The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-12-04


ond floor. My own was the small one
next to his, while at the front, upon
that floor. Miss Latimer had the larger
room. and young man named Crosby.
a recent arrival, had the smaller.
It was Miss Latimer who must an
swer my second question. and waited
for her after putting my cigar back
into my case and the signor's matches
into my pocket. Presently she rose from
her seat by the small table in the far
corner and came toward the door. AS
she passed the table where Mr.. Crosby
sat be addressed some remark to her.
and she paused a moment.
The light was bright upon her as she
stood there, and she looked very beau
tiful. though one might guess she had
been i'll. It was. indeed, five weeks
since she had been out Of the house,
and only within the last few days had
she been able to come down to the din
ing room.
Miss Latimer was the plaintiff in a
great lawsuit. She had been sold out
and defrauded by her own counsel, had
4riumphed over this disaster only to be
cheated by his successor and now, by
virtue Of her own shrewdness and hard
work, was in a position to press the
case once more in the courts, but with
slender prospects Of success 1t was
question whether she should have 81
100000 or nothing. whether her late fa-
ther's honor should be established or
snirched forever by a band of scoun-
drels who had been enriched by the
fruits Of his business sagacity to a
point where they could have afforded 10
be honest had they possessed the moral
capacity for it
Personally admired the girl beyond
measure and would have given my
right hand to help her. but could not
feel that had won her confidence.
Miss Latimer." said as she came
out into the hall. 81 have very imper-
tinent question to ask you, but l really
can't see any way to avoid asking it."
.slf it is necessary" said she. "it can't
be impertinent.''
'Is there any one in this world whom
you trust?'
Her face flushed. and there was a
look Of pain in her eyes.
81 shall have to say no. she answer
ed. "The worst that these dishonest
people have done to me is to rob me Of
my belief in human integrity. You have
no idea how lonely one feels
eff you had anything especially pre-
cious." said l, you would keep it your
self. You would not intrust it to an
other
you are quite right" she said. u
should keep 1t myself
AT this moment Crosby appeared
upop the threshold of the dining room.
81 suppose you'll attend the concert
this evening"" he said. Miss Latiner
will occupy her reserved seat on the
third stair. and there is every promise
of large audience" "
The concert" was Signor Taglia's
piano practice. 1t appeared to be
habit Of the pianist to devote an hour
or two after dinner to the perfection
of his technique. At any rate. his
piano had squealed and roared for mer-
cy on the two previous evenings that
ne had been in the house. and some of
us had gathered at the foot Of the see
ond staircase to hear the performance.
melted by Crosby. who declared that
the signor was wonder.
When the young man had passed on,
Miss L;atimer confded in me that She
thought Signor Taglia played like
man of wood. without sense or discre-
uon, ana tnar she should join the group
because she craved human companion