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

EaNQS.
And David Farnham. eating his
fruit and cracking his wainutS, list
ened and looked, his slow, sweet smile
deepening around his firm lips.
And she was his-his. David Farm
ham's-his wife, this exquisite girl.
with the snowdriftS OF her stainless
life behind. and the wild rose garden
of her beautiful life before. He put
his hand to his throat at the thought.
For an instant something hot under
his cyelids blurred the flowers, the
damask, the glittering silver Of the
table, even the radiant, glowing, Gra-
cious young vision beyond.
Come" she cried, Il shall play for
you"
And play she did, while he smoked
and listened, wild. merry, oapricious
music that gradually merged into lit
tie sobbing minor strain, Slower it
grew and fainter. Suddenly it ended
In q f..,se chord. Then there was
silence.
David Farnham rose-crossed the
room. He laid his hand on his wiie's
shoulder. She looked up at him.
Evelyn" he said. Evelyn"
The parg of bitter prcscience cut him
to the heart. He was too old. too
grave, too sad for her 1t had been all
a terrible mistake. And she-sha was
finding it out! For n that long, pene-
trative look he saw that she was weak,
and white, and spent. All the light
and bloom of her beauty had been
blown out as though by IN extinguish-
ing breath. = passion of sorrow slurn-
bered in her eyes, and on her lashes
the tears stood large and bright.
David" She stood up. She put
her arms around his neck and hid her
face against his breast. Il wonder
how-how well you love me, David!
How wcll"' he repeated. hoarsely.
"God-Evelyn. How well.'
The answer seemed to satisfy her,
for although she did not offer to kiss
him. the clasp around his mech tight
ened. Then she turned away and
went out of the room, and up the
stairs, the rustic of her silken gown
coming back to him with murmuring
sound that grew momentarily more in
distinct.
He heard the door Of her room close.
Ten hours later, opening his paper
alone at the breakfast table. he started
to his feet, aghast, dismayed.
Andrews. he cried Andrews"
There it was confronting him in bold
black 2nd white.
DEATH OF COLONEL FOREST
ANDREWS"
Unexpected Demise of Il Well-knovn
Citizen at Noon Yesterday
. So-his friend was dead, But-what
was that? At noon-yestcrday! At
noon? Why. he had been at the mat
inee. He had come out with Evelyn.
She had seen and spoken with him. She
she had said So-that ii was he who
was with her. Oh, there must be an
error-somewherei
He pushed away his plate; he could
not eat. He drank his coffee and
went into the library. Evelyn paused
on the threshold at sight Of his bent
head. his agitated countenance. He
turned at sound of her exclamation.
She was just from her sleep-her bath.
The profuse folds OF her white gown
were gathered by blue ribbons at her
throat. The bright hair was braided
in girlish fashion and hung loose. She
had never looked to him so youthful
so innocent Cunningham's couplet OF
his sweetheart came TO him:
"Beauteous she looks like a tall garden
lily,
Fresh from the night, and perfect for
the day"
David" she cried. What is it?'
In silence he held out the paper to
her. AT noon, yesterday he said.
She read the paragraph. She went
white as her gown. He thought she
was going to faint; but she laid the
paper down, turned TO the open door,
closed 1t, came back and stood before
him.
If you will not look at me-" she
said, in a low voice, ''perhaps-per-
haps l can tell you
The grim silence was for q space IL
broken. Then she spoke:
Il did not meet Colonel Andrews yes
terGay. / did not see him yesterday,
bat l was glad you shculd think it
was he whom ! was with. l went 10
he matinee to meet-another man. He
is the height and general appearance
OF. your friend. hut younger-much
younger. That is how you We're mis-