The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-05-28

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gestively, and lifted her arched brows.
"Well." she said, Grossly, your cat
pray don't class her as mine-is In
love with your John Winthrop with
her soft purring and velvet claws.
Alecia Graham"
An indescribable expression touched
Alecia's face, but she pulled the show
ering golden hair recklessly about
her, 30 that her sister could not see.
Again she laughed. strange laugh. a
sudden, unaccountable pang at her
heart, as though she were losing some
friend who had been dear and might
have been more! Then she frowned.
meeting her reflection In the mirror.
and bit her lip. A slow color was
burning In each cheek. She was In.
tensely angry with herself. Would
she allow those words, uttered that
morning In the pavilion by her hus-
bands enemy. to SO move her?
Rather remarkable, Bee," she said.
lightly, "that the woman whom you
dislike and call leopard should so un-
burden herself to you! The circum-
stances must have been extremely In
teresting. Pray. let me hear them"
Beatrice's answering laugh was full
of scorn and bitterness. She crossed
the room. and. taking Alecia by both
arms, turned her toward the light.
her eyes keenly set upon her face.
"Alecia." she said. very slowly and
sternly. you may call me absurd
again II you like. Why should mind
that? But wish you to answer me
one question. and fairly. 1t may not
seem much to you; to me It would be
the uttermost depths Of bitterness!
You are kind to every one. even
though you scorn them. You are kind
even to John Winthrop! Alecia,"
the very earnestness Of her voice
deepened that strange color in Ale
cia's face. though her eyes were level
meeting her sisters, "Alecia Graham.
II ever you should be kind to that
man as you might be kind should he
ask you-you know what mean-l
should SO scorn you that never. never
could call you my sister again. Re
member what he was to your husband
and scorn him as any loyal woman
should!'
Aleca hated herself for the mad
throbbing Of her heart. She despised
herself for that tell-tale blood In her
face. She would willingly have
crushed out every thought Of John
Winthrop II 50 she might trample un-
der foot the memory of his eyes and
voice and passionate words, and that
tel, commanding figure standing be-
side her as she wounded him with
her scorn!
"You are like the beautiful Queen Of
the East, Bee" she said. laughing.
for you talk in riddles! One minute
you tell me that Miss Gray loves Mr..
winthrop. and the next you warn me
against some absurd catastrophe Of
the same sort! My dear little sister is
over.sensitise In her loyalty. I fear"
She was arguing down her heart.
Did she not know It? Did Beatrice
not also know II? She released Ale
cia's arms, and turned away with q
sigh.
II never understood you, Alecia,"
she said, quietly. pausing at the door;
Il understand you less now than
ever!!'.'
Then she passed down the stairs
and out upon the promenade. toward
the beach. wishing to fight this fear
by herself. as she fought the battle
Of her own heart.
For Beatrice Field knew that she
had given her heart to Gregory Ben
sonhurst beyond recall, although he
should not know 1t, for since the first
night Of their return to the island he
had Stunned her rather than sought
her. as always before he had done.
Beatrice Field did not preach pride to
her sister and fail In practice Of It
herself.
Cora and Harry Dillingham; and
Gregory Bensonhurst were In the pa
vilion; she saw them and turned
about to reach the beach by some
other way. She could not endure to
join them Mt that moment. To cross
the sandhills was more difficult. but
she would have crossed the Great
Desert had her pride prompted her SO
to do. and the group in the pavilion
watched her crossing the sand, and
fate decreed that one Of this group
should learn Of great injustice done
the girl.
For IL Beatrice Field crossed the
flaming sandhills to avoid Gregory
Bensonhurst she might as well have
continued down the promenade and
come upon him calmly instead Of
turning from her way; for Gregory
Bensonhurst. seeing her. left his com.
panions with a few careless words.
sad followed the girl along the beach
until he came upon her where she sat
upon the sand. the red parasol tilted
over the bright face turned to the gilt
tering ocean. one slim hand restlessly
digging In the shining fragments be-
SIDE her. heaping them in q tiny mass
| and patting them down smoothly and
hard as though this were her sole aim
in life.
She did not hear his approach, and
he paused for n moment looking down
upon her. almost fearful now at the
decisive moment, remembering her
strong love and hate.
She started and glanced up as he
! uttered her name.
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