The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-09-24
! ITO HERR"
; By Mary Tracy Earle.
:;sa:;s;


to each.
I'm waiting for a couple Of old
cronies Of mine," he said, again and
again. I'VE have an appointment to
meet every year at this date. ard we've
kept il now for ten years"
At last one Of the cronies came.
Hello. Boydr' he called.
Am ! lateT' Boyd asked. clancing
around him like a bird. Where's Lis.
com:"
Hasn't shown up yet" Elbridge
answered. Well wait here for him.
How's the world with YOU. old map:"
Perfect. Business increasing beau.
tifully. This Is a fine year.
Have you seen I.iscom lately"
"Yes, a week or two ago; he came
into my ofiice-wby, let me See
Boyd paused and computed. That's
queer; it seems only few days. but II
must have been in March,"
Boyd looked at his watch again.
what can be keeping him:" he Won.
dereu nervously.
What's the use Of asking when
we've lost sight Of his doings so COM
pletely? Was he looking well In
March,"
"Oh, yes, looking fine. At least.
don't remember anything about his
looks. He's been cadaverous these ten
yearS"
Time passed again in perfunctory
talk. Then Elbridge rose. I'm afraid
Liscom's ill., he said. If he were well
be would either have come or gotten
word to US by this time. ! think Ill
call cab and ride up to his address.
You might go round to your brothers
and come back after an hour. III
leave a message here in case he comes
while we're gone"
Ill send word to the children and so
with YOU" Boyd said.
The night air met them sharply on
the street. They shivered as they
walked the short block to the cab rank.
and their minds were heavy with m
indefinite sense Of estrangement from
their old friend.
1T would have been easier to keep
trace Of him II he hadn't lived In such
an out-of-the-way place." Elbridge
said.
"He likes out-of-the-way places"
Boyd answered. Hes queer. any
way. Who else would keep this anni-
versary Of the night he didn't get mar
ried? And who else would have
stopped the ceremony to refuse to agree
to the exact words Of the promise:
And yet he drinks her health every
year just the same"
Its poetical." Elbridge murmured.
Fudge" said Boyd. Its love-"
"Love? when he refused to promise
to love her until death do us party "
Elbridge protested. What do you sup
pose possessed him."
Nothing but hyrer-conscientious
ness" Boyd declared. rs II they had not
talked II all out dozens Of times before.
II can remember just the way il hap
pened. can't you? What hush there
was when that question struck him.
and he didn't give the response; and
then his voice: But can't promise TO
love her all my life. I can promise 10
honor and cherish her. but love Is be.
yond our control: NO one can honestly
promise ii for the future. ! can only
say love her now"
And yet II was she who married, he
who has never changed"
Yes" Elbridge admitted, "and I've
heard she had hard time before her
husban,. died. He was about as un.
trnc to her as a man could be-"
The cab jolted on. passing far. dim
streets. At last the two men left 1t.
Liscom's neighborhood was forlorner
than they remembered il. They were
certain Of the number OF his house. hut
his name was above none of the bells
in the entrance hall. so they rang up
the ,anitor
Must have moved away before
came" the janitor declared eve
becL here six months md there's been
no such party here"
They turned away. batflei AMI de-
| pressed. That's all We can do to-
night" Elbrilse said conclusi, ely
"To-morrOw I'll begin systematic
search"
AS they stepped into the warm clul
on It's return its very comfort and lhs
invitation of its pleasant rooms seemet
to accuse ;hem. 4 servant handed FL
bridge telegram. He tore il opeI
and gave an exclamation between re
| lief and commiseratiOn.
AT least he's alive" he said. passing
the message to Boyd.
Am too III to join you." 1t said
"COme to me-"
| They went out again. exchanging
surmises He was ILL., but his addres,
did not suggest poverty. Their secOnt
and brought them into an attractiv,
| quarter of New York. A white-cappet
maid answered their summons ant
took them TO Liscom. He was lying IL
bed. THINNER and Trailer than ever
bnt with brighter eyes. He grasped ,
hand Of each.
'I've been down so long Id lost coun
OF the days" he said. in weak. cage
voice. When ! remembered ! wa