The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-04-10

faced his wife. He placed some mar
velous restraint upon himself-for he
was passionate ma2-and when he
disengaged the seaweed from her fin
gers, letting it fall unheeded upon the
sands, his touch was very gentle. Both
her hands he held in his, and drawing
her to him so, he laid them upon his
breast, his eyes upon hers.
"Alccia."
Harold"
MY darling, you believe that I love
you"
Perfectly"
"You told me back there to try you.
I shall try you infinitely"
Terror was growing upon her. Her
startled eyes would not retain the
brave spirit she sought to hold. Her
lips would tremble. do as she would.
as she answered. softly:
"Yes, Harold"
"Aleciaw he cried, letting her hands
fall and turning despairingly from her
| toward the one or two sails down on
the horizon. Alicia! You cannot
dream what It is. How can I tell
you:"
He was frightening her more than
he realized. But she crowded down
her fear and responded:
Harold, my dearest, you may sate-
ly trust in me. What lave you to
tell"
He looked down upon her as she
cluuc to linn, and smiled with bit
terness deeper than words. She d!d
cot know what it was she said. Some
men might affirm that the blow fallen
upon him was not SO Dad after all
with this exquisite face and steady
eyes and musical voice his own. Some
men! 10 him it was infinitely worse
because the blow must also fall upon
her. Nevertheless it was sweet to
have her clinging to him and assuring
him that he could trust her-Tery
sweet.
"Alecia," he said; his voice was per-
fectly steady now, for his manhood de-
manded that he should be brave and
strong and true to her, You have been
the sweetest Of women always. You
are brave, too; and you love me. SO
fur, in our married life, l have given
YOU everything you could desire that
money could buy. Now--I cannot. 1
have not one penny in all the world
that is mine.
She sighed. The tense lines Of her
face relaxed; her hands upon his am
were quite steady. She had reared
something so different, that this was
relief.
us that all, Harold"
He fell back from her, letting her
hands fall from his arm. Amazement
was upon every feature OF his race.
Then he recovered himself, believing
that she did not understand.
"All. Alicia? Is it not quite enough?
Do you comprehend that say that we
have not one penny in the world TO
live upon-or die upon; not one penny!
Is that not enough? Beggars-cast
upon the world with nothing but cred
itors clamoring about me-and you!
Is this all?"
But my money, Harold? How calm
she was! Surely she did not realize
what il meant to be penniless. can
we not manage upon that until bet
ter times are for US? You will re-
trieve yourself; you could not stay
crushed. Your brave heart would
never admit that. dearest"
He groaned again turning his race
from her eyes.
Your money, Alicia? Your money
was in with mine, and has gone, too.
l believed it perfectly safe. this last
investment, and put every penny Into
it-every one! The house closed to-
day, though no one outside is aware
Of it; and rs shall give up every
thing, I cannot meet the demand. l
shall be weighed to the earth with lia-
bilities. l shall drag you down as
well. But, Of it all, the bittercst Is
that your money is gone through me.
The house is yours, Alecia. 1t was
bought and male over to you when
there was no Lint of failure. And
your jewels are yours. Were you not
accustomed to the luxuries Of our
home you might call this a fortune;
nevertheless it is not half equal to the
fortune lost for YOU"
She smiled very softly. taking his
hand in both Of hers and leaning her
cheek against it.
Il love beautiful things" she said.
What woman does not? But, after
all, can be happy without them, Har-