The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-11-19
WALTER BLOOMFIELD


ssxaf Dox1xa's soHs.
neither assist nor retard your suit !
have seen something Of the disaster
usually consequent on the interefer.
ence Of third party in such matters
As society is now organised, marriage
offers no scope for broker; the busi.
ness, to be successful, must be ar
ranged by the principals themselves"
"This is as much as ! could reason
ably hope for" said. II was AFRAID
you might resent my presumption"
"Dismiss that fear, my boy" said
uncle Sam, consulting his watch. "and
come with me to breakfast. I am
~ hungry as prairie. wolf. and would
prefer q porterhouse steak"
I followed my uncle down stairs
into q room which then entered for
the first time, and was disappointed
to observe that breakfast was laid for
two. On inquiring the cause Of this l
learned that aunt Gertrude and Miss
Marsh, in preparation for what they
expected would prove fatiguing day.
had ordered breakfast to be taken to
them In their private rooms. On the
table lay a letter addressed to me In
nv fathers hand. My father had
promised to write to me Immediately
be received q telegram announcing my
arrival In New York, and had Ar
ranged that his letter was to be for.
warded to my uncle's house by special
messenger the moment It was received
at the Gilsey House. but I felt sure at
the time that my father would write to
me within day Of my departure from
home, 80 its presence on my uncle's
breakfast table occasioned me no sur
prise. On the contrary had been
thinking that I might possibly hear
from Holdenhurst this morning.
"Well, what news from SuholkT'
asked uncle Sam as he sat down. FOR
his quick eye had perceived the Eng
lish stamp and the familiar writing on
the letter which lay on the table.
II shall be pleased TO tell you the mo-
ment I know" I replied. tearing open
the envelope. And then the following
lines. and all that they implied. were
revealed to me.
Holdenhnrst Hall,
Bury St Edmund's, Sd September. IS
My Dear Son-when You arranged
with me the particulars Of your tour
I voluntarily stated that had no ob.
lection to your calling upon your uncle
when you were In New York should
you feel disposed to do so.
You have been gone from home but
one day, and in that short time circum'
stances have arisen which induce me
to write to you at once. urging you
very earnestly not to do so, or to In
any way concern yourself with my
brother or his doings.
About four hours after You left here
was startled by your grandfather
calling upon me. As you know. ] had
not seen Mr.. wolseyr for four years,
and during that time he has been round
the world. ] was greatly surprised by
this visit, and much impressed BY your
grandfather's venerable aspect; he mp.
pears quite an old man now, and his
hair and beard are almost white. His
story Ii strange and painful. After
being jdeluded by cunningly devised
false clues for four years he has at last
found his daughter. She IL at present
staying with her little child at Bourne
mouth, but never remains at one place
for more than q month or so. and lives
chiefly on the Continent. understand
also that she goes to America once a
year. The man who induced her tc
leave her situation in London is nc
other than your uncle, Samuel Tru'
man.
Yow.grapdfather Is staying with me
and is more contented than he was
now that the mystery is made plain to
him. Such also IL my own case. Any
shadow Of doubt which may have lin
gered in my mind as to the Venetian
treasure is now dispelled. A man who
win resort to ,villainy to accomplish
one purpose viii not scruple to employ
it for another.
Do not neglect this injunction. my
dear boy. but write as soon as yot
can. telling me where you have been
and how you have employed your time
When your money falls az low as fifty
pounds let me know of II and ] will
endeavor to send you some more
Your afectionate father.
ROBERT TRUMAN.
"whats the matter now? asked
uncle Sam. "Have you any bad news
You look H."
"Yes. ! have rather bad news"
answered confusedly. "but cannot
tell you about It"
"why not? You promised you woult
show me your fathers letter"
>"Yes, that's true. Shall J. do so?"
"Of course. Stand BY your word
whatever happens"
I handed my uncle the letter.
CHAPTER XXI.
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