The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-10-16

| moment only, and he saw mat great
change had taken place in the gil
since he had last seen her. There was
in her face a sullen expression, as diff
ferent as possible from the childlike
ONENESS of face and manner which
had seemed to him her greatest charm.
And his heart smote him as ne
thought that this change had been
brought about, though unintentionally
indeed, by him.
"You are not glad to see me, 1 can
see that" he went on, hurriedly, as he
turned and kept pace with her. "Of
course, I had no right to expect that
you would be. but still 1 had hoped"
She made no answer.
"You got my letters?"
"Yes," answered Nell, in tone in
which he was surprised to detect tre-
NOR.
"You know that I asked you to let
me come down"
IL did not write to say that you
might, though"
But her tone was not angry, he
thought.
"Well, did wait as long as I could.
but, Nell, I was too miserable to wait
any longer. And now that see you,
and see that you look changed, and
think that it is my fault, l feel as if
l could hang myself"
He hoped she would say something,
but she did not. After few mo-
ments' silence he saw that tear was
falling down her cheek.
"Oh, my darling" broke out Cliff
ford, unable to restrain himself any
longer, won't you let ME marry you
and take you away? You have known
me long enough now, haven't you"
But Nell shook her head.
II would never marry any one till
this affair of the robberies was cleared
up," answered she, firmly.
And can't you help us to find it
out"
At this her face changed, She
looked up at him with an expression
VI angry ueuduSe'
THAT is what you came down for,
then-to see whether 1 could tell you
anything, and satisfy your curiosity
without your having the trouble of
sending any more detectives down"
she cried, uttering the words with
breathless rapidity, while her frame
shook from head to foot. mo, Mr..
King, I don't know anything, and if I
did wouldn't tell you. You have be-
gun by prying into this business your
own way; you may finish it you own
way, too"
Nell, surely you don't think l had
anything to do with that wretched
business!. You can't think so-you
can't! Why. it is to warn you that I
have come-to warn you that some one
else may be sent. Mind, l don't know
this; 1 only guess it, but I thought it
right that you should know
But instead of seeming grateful for
the information, Nell evidently took it
as a fresh otfense.
why should you warn me-" she
asked, and the pallor Of her face gave
place suddenly to a red blush of an;
ger "Is 1t that may put check to
my larcenous propensities until he has
gone away again?'
"Nell, Nell, how can you? You
would not if you knew how horribly
it makes me suffer-"
Suffer! All, it does matter when you
suffer, doesn't it? But when it is only
country innkeeper's niece who suf-
fers, who cares? And yet one would
have thought - one would have
thought"
She broke down completely and
burst into tears. Clifford was at least
as unhappy as she, and there was
moisture in his own eyes as he tried in
vain to comfort her. He did succeed
at last, however, in making her con-
fess that she had never believed that
he had any share in the sending from
town of the amateur detective, Jack
Lowndes. AS for the fresh arrival
which Clifford told her to expect she
shrugged her shoulders about it when
she had grown little calmer.
LET them send him." she said, reck-
lessly. II shall not even advise my
uncle to refuse to let him stay, even
if guessed who he is. 1t must all be
found out some day, and the harder
they try, the sooner it will all be over"
AS she was now quite calm and
dry-eyed, Clifford made one more at
tempt to get at her own real views of
the mystery. She had grown kinder
to him, and had acquitted him of all
blame. For her own sake he must
make use Of the opportunity.
And again when he put his question
there came into the girls face that Gu
rious look, as if a vague, haunting
memory had disturbed her mind.
II tell you solemnly, I have no more
idea than you have yourself" said
she. II will confess now that had a
sort of horrible sort Of half-idea be-
FORE"
To be Continued.
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