The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-03-28

all know such things occur. This gen.
tlemar is the Honorable Clarence
Stanley: his name is not Carlos, and I
am quite sure that you never saw him
before this moment.
"'Clarence Stanley" repeated
Mrs. Helmholtz; "'the Honorable
Clarence Stanley!"
She looked at him, bewildered, while
her face twitched with emotion, as she
tried to remember the night at the
opera and the fragments q conversa-
ton she had then heard from Olive
Gaye and Bertha Seton. Yes, had she
not tried afterward to cheat herself
into the belief that it was a wonder
full, terrible resemblance? For how
could it be otherwise, when she had
kissed the dead face of her own Carlos
and held him, dead, to her frantic,
maddened heart? But, now that she
beheld this living likeness of him, how
could she believe him dead? Could
such regemblances exist? Had he not
rather come to life again, and was she
not being imposed upon once more,
cruelty, wickedly? Oh, more cruelty
and wickedly than ever before? Her
senses seemed leaving ber. She felt
that her mind could not bear these
successive shocks; and, clasping her
head with both her hands, as if to
steady her brain for final effort, she
fixed her eyes once more on Stanley's
face, as if she would read to the bot
tom of his soul. He looked back at
herwonderingly, but with mocking
smile. ;>ss5
"Tell me-, SIR" she said, in o voice
of touching entreaty, "'is itindeed true
that you have never seen me before
tonight" ~
Never, go far es I can rem member"
said Stanley, adding gallantly: "And
no one could forget you, madam, who
had ever been happy enough to see
you even once"
Mrs. Helmholtz sighed deeply.
CT must beg that you will all par
don me, then. I am SO sorry to have
made scene, but monsieur's SO like,
-. Ah!-Gso much like one who was
very dearl Ioannot bear it! Olive,
makemy' excuses. Miss Hamilton will
forgive me. . I must 60 home. I am
SO overcome-so I'LL"
Polly, who saw that the emotion
and suffering caused by this singular
scene was only too real, and who was..
indeed, greatly overcome herself;s
hastened to accept the hurried ex-
.cuses of her guests, and in few mo-
ments they were gone, and she was
left alone with her '.lover-alone, as
they had been only ten or ffteen min.
utes before, but staring at each other,
as if all that had happened in the in
terval had been a vision, a dream, a
nightr .are!
Whun they had reached the street,
|Olive Gage remembered that the car
riage vkich had brought them to the
Ham;ltons had been ordered to return
at least two hours later; but she was
equal to much more serious emer-
gencies. And it was fortunate that
she was so. for Mrs. Helmholtz was
i'll from agitation and Bertha Seton
was completely dazed and could only
grumble helplessly.
ooh, do be quiet, Bertha" said
Olive at last. eve are not children
to be lost in the street even if we
should have to walk home. All! There
is an empty carriage!"
And with quick decision she sig
nailed the driver, and in two minutes
they were all inside the vehicle.
"I told the man to drive first to
your house, Berth a., explained Miss
Gaye, "that being the nearest; and
then I will take Mrs. Helmholtz home
and stay with her little while, till
she RECEIVERS from the consequences of
this unpleasant hlunder.'
Mrs. Helmholtz, who was weeping
silently, put out one hand and catch
ing that of Olive Gaye pressed it
gratefully; and the latter returned the
pressure. A few minutes more brought
them in 'front.' Of Berthass home, and
having seen her safe inside of it,
Olive gave the address Of Mrs. Helm
holtz to the driver.
"And now, DEAR" she said to her
companion, edo try and calm your
self, or your husband will never again
intrust you to my charge"
"Oh, I don't carer' said Mrs. Helm
holtz, pettishly. "Besides, he won't
be home till midnight, aud I must cry;
it rests me-"
Olive made no reply, but she knew
that her companions tears were we'll
nigh exhausted; and though her ac-
quaintanse with the beautiful Celes-
tine could be counted by days only,
she felt that she understood her suf-
fciently to be quite equal to all the
management of her that would be
necessary.
TO BE CONTINUED.