested. Tried and
convicted in due course, Digby Fordyce
WAC annfannnI %