The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-11-26
WALTER BLOOMFIELD
copyrisNt Is6 by aeBxR4 BoHNxn's soSs
CHAPTER XXI.


Continued.
.Bravo, Ernest; wen resolved. I
didn't think you had 20 much grit IN
you. I would not have advised you
IN this case, but had done 50 ! could
have pointed out no fairer or better
line OF action. So much for. that Put
your letter In your pocket and get on
with your breakfast. What can ! help
Jon tor
II have not much appetite this morn
ins, thank you, uncle. Another cup
Of coffee and I have done"
IF Il 10 because you are In love that
you can't eat ] win excuse you. but
NOT II Il 10 because matters In which
You take an interest don't 60 80
smoothly a. You could wish. II ] had
suffered my appetite to decline every
one or other Of the scores Of matters
IN which interest myself ran on the
line I had marked ont for It should
have been dead Of starvation years
aso. Exert your imagination. and
forgetting all about sequins. dishonest
retainers, village beauties, and what.
ever else occupies your thoughts
bring yourself to believe that man
was born chiefly for the consumption
or food-which ID certainly true Of the
greater number Of Us. Imagination
will work wonders. I have seen PEN
niless beggar confined In an insane
asylum who has believed that he was
q king. and been far happier In that be-
lief than many q specimen OF the real
article surrounded BY intriguers and
,lawning thieves. Now ! have pro-
Iposal to make respecting this steak.
You win observe that It is very small
lpieee-that II does not weigh much
more than g pound. Well, get outside
oe that steak and this piece Of bread
and win give you letter Of intro
iluction to Mrs. Van Rensselaer,. which
win enable you to spend the day at
Tarrytown with Connie for your com.
panion: refuse me. and ! will give such
. letter to your friend. Mr.. Price, who
yesterday asked me for It."
The task imposed was q formidable
one. but then the prize with'which sue
cess was to be rewarded was SO de-
tehtful. and the calamity assigned to
failure so awful. that I addressed my.
self to It with great. courage. But my
gastroaomical covers were not equal
90 the strain to which 1t was proposed
10 subject them. and before my task
was half completed I pushed my plate
from me and gave up the attempt In
despair. Ny uncle. who had been
watching me. generously forgave my
shortcoming. and remarking that I
ran better when spurred. invited me
into his study, where he wrote as fol-
lows on the back Of one Of bis address
cards:
Dear Mrs. Van RensseIaer-They young
gentleman who viii hand you this IL
my nephew. Mr.. Ernest Truman, Of
Hcldenhurst. near Bury st. Edmund's.
England. He arrived In America day
or % ago. and we are his only connec-
lions here. Kindly receive him today,
Introduce him to your friends and tell
him oil he don't know-as far as you
can. Very faithfully yours. ST.
Sept. 10. Is.
There" said uncle Sam. as he hand
ed me the card. "that win do the bust
ness for you. Mrs. Van Rensselaer,
owes me some gratitude for helping
TO settle her late husbands affairs, and
she win be very pleased to entertain
you. Con and your aunt viii be de-
lighted when they learn you are to &C.
company them. ] have no doubt you
WIN find sail up the Hudson to Tar.
rytown very enjoyable. My yacht will
be ready to leave at eleven. ard 1t is
now barely half.past eight. ! have
much to do today. and am going down
town &C once. 20 you must amuse your.
self for the next couple Of hours In any
way you can. Hadn't you better send
your father q telegram informing him
Of your intention to return In the Um-
bria? ! am going TO telegraph to Eng
land myself. and viii despatch your
message with mine"
I hastily scribbled In my pocketbook.
truman, Holdenhurst, Bury st. Ed
mund's, England - Letter received.
Returning In Umbria. Ernest" and
tearing ont the leaf handed It to my
nncle. who having expressed his ap-
proval II II. wished me a pleasant day
and disappeared down the stairs. A
minute afterward heard the street
door close. and looking out Of the win
dow saw my uncle walking rapidly
toward Fifth avenue.
turned from the window with very
different feelings than were mine when
watched my uncle's departure from
Holdenhurst. Then perceived NO
ray OF hope for the accomplishment Of
my desires; now MY path seemed clear
and easy. The girl whom I loved had
gone 30 far as to declare that she pre-
ferred me Of all men. and would never
marry unless with me. while her pow.
erful guardian. who had given abund.
ant evidence Of his prejudice In my
favor. had Just assured me that he
was not opposed to my suit. But the
.estrangement Of my father and uncle,
and above all that disboyed parental
command which / carried In my pock.
ct were as black clouds threatening
to obscure the sunshine Of my happi.
ness. Now that uncle Sam was gone
his defense Of Annie Wolsey seemed
painfully strained and insufficient. and
could not but regard the circum.
stance as another and formidable din.