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


hardly be quite true" she said gayly.
:" Pom my honor, it is, though" he
replied with great earnestness. Il
never heard of SO plucky woman.
There is only one other that l can think
of in comparison with you at all. DO
you know Miss Rodney p
.sThere are two Miss Rodneys. she
answered smilingly
.sThis is the elder. Her name, be-
heve, is He stopped short. and
look of the strangest wonder seemed to
fix mis- face. Miss Rodney laughed out
right at his confusion.
s.You have not told me your name
vet, 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. "dld
you, while you were in London, meet
the Earl of Carrington2'
1t was Miss Rodney's turn to be
amazed.
Eyes" she said quickly. "But in
Justice to myself l hasten to add that
met him only to conclude as definitely
rs possible and once for all a matter OF
which canne think even now without
= blush of shame. l hope may never
see or hear of him again.
..I am glad to tell you that you Will
never see him again." the young Eng
lishman replied, with an indescribable
air, rather of severity than solernnity.
'.He is dead.
..Deadr" cried Miss Rodney. "When
did he die?" She was startled.
GA month ago., he answered simply.
s.How strange it all isl''
This is all strange" said Miss Rod
ney. s.What did the poor wretch Gle
off,
sHe 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
hin, month ago. "
s.You do not suppose that l could
have helped to precipitate it, do you r
cried Miss Rodney. an expression al
most of awe coming into her face.
'.No; he precipitated it himself, the
young fellow replied, with a mournfui
contempt .sHe had only himself to
thank for it. Do not let this trouble
you for moment. -
..But how did you know of thiss 2"
asked Miss Rodney 81 hope my name
did not come out in connection with it
Any association of my name with that
of Darlington will always be without
any fault of mine.
'Oh. don't say that. pleasev' he re-
piled, with quick protest. 81 mean that
YOU are too fair to link a man S vileness
with name that others may have
borne honorably and which others again
may redeem. I 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 this? / hope
you were not friend of his!''
..No; I was not a friend of his. and
he had no liking for me. But It was
nv 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 us forget the man. ad-
nire YOU more than ever.
Pray. understand that l am asham-
ed of that page in my history. But II
vou could have seen the insulting let
ter that he wrote me! And had been
/ insulted grossly enough once before on
this mans account. l would tell you
this only that it seems little strange
to be so confidential with a-allnost a
stranger.
Il shall be glad to hear anything
that concerns you, my dear Miss Rod
new. l have something to tell you my
self which is confidential. but with
YOUR permission l will defer that. >
LET Us defer it all, . she answered.
.'It is too painful. and meeting you Is
pleasant. / do not want to have II
marred by such an association. How
long are you going to be in Newport
Is this your first visit to America 2
1.-The first will tell you frankly,
Miss Rodney. that one great thing thai
drew me here was the hope that
might find the plucky girl ] met upon
the Matterhorn Now that have
found her. l confess with equal frank
ness that think my stay in Newport
will be as long as''---e stopped ane
smiled ingenuously
When do you expect to leave, hereg
I'm fortnight expect to join my
mother at Narragansett Pier.
..Oh, met your sister there. 1t is
delightful place shall probably re
visit it later. >
He said this with such palpabl'
sense that the time would be colnclden
with that in which Miss Rodney woult
be there that she smiled, and he lapset
into short laugh himself.
CIV C.oG1ey devoted himself to Mis-