The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-06-27
on the ton.

replied with great earnestness. II
never heard Of 80 plucky a woman.
There is only one other that can think
OF in comparison with yor at all. Do
You know a Miss Rodneyi''
'There are two Miss Rodneys." she
answered smilingly.
"This Is the elder. Her name, I be-
lieve. is"- He stopped short. and a
look OF the strangest wonder seemed to
hx his face Miss Rodney laughed ont
right ut his confusion.
"You have not told me your name
yet. he stammered-"the real name.
you know"
"Florence-Rodney. she said SIM
ply. fixing him with her smiling eyes.
"GcOd heavensl" he calculated.
''Tell me-" he inquired eagerly, his
eyes large with earnest wonder, "did
you. while you were in London. meet
the Earl Of Darlington
It was Miss Rodney's turn to be
amazed.
eyes" che said quickly. "But in
justice to myself ! hasten to add that
met him only to conclude as definitely
rs possible and once for all matter Of
which cannot think even now without
blush Of shame. I hope may never
see or hear of him again.
~ am glad to tell you that you will
never see him again. the young Eng
lishman, replied. with an indescribabls
air. rather Of severity than solemnity.
HE Is dead"
"Deadi" cried Miss Rodney. "When
did he diet" She was startled.
"A month ago. he answered simply.
''How strange it all isi'
"This Is all strange. said Miss Rod.
ney. "What did the poor wretch die
off,
"He had used himself up completely.
He had had sort Of stroke Of an apo.
plectic character some weeks before he
met you. He had another that settled
him a month ago."
"You do not suppose that could
have helped to precipitate it. do your"
cried Miss Rodney. an expression al
most Of awe coming into her face.
mo; he precipitated it himself" the
yorng fellow replied, with a mournful
contempt. HE had only himself to
thank for It. Do not let this trouble
you for moment"
"But how did You know Of this,"
asked Miss Rodney. ~ hope my name
lid not come out In connection with il
Any association Of my name with that
OF Darlington will always be without
any fault Of mine"
"Oh. don't say that. pleasel' he re-
piled, with quick protest. ~ Imean that
You are too fair to link mans vileness
with a name that others may have
borne honorably and which others again
may redeem. know that is what
you'd mean. But let us drop the sub.
ject. i did not like the man myself"
"But how did you know thisP hope
you were not friend of hist"
'No; was not friend of HE, and
he had no liking for me. But il was
my odd fortune to be present once when
Darlington. in an excess of drunken
rage at the recollection of your treat
ment of him. spoke OF it and mentioned
your name. Now that this matter is
explained. let rs forget the man. ad.
mire you more than ever
pray. understand that / am asham-
ed OF that page in my history But if
you could have seen the insulting let
ter that he wrote mel And / had been
insulted grossly enough once before on
this mans account. would tell you
this only that it seems q little strange
to be so confidential with a-almost a
stranger.
IL shall be glad to hear anything
that concerns you. my dear Miss Rod
ney. have something to tell you my
self which Is confidential. but with
your permission will defer that"
LET Us defer it all. she answered.
1T is too painful. and meeting You is
pleasant do not want to have it
marred by such an association. How
long are you going to be in Newports
ls this your first visit to America e.
1.-THE first. will tell you frankly,
Miss Roauey. that one great thing that
drew me here was the hope that I
might find the plucky girl met upon
the Matterhorn. Now that have
found her. i confess with equal frank
ness that think my stay in Newport
will be as long as He stopped and
smiled ingenuously
"When do you expect to leave hereG'
"1n fortnight. l expect to join my
mother ut Narragansett Pier"
"Oh. l met your sister there 1t is a
delightful place. I shall probably re-
visit it later"
He said this with such a palpable
sense that the time would be coincident
with that in which Miss Rodney would
DO there that she smiled. and he lapsed
into a short laugh himself.
Guy Stadley devoted himself to Miss
Rodney with the most earnest and con.
stant attention. BY the end of ten days
he had offered her his heart and all that
ha had Mtao Rndnou ii