The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-02-19

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money could buy. Now-I cannot l
have not one penny in all the world
that is mine!
She sighed. The tense lines Of her
face relaxed; her hands upon his am
were quite steady. She had feared
something SO different, that this was
relief.
us that all, Harold?"
He fell back from her, letting her
hands fall from his arm. Amazement
was upon every feature Of his face.
Then he recovered himself, believing
that she did not understand.
"All, Alecia? Is it not quite enough!
Do you comprehend that I say that we
have not one penny in the world to
live upon-or die upon; not one penny
Is that not enough? Beggars-cast
upon the world with nothing but cred
itors clamoring about me-and you!
Is this ala"
But my money, Harold? How calm
she was! Surely she did not realize
what it meant to be penniless. "Can
we not manage upon that until bet
ter times are for us? You will ~
trieve yourself; you could not stay
crushed. Your brave heart would
never admit that, dearest"
He groaned again turning his face
from her eyes.
Your money, Alicia? Your money
was in with mine, and has gone, too.
I believed it perfectly safe, this last
investment, and put every penny into
it-every one! The house closed to-
day, though no one outside is aware
of it; and as I shall give up every
thing, I cannot meet the demand. l
shall be weighed to the earth with lia-
bilities. I shall drag you down as
we'll. But, of it all. the bitterest is
that your money is gone through me.
The house is yours, Alicia. 1t was
bought and made over to you when
there was no hint of failure. And
your Jewels are yours. Were you not
accustomed to the luxuries OF our
home you might call this a fortune;
nevertheless it is not half equal to the
fortune / lost for you"
She smiled very softly, taking his
hand in both of hers and leaning her
cheek against it.
T Il love beautiful things" she said.
What woman does not? But, after
all, can be happy without them, Har'
old. Having each other and our
health and bTaTe hearts, should we
not feel that We are blest? Whatever
you did with my money you did for
the best, am assured. The one thing
that I regret is that every demand
cannot be met. OF course we will
give up the house; that will surely
realize a good deal and may nelp you.
The jewels 1 will keep because-you
gave them to me, and hecause-"how
steadily she spoke-''because there is
no reason why I should give them up.
You think that I do not comprehend
this, Harold. l may not know all that
this means, but I am certain that I
have you, and have no fear. l can be
happy in but one room at time. Our
homo iS beautiful, but felt always
that 1 could be myself just as well in
q less luxurious place. You must
not despair. shall rot let you de.
spair."
Twilight was setting over the water.
The dinner hour was almost at hand
and they must return to the hotel and
to their friends, to the light chit:chat
and laughter and songs and careless
hearts and bright eyes, and hide this
blow for the one night at least
You must not despair, Harold,
dearest" added Alecia presently, they
two standing alone upon the sands
with the purple and lilac and pink OF
twilight falling around them and the
hoarse murmur Of the sea at their
feet; afar off, against the lifting rose
of moonrise, white sail glimmered.
Her face, lifted steadfastly to his, was
touched with some indescribable soft
ness Of light and shadow from the
world around them. The golden anchor
on her sleeve caught reflection from
the moonrise and glowed against the
soft gray of her gown like an emblem
of hope. 1--WE will face the future
and-conquer it, Harold"
1t was a question as we'll as COM
forting assurance, for she knew how
much this fashionable world was to
him, and how he demanded luxury
where she would force herself to be
happy without it.
I'VE will agree to be true to each
other, dearest" he made answer, ,ve-y
gravely.
They turned back toward the hotel,
feeling that were beginning new life
an unknown life-from that time.
Alicia, pausing a moment in the pa.
vilion, her hand resting lightly upon
her husbands arm, gazed across the
purple black Of the ocean, along the
line of silver heralding moonrise, tc
where the distant ships seemed sta
tionary so far away against the light
ing heaven.
And are they laden with hopes
:oo.' she thought, wistfully, land sail
ing away"
(To be continued.)