The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-10-15

or better than this fair American.
Cheer up. Everything Is for the best."
CHAPTER XVII
TO TIE WEST.
o the weary days and sleepless
nights that succeeded the departure
Of uncle Sam from Holdenhurst!
Never In my life before had bee3 so
utterly depressed and wretched. Ev-
cry day some incident helped TO con-
farIn the overthrow Of my aspirations
and increasec my restlessness. In COM
pliance with the earnest pleading Of
my father. I had written y brief note
to Constance Marsh assuring her Of
my unalterable regard-that was the
word he suggested m exactly suited
to the occasion-but regretting the i'm
possibility. owing to aa unfortunate
incident. either OF calling upon her In
London. or inviting her to Holden
hurst To that note came no reply; nor
could I II reason expect any. though
each morning ! scanned the mail with
hopeless curiosity. About 4 week
afterwards my father received letter
from the Rev. Mr.. Frice. announcing
his prefernent to the living OF All
Saints. North Brixton. and consequent
reslgnation Of the yicariate Of Holden
hurst Minor. Mr.. Price also stated
that as he was not to take up his new
duties for three months, he had ac-
cepted an invitation to visit America,
az he had long desired to study the
methods and manners Of American
diyines. and that, being much pressed
for time. he regretted his inability o
return to Holdenhurst to preach fare
well sermon to his parishioners. so had
requested q friend to forward his ef-
fects to London-which ] afterwards
learned was accordingly done. the said
effects consisting Of two cricket bats,
Q fowling piece. O fishing rod and
tackle. q tobacco jar and several pipes.
q shelf-load Of French novels with the
margins annotated In the reverend gen.
ueman's own hand, and some dozens Of
slirpers. Yet q few days later. and
while ! was still smarting undsr this
intelligence. ! noticed. quite accident
ally. an announcement at the bottom Of
q column In the Times that Mr.. SAM
mel Trueman. the American fnancier.
accompanied by Mrs. Trueman and
Miss Marsh, had sailed for New York
from Liverpool the day before On
board the Cunard steamship Etruria.
Though his discomfort was by NO
means equal to mine. my father was
not without grave anxiety. The reno
walton Of Holdenhurst Hall. and the
numerons and extensive Improvements
In progress on the estate were now
East approaching completion. The work
was admirably done. and both house
and grounds assumed an aspect in
comparably superior to what they had
presented at any former period Of
their history. Ny father acquainted
me with the fact that he had very
little money at his bankers beyond the
I've thousand pounds which his brother
had given him, sum quite inadequate
20 pay for the work done. and he
feared that he would be obliged to
renew the mortgage which had so re-
Gently been extinguished. With some
temerity he formally inquired of
Nessrs. knight and Faulkner what
would be the amount Of their demand
on the completion Of their contract.
and was informed by that firm that
Mr.. Samuel Trueman had satisfied
their claim In full on q certain date
which we found was the very day
my uncle was last at Holdenhurst.
This circumstance was q victory for
me.who had held, contrary to the opin'
lon Of my father, that uncle Sam
would keep his word, and honorably
paJ for the work he had ordered to bs
done, notwithstanding his denuncia
ton Of his brother.
The only thing which could have de
ilvered me out Of the ptiable condition
into which I had fallen at this periot
(except. Of course. the removal Of III
eause) was rigorous employment oi
my faculties. Though I did not laci
discrimination to perceive this truth
I could not benefit myself thereby
having NO power to exert my will. Ny
time was spent In aimlessly wander
ing about the house and grounds. OF
sauntering In the library and taking {
book ut random from O shelf there
opening II, reading q few lines. closing
it'again, and returning 1t to its place
became pale and haggard. and N!
evident want Of the usual attributes o.
youth was noticed and remarked upoI
by my fathers friends. who were at 1
loss how TO account for the chang
which had come over me.
Though the days seemed long ant
wearisome, and the nights almost In
terminable, yet time passed away will
more apparent swiftness for beini
marked by no particular event. 1t W.:
TIE early springtime when I first be
he'd the girl whom ! had fondly hope,
to win fer my own. from whose swee
eompanjonship ! had been ruthleSsl!