The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-05-23
CONTINUED.


always declared, her very presence
was tranquilizing and gave her feel
Ing of strength aud security, as if her
spirit were raised above the ordinary,
everyday world. She experienced
that effect now, with an indescribable
sense of being restored to life and
happiness, much as if she had been
awakened from q horrible but too real
dream. She could not forget the
words she had heard, but, surely, she
had strangely misunderstood the
meaning of them. She sank back
again into her chair, but she drew
Dolores down beside her, and, with
her arm close about her, she said IN a
questioning voice, but with a manner
of perfect faith:
IT heard his words, dear. He said
that he loved you, and-oh, Lorita-
that he had never loved any other
womanr'
'I know it, Maruja-but it was
idle talk-that man never really loved
me-he is not capable of it,
Mary drew away from her a mo-
ment and looked at her questioningly;
and Dolores paused in what she had
been saying. She had been tempted
to add: HE is incapable of loving
any one, and it is profaning the word
to speak it with his name," but she
felt that this would be useless now;
so far, opposition to Clarence Stanley
had. as is usual in such cases, only
increased Polly Hamilton's passion.
With half impatient sigh Dolores
continued:
"What he imagined to be his love
for me is simply q mania to possess
the great treasure of the Mendozas-a
treasure which does, indeed, belong to
me if it is ever found, and which no
man or woman can truly possess and
keep except through it rightful owner;
but shall, never seek it. The man
you are unfortunate enough to love,
Maruja, sees in me simply the pos
SCISSOR of untold treasures, the charm
Of which is, perhaps, increased and
exaggerated by the romantic family
history of which I gave him the de-
tails. How I regret that I did sol
How I wish I had then understood
myself better-as do now. hoped
the story of the wicked and treacher-
Gus Pedro Mendoza might have been
warning to him"
"Lorita!' interrupted Polly, re-
proachfully. "You are very bitter
against Clarence"
"That cannot be news to you,
Msruja; you have known from the
first my aversion toward Mr.. Stanley.
It is not merely that do not and
never could under any circumstances
love Clarence Stapley-that gives no
idea of my feeling in the matter-I
loathe himp'
She would have said more, but she
saw that any further conversation
would lead to more than she now
wished to say; and, rising hastily, she
kissed Mary hurriedly, but with pas
sionate tendeEness. Then she has
tened from tho room. But, before
closing the door, \she came back and
took Polly HamiltoN once more in her
arms; and The girl rem embered after
ward that she embraced her solemnly.
"Adieu, Maruja!" shA said. my
one dear, true frieud. love me al
ways, Maruja, and never Erget me!
Dear girl!'
She drew her passionatelS\to her
heart, and Polly felt strange sa[cess
in that embrace, as if her friend &ere
saying long farewell instead of &c.
ing to her room. \
Scarcely had Dolores gone when
Mrs. Hamilton sought her daughter;
and if Polly had not been sank in
thought she would have seen at
glance that her mother was in a state
of suppressed excitement, of differ
ent nature from the painful anxiety
which had been distressing her in re-
gard to Polly's mysterious illness.
She put the evenings paper into
the hand of Polly and pointed to the
paragraph which she had found of
such engrossing interest, and Mary
read it,
"Wanted-The heir to an English earl
dom. The cable brings US the news this
hIlOEuOOu VI TIC uSdlu VI Lulu AppACpS
and his only child, a beautiful and inter-
esting boy Of six years. Lord Appleby
was the eldest son and heir OF the Earl OF
Nindermere. A second son, the Hon.
Clarence Stanley, If still living, Is now the
heir to the title and estates, but nothing
has been heard Of him for many years,
and it is supposed that be died in Califor-
mia, where he was last heard Of. Failing
IN heir in the direct succession, the title
and estates will pass TO a distant branch Of
the family"
Polly dropped the paper with
sigh. g.
flow unfortunater' she said.
'Unfortunate?' repeated Mrs.
Hamilton.
Yes; if I had thought OF forgiving
Clarence, couldn't say 80 now; it
would look too much like being
bought by his title
What nonsense, Polly! As if
Clarence could ever mistake your mo-
tives! Does he not know that you
love him?''
"He may have known it, mamma,
, hitherto, for Heaven knows I did love
him-once. But my feelings have had
severe wrench, and I have been
thinking deeply, for few minutes,
since Rita left nae. First there was
that scere with Mrs. Helmholtz, which
upset Inc more than I cared to admit
at the time"
Nonsense, Pollyr' exclaimed Mrs.
Hamilton. care you losing your
senses? Is Clarence to blame because
half-crasy creature-you called her