The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-06-18
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JOHN WINTHROP'S DEFEAT.
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wounds from his hands-you love him,
and have :old him that you do"
II spite Of everything. Bee"
"And you are not ashamed to own 1t
: zen to me. Alicia. in your pride and
womanhood. with that betraying ten
derness In your voice! Why do not
hate you rs believed that / should
II ever you gave your love to that man
your enemy and your husbands en-
emy."
"I have somewhat also to forgive"
said Alicia very softly. Have you
forgotten that ! told you it would be
difacult for me to forgive you had you
deceived me. Bee?"
A tremor in Beatrice's voice. She
leaned forward into the light Of the
window. reaching out her hands.
But I did 1t because ! loved you,
Alecia. ! could not believe that you
truly could ever love that man. and l
wished to remove him from your life.
Would I wound you knowingly. you
beautiful dear? Have you not had
enough sorrow in your hfe? Have l
not put away the hate from my heart
for this man because Of you"
But your hatred was unjust al
ways, Beatrice" said the sweeter
voice. steadily. II told you from the
first that he was an honorable man.
But I believed that You defended
him only because Of your kindly
heart" said her sister. in a low voice.
"Alecia. would I hurt you willingly!
I am very proud. too. but would not
ever have set up my pride against
your happiness had I known that 1t
was your happiness"
Silence between them. eloquent with
the call Of those distant breakers and
the cry Of q night-bird upon the beach.
The house was perfectly still save for
those sounds from without. Then
Beatrice rose from her chair and went
over to her sister. Kneeling at her
side she took the two slim hands with
In her warm hands, holding them
closely and with tender recklessness
of sorrow. her lifted face beautiful In
the moonlight streaming through the
window.
"Alecia! Alecla! she said, bitterly.
my sister. look right down into my
soul and see that there remains not
one atom Of hatred there. not one
thought that Is not kind. not one wish
but for your good. II John Winthrop
holds the power to grant you the hap
piness that you deserve, II he loves
you as you should be loved. II he has
descended from his heights Of AFRO
gance and pride to acknowledge that
there are purity and goodness and
truth In q woman's heart, then John
Winthrop shall have the right to win
your love and make your happiness!
While cried out against your softness
Of heart. was ! not cruelty hard? I
claiming the tenderness Of woman
hood! Would I not have crushed my
own heart in my pride and unforgive-
ness? Alicia! Alicia! Here, with
my heart bare to you. see that l
meant only love"
Alicia stopped very tenderly and
pressed her smiling lips to the mouth
Of the girl.
Dear little Bee" she said. always
my brave girl! Could I doubt your
love. when only you have thought Of
me!"
Tender silence again between them.
The lifted face and the down-bent
face touched with the nights light and
softness. Then. the sound Of light
feet in the passage. moments pause.
and the door was flung wide open
without warning. and into the room
full In the glory Of moonlight, with
loosened hair and trailing dress and
white face. came Jessica Gray with
her eyes Of fire.
Beatrice shrank down beside Alecia;
but Alicia did not move.
SOP murmured the liquid voice.
$50! But Mrs. Graham has courage
to brave her heart and her pride and
yield her love to the man who was
once her husbands murderer"
An answering fame In Alecia's eyes
and In her quiet face, but her voice
was sweet and low and perfectly
steady.
Miss Gray herself Is daring" she
said. May ask what she may
mean by her words!"
Jessica laughed scornfully. finging
out her hands with o gesture Of pas
sion.
HAS the new love cradicated old
memories SO soon|' she asked. is i:
not Mrs. Graham's new lover who
murdered the old:"
Your words are exaggerated. Miss
Gray" said Alicia. a touch Of coldness
creeping into her voice. mo one muir
dered my husband as you so recklessly
state. And what has Miss Gray to do
with my life of the past or future"
Then she liedw cried Jessica fierce
IL, with a movement of her hands to-
ward the girl still kneeling beside her
sister. Il heard her say it myself!
1t was in France. She said 1t openly.
Upon the station platform she said
that John Winthrop murdered your
husband. and that she hated him for
it-and that you hated him for it!'
"And was Miss Gray acting as caves