The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-11-27
CHAPTER I.

" tall, perfectly proportioned
NJ with small head beauti
fully poised upon her shoul
ders, delicate hands and feet, and a
smile that softened rather firm little
month and revealed rows of pearls.
She had been Balls as long as she
could remember, and remembered
neither father nor mother. The for
mer, Il man of great wealth. lived in
one of the most insalubrious of the
West Indian islands; her mother was a
Spaniard of extraordinary beauty, to
judge by the only portrait she pos
sessed of her, and all her life nearly
had been spent at school. She had, in
a way, been brought up in the lap OF
luxury; Miss Milton lad been a second
mother to her, and now the school was
to be broken up for good. and news
had come that her father had been
ruined, and his monthly check must
cease.
what am I to do. Miss Milton?
have not learned enough to so out as
n governess - not that that is your
fault" she added. with feeling. "A
crow would blush dead white with
envy if he heard ME try to sing, and
haven't an accomplishment in the
world, and I'll my money is spent, OF
course and her eyes shone the more
brightly for the gathering tears.
The oldish lady looked at the sweet
plaiutive face and then kissed it.
"That is just what puzzles Caroline
and myself, dear" she said, gently
"Your father wishes you to go to his
brothers, Major Gilden, whom he has
not seen for twenty years but I know
the Major is not well off, and his sec
ond wife," and she paused. "Caro'
line and I would gladly take YOU with
us were it possible, but for years past
the school has only paid its way; your
fathers checks alone kept us aioat
and now"
ooh, you poor dear. Now, just let
me have a good cry, and-and just give
me three minutes by your watch, Miss
sIilson," and shortly afterward she
dried her eyes, picked up her hat that
she had thrown down, and declared she
felt better, even laughing softly.
In a few days Bahs' pony had been
sold and the little pony chaise, a pres
ent from her father, and she stood on
the platform, alternately hugging Miss
Milton and Miss Caroline, her eyes
suffused with hot tears, her lips trcm'
bling so that she could not speak.
AS she stepped into the carriage Miss
Milton handed her letter with "God
bless you, child; read this ii the train"
and she was off.
The envelope contained q portrait of
The twin sisters and bank note for
twenty pounds. How they must have
scraped and boarded to save that, she
thought with a swelling in her throat,
and reckoncd up her available capital.
The ponies and trap had sold well. She
was starting the world on q capital of
nearly seventy pounds. The future did
not look so very gloomy after all. II
all trades failed she would buy and
stock swectshop. Some one had told
her that was a paying business, and
before she reached Victoria she was
softly laughing.
q
Two months before the events re-
corded above Talbot Gilden read and
re-read letter from Miss Milton with
knit brows and anxious face. "Babs
simply has no idea Of the value Of
money" it said, "and really wish you
would decrease or stop her far too am
ple allowance. A more sweet and low
able girl does not live; she has excep-
tional ability, but no notion Of apply
ing her talents. She is, of course, inno'
cent Of the world and its ways, and a
short spell of comparative poverty may
do her good, as you suggest"
r "It's a confoundedly dangerous ex-
pertinent" he muttered, ''but, by
George, I'll risk 1t; the old girl may be
right, after ALL" and sitting down lie
wrote a long letter to Miss Milton, an
other to his brother and then called his
boy.
"Get these off in time for to-nights
mail" and said, "and book my passage
by the following steamer. Tell Mr..
Carey to parade all the hands to-mor-
row at sharp" But the overseer en-
tered the veranda as he spoke. cigar
ette in mouth, and hugging a leather
case.
"Gad! I'm glad you've brought your
banjo" he said. "Sit down and play
THE Heart Bowed Down. that always
cheers NE up. Pm going home next
week"