The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-07-18

unusual Hush CT her Ofdlnarl-
IL 3ea,iy-.ai: CHEEK. and her eyes
locked lar-e ana restless. She had
evidently dressed hurriedly. The laces
or her bosom looked as though hastily
adjusted. .nd the flowers At her belt
We're PINNED awry. Il am late she
.apologi=sL. She had come up the room
10 her husband, ard lifted her lips for
his customary evening salute. Il am
sorry to have kept dinner waiting. 1t
is unpardo2ab.e. 1t shall not occur
again"
lie murmured q few deprecatinS
words. ard they went into dinner to-
cether Al during dinner in the rich,
old. dark-uanelled room. where the
golden sunset light poured in through
softening drap2Ties Of thin crimson
silk, she WAS very gay, very entertain
ing. She always was vivaci0us, es-
pccially when she had anything to con-
ceal under 4 tide Of clever talk or
sparkling shower of wit. And David
FarnEam was 4 good liStener-an eI-
.cellent listener.
When one OF his few friends. hand
some, reckless. improvideat Ross Len
ard had ended bis III Of remorSe over
disastrous mining Speculations by put
ting a bullet il his brain. letter found
near him asked that David Farnham
would lcok after the little girl"
Fa-nhGm had accepted the trust with
tie quiet consciousness natural TO him
in matters great or unimportant. He
had sent the girl 10 the best schools
He had arranged that her vacations
should be safely and pleasurably
spent. He had acted precisely as
though she were blood relative, legal
ly entitled TO his protection and as
sistance But when she came to him
from school. quite bew!tch:ngly fair
and accomplished young woman, he
was temporarily dismayed. Whatever
was ka TO Go with such charming
ercumbra2ce? For 4 year she lived
with 4 widowed sister Of his. All her
mothers people We're across the ocean.
ard being strangers TO her she re-
fused 10 20 TO them. Farnham went
DErctuaily IT stated periods to see his
ward, and was in every way solicitols
for her comfort. But daily the realiza
ticn grew en- him that she was not as
well and carefully guarded as she
should be- In his perplexity he asked
her to marry him. Now, months after
their marriage, strange emotions
thrilled him when he recalled the
manner Of her reply. Size had turned
her head away for 4 moment. Then
she had looked up ct him, her face
flaming scarlet. Her eyes met his full
lad steadily.
"Yes-if you are sure you want me
yes" she said.
Life had been q good deal like
fairy story TO him since then. He
was lord of q palace. and the beauti-
full princess was hiS-only his. In
all his uEeventful, Woodworking life
lie had never imagined what it might
be TO live in paradise; that its gates
should ever swing wide for him had
not entered into his imaginings.
1t was 4 delightful drama" she
went OF. a2ropCs of the matinee OF the
afternoon. 1T is likely to have a long
run. Almost every one who is left in
town was there"
Il passed the theatre as the crowd
was coming cut" he said. Il had al
imperative business engagement. SO
could not cross over; but think saw
you as you left. I'm almost sure 1t
was you, but you know how near-sight-
ed l am. You wore white, did you
not-a white coat and hat"
Yes" she said in q breathless sort
of way. She laid down her roll and
looked over at him. Yes"
He slipped slowly, almost retrospec-
lively Il thought l could not be mis-
taken. was sorry l had not time TO
make Sure-to meet you. Besides, you
Were not alone. You had the carriage.
,IAnd-there was some one with YOU
ccming oct, was there not? 4 tall
man. You were not alone. l was not
positive. but it looked like Andrews.
Was it AndrewS:"
Her fork fell on her salad plate with
4 little tinkling clatter "YOu-you
are nCt So 2ear-sighted. after all" she
laughed.
Then Il was ArlrewS:'
"Y.s," she answered. That sudden
rose color again stained lie. cheek. Her
bright, eager gaze never LETT his face.
Tit was Colonel Andrews"
Then sue was off in the sparkling
narration Of the Chief comedy scene in
the play, telling il with delicious hu-
mor. iuiMitabla MiMic"E. ACl scinlil.