The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-06-11
CHAPTER XIX.
(Ccntinued)

"Hushr' said Beatrice. command
Ngly. lifting her face for an instant
howard Bess. There was a tender
light upon her face and a soft note In
her musical voice. This Is only
swoon. Bess, she will be better pres
ently-she must be better presently!
There! See! She is smiling! Alecia.
dearest. you are better now? 1t was
dreadful, but 1t IL all over. Rub her
hands. Bess, and Wen make her stay
conscious"
But Alecia Graham had always been
q remarkably perfect woman physi-
cally. and even this blow upon her
head. although 1t left her nervous and
weak for several days, proved NO
more serious. The thoughtful atten-
lions Of her friends was very delight
tul to her during these days Of Ian
Guor, though not one Of them guessed
the thoughts that filed every waking
hour and throbbed in her heart and
her soul John Winthrop had saved
her: had saved her when else she
would have died. they said. saying
aothing Of his condition. lest 1t need
iessly startle her-and what was John
wlnthrop's life or death to her? And
yet John Winthrop had not come to
her or sent her any message during all
those days.
She would not ask the cause; she
vas too proud to crave his tenderness; !;
she could speak quite calmly Of the
accident, and Mr.. Wlnthrop's kind
ness, but she did not once ask why he
remained away. never dreaming Of the
cause. How could she know that he
was lying deadly Ill but three doors
from her across the corridor? To be
sure she had asked at first with her
usual thoughtfulness II he were in.
jured. but her friends turned the Ques.
ton aside. and she never guessed that
he was dying giving her back to life.
Even Mrs. Winthrop came to her
when she was not with her son: and
still NO one told her. How could they
know what It meant to this proud
woman whether or not her husbands
enemy came to her? Perhaps Beatrice
guessed. but II she did she gave no
sign. She had not forgiven John Win
throp. even though he lay dying after
saving her sisters life.
"How strangely quiet the house Is"
Alecla said one day. lying back among
the cushions of her lounging chair at
the window. turning her sunny head
and meeting Beatrice's eyes. II have
noticed It 80 often these last few days.
Why IL It. Bee? Do they think that !
am very III. or is there anything truly
wrong more than ] know?"
She leaned forward In sudden new
born excitement. reaching out her
hands to her sister. faint. quiverins
smile upon her lips, her eyes striving
to search out the truth in the others
quiet face.
"You must not excite yourself. Ale
cia," said Beatrice. quite calmly. tax.
ing her sisters hands In hers and pat
ting them affectionately. why should
you, indeed? The. heat Is intense
enough, surely. to make any one quiet.
lf may be because you are In this
room. instead Of out Of doors that you
notice the quiet"
Alecia turned away her head rest.
iessly upon the cushions. and watch
ing the group upon the sands. and the
Hitting and falling Of the breakers. a
soft sigh on her lips.
"Perhaps you are right. dear" she
said. gently. "only If you are deceiv.
ing me In any way shall ind 1t hard
to forgive you. Bee! Life Is too short
for misunderstanding! have
learned that. lying here"
She turned back to her sister again
after q moment, new touch upon her
face.
There Ii always good In life. Bee"
she added. softly, q wistful look In
her eyes, q slow. radiant smile on her
lips, III we take 1t at It's best and
make It better! No one is ever all bad
or all good. and looking for the mote
IN another's eye one may overlook the
deadly beam In ones own"
Beatrice changed color, and then
laughed, rising as Frances entered
and STOPPING to kiss Alecia ere she
left the room.
mo wonder philosophers choose soil
tude." she said. lightly. III 1t brings
such wisdom, Alecia!'
II wish that this had never hap.
pened." said Beatrice. as she descend
ed the staircase on leaving Alecia's
room. "who knows what 1t may lead
to II he should recover? Alicia has
such strange ideas OF honor! But az
ter all there is little fear. when they
say that he can scarcely survive to
morrow. poor fellow"
Softness was slowly creeping into
her heart for this man who had res
cued her sister In spite OF his own con
ditiou, but In her pride she Tough,
back even the thought, and would &C
knowledge It to no one. She recog
nized the kindly thought under Ale
cia's words, and realized that she VA
anjustly harsh toward John Win
throp when her own heart was hard
but even so she would not yield ht
pride.
Gregory Bensonburst was in the pa
viiion as she approached. and sh'
would not turn back now. He saw
her also and rose to meet her. perfect
IL courteous. otherwise merely
friend. His lazy brown eyes light
ened and flashed looking into hers
but that was all.
"You have just come from your sis