The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-09


haps, to have waited another week.
/ rang the DELL, sent in my card, and
was pleased to find the drawing-room
Geser,ed. A mo lent later Agnes en-
tered the room. She was dressed in a
low-cut evening costume Of black and
looked radiantly beautiful. 1 took her
hand in silence and knew that l dis
played agitation by my constrained
manner.
You are quite a stranger she re-
marked, seating herself. Il began to
think you had forgotten u.s."
There was something cruel in the
word us, and my heart throbbed pain
fully.
Forgotten you?" I cried. Indeed,
you do me an injustice. I have passed
the last week thinking of you. Day
and night you have been in my thoughts.
Even in my dreams your face was be-
fore me. Oh, it has been a fearful
week"
That last remark is very compli-
mentary," she said, coquettishly. But
why Go you talk in this way? You are
making fun of me, and i thought we
were such good friends.
Friends: That cannot be. I love
you, Agnes. I have loved you from
the first moment Of our acquaintance.
She turned rather pale for an in
stant. and a peculiar smile crossed her
face, but she did not SPEAK.
Answer me-" I said, seiZing her
hand. DO you, can you love me?
Will you be my wife!"
Yes" she returned, frankly. looking
at me calmly.
could hardly trust my ears. Accept
ed by Agnes Upton! What would the
club say: l, the least attractive of the
out an effort. 1t was hard to believe;
but there lay her cold, white. slender
hand in mine, and she was gazing up at
me smilingly. bent to kiss her. She
released her hand and said:
please don't-now. This is all so
sudden that l wish to be left alone.
Come 10 me o-morrow, but 60 away
now. I wish to think.
Obediently arose, rrotest in my
heart and an acguiescent smile on my
lips.
"As you please, Agnes. The task you
set me is hard one, but my reward is
great. Good night, my tiancee.
kissed her hand and hurried from
The room. The night air revived me,
and my fevered brain grew quieter. En-
gagged to Agnes! / was walking on air,
and listening to the songs Of Paradise.
turned my head and looked back at
the Upton house. A man stood in the
doorway, and l tried to make out who it
was. Before could identify him, how
ever, he had entered the hall. For
moment I felt annoyed, but soon real
lied that I had no right to be disturbed
by the fact that stranger had called at
the house I had just left. 1t might he
somebody to see Mrs. Upton or her
husband.
AS hastened down the avenue, the
thought struck me that this was club
night. Should I 20 to the meeting3
Why not? 1t was only fair to my rivals
that they should learn of my engage
ment from my own lips. looked at my
watch, retraced my steps, and soon
reached DR.. Chapman's residence, the
place of the meeting.
AS entered the room in which my
brethren were gathere d. I was surprised
to find an air of cheerfulness radiating
from the assemblaSe. Fernshaw YVES
not present, but Chapman looked jolly.
Barnes was laughing and talking in q
light-hearted way, while the President
appeared younger and handsomer than
had ever seen him.
/ did not have the cruelty to dash
their merriment by the announcement
of nv success. OF course they would
feel hurt to learn that had been ac-
cepted, while they had all been cast
into outer darkness. I could not ex-
plain their apparent happiness, how
ever. Perhaps the relief caused by the
destruction OF their hopes had brought
them peace OF mind. At all events, in.
stead of finding dismal crowd, as l
had expected TO, joined as lovial set
as the city that night held. Champagne.
cigars, good stories AMI song now
and then reminded US Of what the club
had been few weeks before, ere the
blighting influence Of Agnes Upton had
fallen upon our organization.
Reluctantly, the President called us
to order about II o'clock, and the work
of the meeting was begun. felt that
was in an unpleasant position. The
Fernshaw Case, as the affair was called,
was certain to come up, and I realized
that it was my duty to make a full con-
fession regarding my success With
Agnes.
l noticed that the high spirits OF
Chapman. Barnes and the President
had deserted them, and that they
seemed nervous AMI uneasy.
At length, after delaying the matter
by various parliamentary devices, the
President, turning very red, announced:
The Fernshaw case.
At that instant Fernshaw burst into
the room. His face was ghastly white,
his dress disordered, and his heavy
breathing indicated q long run in the
night air. He tried to speak, gasped
painfully, seized glass OF champagne,
drained it eagerly, and then sank upon
q chair.
whats the matter, Fernshaw?" we
cried.
%, Agnes! Agnes!" he answered
wildly. -,
NV conscience troubled me. I felt
that Fernshaw would accuse me OF
treachery, and I prepared for 6. scene:
Chapman, Barnes and the President all
looked alarmed.
You mean Miss Upton, said the lat.
ter, rising hurriedly. We'll, what
about her?"
She's eloped, cried Fernshaw, burst
ing into tears. -Eloped with an Italian
count.
1T cant be-" I returned.
Its false. Fernshaw," said the Pres
ident angrily. shes engaged to me.
She gave me her promise Yesterday.
Absurd" cried DR.. Chapman, waving