The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-07-31

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y .f,J0HN WINTHROPS DEFEAT.
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JEAN KATE LUDLUM
BY
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JEAN KATE LUDLUM
IcopYRIeHT. ROBERT BoSxEK's soxs. 1851

|
| would not turn back now. He saw
her also and rose to meet her, perfect
" courteous, otherwise merely 4
friend. His lazy brown eyes light
encd and flashed looking INFO hers.
but that was all.
You have just come from your SIS
ter. Miss Beatrice? l trust that she
is improving? This deadly heat IS
overpowerinS to any one. especially
one who is weak. They say that Win
throp is sinking fast. poor fellow.
They have two doctors now, you
know, from the city. and they never
leave him, but what can they do.
when he is so low? Some mental
trouble. too, they said. think. Some
weight upon his mind that makes it
, worse for him to pull along. 1t is
very sad. Winthrop's thoroughly
good man.
1t is very sad" said Beatrice gen.
tly. She could not drive him awaN
when he was speaking of death, and
she could not find it in her heart to be
other than truly sorry for the man so
ill.,
And your sister Miss Beatrice?"
"Alecia is recovering more every
day." she answered, steadily. 1t
seems strange, does it not, that they
two should be the ones to have been
most hurt, Mr. Bensonhurst?
Then she bit her lip and paused.
shaking out her parasol to raise it. 1t
were better to forget that day on
board the Banjo-better every way,
for remembering it she must also re.
member the strength Of his arm and
his tender words in her fear. She felt
the deepening color in her face and
FASTENED to raise her parasol.
1T is so provokingm she said impa-
tiently.
He took it from her hands with quiet
authority. and, raising it, held it over
her, walking at her side. They were
upon the sands and alone, save 4 few
straying far up the beach.
Beatrice" he said. and she knew
what lie would say from the gentle
ness Of his voice, although he did not
offer to touch even her hand, .Some
time ago you sent me away with
riddle on your lips. You did not tell
Inc that you did not love me, but you
sent me away. Perhaps you told me
there was no hope, but would not al
low myself to believe that. for loved
you too truly. So waited with won-
derful patience, hoping that you would
recall me, but you did not. Beatrice,
that day when all Of us might have
met death, l knew that / had waited
long enough to learn your heart. I
can be patient no longer. l ask You
again to-day if you can tell me truly,
as you would tell the man who loves
you, if still there is no hope:'
She frowned, her eyes studiously
bent upon the sand. trying TO keep her
lips steady and stern. But she must
answer him; she would not let him
think her weak and foolish and inca
pabls- of sending him away if she
Would. - sIfs:ss 3: ~. sg;;3sassgs,.-
Il am waiting, dearest" said Greg
DRY Bensonhurst, quietly.
And then, as though some powerful
wave had risen and swept away her
anger and her pride and left only love,
she lifted her eyes softly and sweetly
to his, uttering no word, and clasped
her two hands around his arm, her
lips trembling, her face radiant.
Alicia was right" he said, by and
by, as they sat on the sands, watch
ing the ocean and the ships and the
light summer clouds, but very happy
in their indolence. "All things do
come to him who waits, my dearest"
Yes" said Beatrice, slowly and re-
luctantly, as though even in her own
happiness she could not wish happi-.
Ness to come to the man she had so
resolutely hated. And who knows
but it may come even to John Win
throp, Gregory? ! have feared so: l
am wise, too, maybe, if | am not Ale
cia. Perhaps the great mantle Of
charity that we hear so much about.
but seldom see, has been folde9 away
so long, save scant corner that is
dragged heavily upon some shoulder,
that we have almost forgotten to un-
fold it as we do our other good wrap
pings, to discover whether the moths
have gotten in it or no. We sometimes
unfold precious old stuffs, you know.
only to find that they fall to dust and
ashes in our hands. And who knows
but death may be the moth that dis
covers the forgotten mantle, Gregory
death lays bare SO many things"