The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-04-02
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JOHN WINTHR0P'S DEFEAT.
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JEAN KATE LUDEUM.
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JEAN KATE LUDLUM.

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summer instead Of going to Europe.
II you wish, and it isn't half SO bad as
going to Bees Sandwich Islands or
Siberia! Now that the worst trouble
Is over. Harold needs rest and change.
The poor. dear fellow Is terribly
worm
YES" said Beatrice. tearfully. pat
ting her sisters hand. poor dear! /
Just hate John Winthrop afresh every
timer
your hatred doesn't move him,
Bee" said Marion, in her cool way:
for he hasn't asked for your love. I
would not allow him to trouble my
conscience to such an extent. 1t is bad
enough for Alecia and Harold to so
away without giving grief or thought
to q stranger!'
He'd call them crocidile's tears.
anyway. Bee, II he knew It" added
Cora.
Nevertheless" said Alecia, quietly.
rumpling up the brown curls upon
Beatrice's head as the girl sat upon
the rug at her feet-"in spite Of all
this. Bee. dear. I am certain that Mr..
Winthrop simply carries out his stand
ard Of honor toward his client He Is
hard in doing 50. but he is an honor
able man"
And setting aside honorable men
and crocodile tears and John Win
throp." added Frances. softly-Frances
was sitting idly at q window looking
down upon the avenue-"it still re-
mains q self-evident fact that dear
little Alicia and her husband are 60
Ing to leave US next week. There Is
NO use In arguing with them, know.
mamma, and Marion and Cora and
Bee-because when once the minds of
those Grahams are made up 20 do a
thing. that thing they will do II 1t is
In human power. You couldn't turn
them any more than you could turn
the crocodile's tears to pearlsT'
But We can never get you ready to
80 In one week, 'Lecia" cried Bea-
trice. "You can't 60 so soon. shall
tell Harold that 1t is impossible"
"And the only benefit that you win
derive from that information will be
to learn that Harold takes Alecia's
word against the world. Mistress Bee~
said Cora.
'T descry
That Cora and
At loggerheads viii live and die!"
There's no place like home"
said Beatrice. wickedly. Maybe I
know just as much as you do about
Alicia and Harold, Cora Fieldw
Maybe you do" retorted Cora, with
a significant shrug Of her shoulders.
But as Harold is coming, maybe 1t
would be as well for your to keep that
and your doggerel-to yourself. Bee"
"And this is no Tay to discuss Ale
cia's going" said Mrs Field, gravely.
endeavoring to be heard above this Ba-
bel Of tongues. you girls are as bad
as little children with your disagree
ments; II is enough to drive one dis
tracted to listen to you. One cannot
talk connectedly or think with any
common sense, among you. Come to
my assistance. Harold, and bring order
out Of this chaos" she added. as
Graham paused in the doorway, his
eyes seeking his wife. as they always
sought her during this weary time.
what shall do to govern these chat
terboxes when You and Alicia are
gone-if you must CO."
"You are kind" he said, still with
that strange. feverlsh restlessness of
voice and manner. crossing to his wife.
"Yes. we must 60. Mrs. Field-and at
once. I cannot endure this life much
longer"
There was q fierceness in his voice
that startled Alecia. although she was
outwardly calm, looking up to him
standing at her side.
I'VE Will SO. then. at once. dear" she
said.
But farewell was a harder word to
utter than they thought during those
hurried days Of preparation.
STILL" said Alicia. to her husband.
when their lot seemed cast In specially
hard places. think Of how many
friends we have proved true. Harold.
dearest"
And she repeated this assurance to
herself over and over. fighting to be
brave. fighting to hide her own sad.
ness. No one knew how she fought for
that. unbetrayed in her comforting
words and strong faith. So the swift
days Of the week went by, and the day
Of departure was come. and Harold
Graham and his wife were booked as
passengers upon Pacific Mail steam
ship bound for Asplnwall on their way
to California.
ut Is scarcely yet time for autumn
storms" said Alicia, arguing down the
fears Of their friends. land the sen
change viii be excellent for Harold.
have no fear Of the water. you know.
One grows to love 1t as one loves the
hills rs one gains confidence"
But I could never. never gain conf
dence." protested Miss Bess Gather
wood. emphatically. She was home
from Fire Island and on deck. Of
course. to bid godspeed to her friends.
Besides" added Alecia. smiling. her
eyes upon her husbands haggard face
and feverish eyes-aiert always for
his comforting-"we will SO enter by
way Of the Golden Gate into the city;
that augurs we'll for US. you see One
comes to watch for any chance good