The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-04-09

der hand she brushed back the blaeA
hair from his forehead, still holding
her breath as though she could not
believe that he were dead.
"Haroldw she said steadily. scarce
II above q whisper. Harold. dearestw
But he did not answer-she knew
now that he could not answer-and all
the pent-up sorrow and pain were for
one Instant concentrated In her face,
her self-command gone, q bitter cry
upon her lips as she clasped her
hands convulsively. driving herself
away from him.
Then" she cried. sobbingly. though
there were no tears in the lifted eyes;
"bear witness for me that 1t Is John
Winthrop. in his pride and arrogance
has brought this sorrow upon me-"
Then, with a swift. bitter gesture
of the hands, as though she would
sweep away this weakness, and begin
her lonely life with the old proud 81.
lence, she turned away steadily. her
face calm and cold. and passed out at
the door, the folds of her gown trail.
ing about her. and the flowers at her
belt crushed and falling like her
hopes.
Perfectly self-contained. perfectly
calm, steady Of voice and manner as
she rejoined her waiting friends IN
the rooms below-no tears upon her
lashes, no grief upon her face.
"She does not care" whispered some
among her friends. eyeing her askance.
Perhaps it is true that her husband
did not make her SO happy as he
should"
But the physicians, wiser in their
science than her friends In their love.
said that this calm was worse than a
storm Of tears. and unless she were
reused, she. too. would die.
Some days previously the physicians
warned her friends to notify her rela.
tives in the East Of the approaching
sorrow that would fall upon her. and
to urge them, II possible. to come at
once to her. Following this advice, q
message was sent. startling them In
deed, for Alicia had not mentioned
her husbands illness-with her usual
thoughtfulness Of them-lest 1t cause
them unhappiness to learn that other
grief had come.
But Alecia, moving quietly among
her friends, knew nothing Of this
message. and her heart was heavy
with longing for some dear home
face and voice and touch. For how
could she know that q westward.
speeding train was bringing to hel
two from home?
Her mother and Beatrice! All home
faces were very dear. but these two
from among them holding warmest
place In her heart.
And when preparations were com.
pleted for conveying the body home,
and the widow In her heavy Grape
still more q woman Of marble by con-
trast-showed no sign Of softness OF
grief. then into the midst of the friends
gathered for farewell came these two
dear faces; and Alecia. with sudden
revulsion Of feeling was sobbing In
her mothers arms; and Beatrice
mourning above her sister. would not
be comforted in the tenderness and
warmth Of her young heart.
"Poor little 'Lecia! Poor little lie.
cso i,s obo konf cnhhfuU
But the mother never said q word.
Her heart went out to the sad heart
Of her daughter-both widows-and
what could words utter more than the
loving arms, and tender, silent chr.
esses?
So they took her home-a sad home.
coming-and every tenderness that love
could devise was gathered around the
woman who had made sunshine for
so many that in her time of need was
reflected back upon her; and the days
dragged by: and never any hour the
less or more because of her grief; new
er the shadow Of one star or one sun
because her life was darkened; never
one instant's pause In the world about
her because love lay dead In her
heart.
I'VE will cv to Europe" said Mrs.
Field, one day. as they sat in conver.
sation in the breakfast room. when
the service was removed and they
were alone. ''The girls are not salts
fed with their trip last fall. and II will
be excellent for you. Alicia. dear. We
can remain away as long as you de-
sire. and take In the East. You need
utter change. my dear"
Where are We to so. mamma?'
asked Marion.
TO be continued.)
Aeharp Lookout on tho Clerk.
The clerk In chargo Of q Yorkshire