The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-07

"Well," answered the young matrOus
cautiously, lit is certainly better to
live with whole heart, or even half
| of one, than without any at all. 1t Is
| more natural to exist with a heart
and consequently it is more graceful"
II am doomed to ungainliness, then,
| though 1 will fling the rest after the
| first part and live life of unnatural,
inartistic, nightmarish ugliness. Pity
my fate! If only the sweet thief who
has stolen my heart would give it back
to me-with her OWL think I could
manage to make myself satisfied with
my existence"
He was looking Mt the curtain. The
curtain became agitated and swayed
to and fro.
"Well," said the sister champion. II
think you are too greedy. Two hearts
belonging to one person is as unnatur-
al as no heart
what shall I do? Persuade the
thief to exchange the booty and share
it?"
THAT would be best, think" she
said, laughing, and looking in his eyes.
He flushed and stared at the now
motionless curtain. Then he looked
back at her questioningly. The young
dame nodded her fair head slightly,
and picked up piece OF needlework
living on a work basket. A light flashed
into his eyes. He put the cup and
saucer he had been holding in his
hands down on the tray and half rose
from his chair. The lady motioned
him to sit down.
"Well, hearts are artful things often,
and all the task and discussion OF
them is artless," she said. LET us
be sensible"
"Are we ever sensibleT he said
stupidity.
Il don't know. I wonder if we are
most sensible when we are most
senseless? They say insane people
always fancy themselves sane and
others insane. How queer if all the
lunatics are really sensible and all the
sensible world (as we think ourselves)
insane! Isn't it a gruesome idea? See
what comes of speaking Of impossibili-
tiesT
Are you sure we have been talking
of impossibirities" he inquired anxi.
ously.
what is an impossibilty-a future
certainty?"
CT Io,o cold ha
81 am not perfectly sure. Who can
be? But think that is right defin-
ition."
Still he looked at the curtain (whose
strange inequalities were continually
and slowly shifting over its velvet sur
face) and the sister said quickly:
Dear me! I have forgotten to give
Davis most important order. Please
pardon me for one moment"
The agitation of the curtain amount
ed almost to a distinct shuddering
among it's folds. Then a stiff stiffness
ensued. The sister chaperone was
gone.
He walked over to the curtain.
"Will you take my love and give me
yours?" he said softly.
The curtain futtered and instantly
drew itself tightly in a crouching hu-
man shape.
"Forgive me! Love that can laugh
at locks sees through curtain. I
love you, darling. Will you take my
love for yours?" 49,,
The curtain did not move.
"Do answer, my love! If it is yes
lift the curtain; if it is no. let it drop
as it was before"
A second or two and then three
white fingers lifted a corner Of the
velvet.
He dragged the curtain aside and
lifted up a little kneeling figure with
its hands pressed over it's. face.
my beautiful onew he said, clasp
ing her to him. what made you hide
there?"
Il don't know" said a soft, muffled
voice.
81 saw you at the window, did I
lONSs
"Yes."
"Then why"
The hands came down and q pretty,
flushed, childish round face looked up,
defiantly shy in it's impetuous bold
ness.
"Why, Annie laughed at me for
blushing when I saw you in the street,
and 1 said 1 wouldn't see you. I
couldn't get out, and so l hid behind
the curtain"
But you love me. Say you love
me-"
II never say what I am hidden to
say" And her head went down again.
How long is moment?" asked the
sister, opening the door,
"As short rs low" he said happily,-