The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-29

said this was merely to display his
handsome hand; but perhaps it was o
tell-tale mouth, for he could not always
command the expression of it. It
would have been all interesting face
to student of physiognomy, there
were in it such possibilities for good
or evil.
To Mary Hamilton it was rapidly
becoming the most interesting and at
tractive face in the world, and she was
Just becoming aware of it, though she
did not guess how fully her feelings
were betrayed by her eager eyes and
family flushed face.
"And this wonderful new sister that
you have found, Polly" he said, for
Mrs. Hamilton had been telling him
all that had chanced in his ABSENCE
sam T not to see her?"
eyes," Mrs. Hamilton answered,
rising to leave the room. II am go.
ing to send her to you, Polly, dear
and don't forget that the opera begins
at eight. You will accompany us,
Clarence? Californians never miss the
opera, you know'
"Certainly-it you will have me-"
And turning to Mary, when they were
alone, he said:
"And what is her name-the new
sister,"
ooh, The loveliest name, like her.
self, and just suits her-Dolores Men
doza."
DOLORES Mendozar' exclaimed
Stanley, in tone of uncontrollable
amazement. His eyes suddenly glowed
and famed until Mary could have
fancied that some strange, brightlight
leaped from them. That look passed,
but a steely glitter remained that
caused her an involuntary shudder.
eyes," she answered, making no ef'
fort to conceal her surprise. ''Do you
know her?"
"Not at all; but the name is an un'
usual one, and I happen to have heard
it before. It is in some manner con-
nected with my family, but I don't
know how"
"How very strangel But every
thing about my darling Lorita is
strange. She has such history! ]
may tell it to you some time, perhaps.
All, here she is!' And fastening
toward Dolores, who now appeared at
the farther end of the long drawing
room, Mary put her arm about the
slender figure, looking now 80 very
slight and tall in her clinging, black
draperies, and drew her forward till
they stood before Clarence, who had
advanced to meet them.
While she pronounced the few
words that made them known to each
other, Stanley bowed deeply, never
removing his gaze from hepale, high
bred, sensitive face; but as Dolores
acknowledged the introduction with
rather formal expression of pleasure,
Mary felt her supple form becoming
rigid; long, gasping sigh burst from
her lips, and her head fell backward.
"She has fainted!" exclaimed Mary,
in the greatest alarm. "Oh, Clarence,
help me! How terrible she looks
Her eyes are wide open. yet sh'
doesn't breathe!"
"Call some one. Don't be alarmed
She has been i'll, you know. A little
water, perhaps, or ammonia. I must
own am not of much use, Polly, fol
T never before saw young lady in a
faint"
He was extremely self-possessed,
however, to Mary's great admiration:
and when they had placed the insensi.
BILE girl on lounge, she fastened
away for the assistance and restora'
tives he had suggested. Stanley
waited till she had left the room, and
then, feeling that he was safe from
observation, he stopped over Dolores
and pushed aside the rich, waving
hair from her brow. There, on the
left temple, was a small heart-shaped
mole, in color as red as ruby and in
shape as perfect as if traced by the
pencil of an artist.
"I thought SOL" exclaimed Clarence
Stanley.
He turned to mirror over the
mantel-piece and raised his own
blonde hair from his temple, on which
Nature had painted the same heart
shaped mole, but it's color was black
as ii cut from ebony.
"We two are the last of the Men.
dozas," he muttered under his breath;
and his cruel mouth quivered strange.
ly, iercely, land the sole heirs to
that fabulous wealth that lies buried
in the Santiago Canon! But who
shall discover the secret of its hiding
placer"
As he turr ed from the mirror and,
bending over Dolores, smoothed the
hair about her brow, both Mary and
her mother hastily entered; followed
by a-servaut, bearing in the way of re-
storatives everything her young mis-
tress had been able to find.
To RE CONTINUED