The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-03-19

eray brows were meeting heavily A.
he bade the boy admit her.
"She has kept her engagement with
promptness." he said. glancing from
the clock above his desk to the man
standing at the window. You must
acknowledge that. Winthrop. in spite
Of your scorn Of women"
II do not scorn them" answered the
other calmly. You misjudge me. Mr..
Earle. Only-they are not fitted for
business or this sort of thing. ] warn
you beforehand to expect tears and
entreaties. II you yield. 1t will be
strongly against my advice. This
woman. his wife. has fortune in her
own right. and II she be true woman
she will offer to give 1t toward her
husbands liabilities. II she does not
well. the matter has been gone suf.
iciently over with their lawyer. 1t
seems to me-"
perhaps her fortune went with her
husbands" suggested Palmer Earle.
with no idea Of arguing for the wom-
an. but as the thought suggested It.
self to his mind.
The other shrugged his shoulders.
1T isn't probable" he said. IF 1t
were so. Graham's counsel would have
stated the fact"
Further conversation upon this
point was interrupted by the entrance
Of the woman In question. She was
dressed very plainly in a close-httins
dc * blue suit with O hint Of gold
braid about it, and a bonnet Of blue
with yellow rosebuds almost hid In
lace, one perfectly gloved hand held
for n moment in the strong hand OF
Palmer Earle. For. stern business man
though he was. he was impelled to ad-
miration by this woman.
II sincerely regret that you con-
sIdered 1t necessary to call upon me
this morning In regard to this mat
ter. although at any other time I am
pleased to meet Mrs. Graham" he
said in his large. grave way. "Mrs.
Graham, my counsel. Mr.. Winthrop. I
believe. Is a stranger to you. Allow
me to make you acquainted. Mr..
Clavering. your husbands lawyer, ar
ranged for you to meet US here this
morning. as you know. Believe me,
in the first place. that ] sScerely re-
gret this misfortune and would have
had Mr.. Winthrop close with Mr..
Claverins's offers II I might: but 1t Is
mpossIble-utterly impracticablew
Entirely sou supplemented John
Winthrop emphatically. His straight
brows, frowning, cast q shadow Of
hardness into the dark-gray eyes look.
ing so levelly into the beautiful violet
eyes Of the woman before them. Her
heart almost failed her Us she looked
into his quiet stern face. He was
not handsome man. but he was tall
and broad-shouldered and command
Ing; his cleanly. shapely hands be-
trayed perfect self-control. and a pow.
erful hidden strength Of will and mus
Gle; those steady gray eyes and the
quiet mouth under the brown mus
tache made him q striking looking
man-one upon whom to rely implicit
ly. but one who would never yield one
hairs breadth from his standard of
right or justice. His heart must al-
ways yield to his will should there
come any conflict between them.
Il know that Mr.. Clavering has done
what he could to settle this matter"
said Alecia. her soft voice sounding
sweetIy through the room. stirring the
hearts Of her listeners. But he Is q
man. Sometimes a woSlan's instinct
overbalances even a lawyers keen in
sight" Her swift, brilliant smile light
ed and faded from her face like the
TRANSPORTATION Of some passing dream
Of beauty. MY husband has given
up everything rs you know. gentlemen.
He is willing and anxious to meet all
demands against him; that he cannot
do SO Is his misfortune, not his fault.
I need not tell you 1t Is against his
wishes that am here. You. also. can.
not fail to know that. He Is too proud
to plead for even simple justice where
1t is not freely given. But am his
wife. and II In any way I can tighten
his burden shall be infinitely grateful.
knowing that he has done every
thing in his power. that he Is willing
aud anxious to do what he can to re-
trieve his fallen fortunes, being hon.
orable men and men Of justice. can
you still refuse to make some conces-
sion-to compromise with him for such
or such an amount on the dollar? Pec-
haps lido not understand business terms
or business itself we'll enough to meet
Mr.. Winthrop upon equal grounds Of
argument. but, being woman, have
a heart and know that my husbands
is very bitter and very heavy. !. as
his wife. therefore. ask you to be just.
l appeal to you heads, not to your
hearts. and ask you IL you can frankly
tell me that you do all that any man
could do under corresponding circum.
s,ances:"
(To be continuedl
Young at o Hundred.