The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-06-20
CHAPTER XVIII.

CONT1NUED.
"Why, indeed?' exclaimed Mary
nsr face flushed and bright with the
tLought IT shall be so glad to go;
and It will bring me nearer to Dol
,rss. to nv own dear Rita! Yes, I
know shall find her there!"
Mrs. Hamilton repressed the words
Of smpatience that rose to her lips.
Hee suspicious in regard to Dolores
and Stanley remained unchanged.
But, determined to keep her promise
10 Polly so recently given, she turned
away, and, going to the door, answered
In pel son the servant who had just
knocked.
cit is Bertha Sefton," she said,
looking toward Polly. "Norah says
that although she gave your message
that you lould not see anyone to-day,
Miss Seton insists on seeing you. and
declares she will not go away without
speaking to you. Very rude of her
Shall I go down and see her, dear"
"No, mamma, dear; let her come up.
Since I am going away, ought to see
her to say goodbye. She has been
constant in calling every day, thoug b
I have refused to see her now for al
most a week. Norah show Miss Sef-
ton up here; say I will see her in my
room"
But Bertha Seton did not wait for
the servant to repeat these words.
She had followed Norah upstairs,
greatly to the girls surprise, and hav-
ing already heard all that Mary Ham
ilton had said, now hurriedly entered
the room, and in great agitation threw
herself at the feet of her friend, ex-
claiming:
"Polly, Polly! Forgive me, prom
ise to forgive me, or I will never rise
from here!'
"Well, WELL" said the latter, sooth-
ingly, 81 forgive you whatever it is,
Bertha; now calm yourself, and rise.
I don't like having people on their
knees at my feet"
"Oh, dearest Polly, how shall I tell
you2 How could I ever be such a
treacherous wretch?"
She had started to her feet ct Polly's
last words, and now stood helplessly
twixting her hands together, tearing
her gloves and presenting an almost
distraught appearance.
"Polly," she said, "I don't wish to
make my own fault the least little bit
less than it really is; butth has been
all the doing of Olive Gaye-my part
in it as we'll as hers. She has ac-
quired such a power over me, it has
been like witchcraft. She has made me
do just as she wished. But she is gone
now, and L hope, gone out of my life for
ever, and have recovered my senses.
Lord Clarence Stanley has married
Olive Gaye; and I did what could to
assist them; I engaged the clergyman,
and stood by and saw them married,
and signed my name as witness. 1t
was all as horrid as anything could be,
and not bit like real marriage with
a real lord, except, of course, that Mr..
Martin is real clergyman; but Inever
supposed Olive Gaye would be satis-
fed with such q wedding as that.
They were married last night, and
they said goodbye to me at the door
of the house when we left Mr.. Mar
tins, jumped into a carriage that was
waiting, and were driven away and
out of sight before I could realize that
they were gone. I stood and looked
after them. and pinched myself black
and blue to prove it wasn't a dream.
And it was real-real And, oh, Polly,
do try to forgive me, for I never can
forgive myself"
Polly Hamilton drew long breath
of profound and joyous relief, and, to
Bertha's amazement, she caught her
in her arms and kissed her.
"Olive Gaye!" repeated Mrs. Ham
ilton, stupidity. solve Gaye! Lord
Clarence Stanley has married Olive
Gaye, and she will be Countess of
Windermere!'
"And much good may it do her!"
exclaimed Polly Hamilton. "She is en-
tirely welcome to that honor. And
now, mamma, dear, you will admit
that Rita is entirely vindicated. My
own darling Rita! How glad I am
that have belived in her, in spite of
everything! Bertha, you have brought
me joyful news; so that, if you had
been even less friend than you ac-
case yourself OF being, I think I could
still forgive you everything"