The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-07-24


join them ut that moment. To cross
the sandhills was more difficult, but
she would have crossed the Great
Desert had her pride prompted her SO
to do, and the group in the pavilion
watched. her crossing TIE sand, and
fate decreed that ole OF this group
should learn OF great injustice done
the girl.
For if Beatrice Field crossed the
flaming sandhills to avoid Gregory
BensonhurSt she might as We'll have
continued down the promenade and
come upon him calmly instead OF
turning from her way; for Gregory
BenSonhurSt, sceirc her, left his COM
panions with 4 few careless words.
and followed the girl along the beach
until he came upon her where she sat
upon the sand, the red paras0l tilted
over the bright face turned to the gilt
tering ocean. one slim hand restlessly
digging in the shining fragments be-
side her. heaping them in tiny mass
and patting them down smoothly and
hard as though this were her sole aim
in life.
She did not hear his approach, and
he paused for q moment looking down
upon her, almost fearful now at the
decisive moment, remembering he's
strong love and hate.
She started and glanced up as he
uttered her name.
"My dearest" he said. reaching out
his hands, his eyes pleading with her,
his voice stirring her heart.
For 4 moment q smile stirred upon
her lips and then died, and dyins.
swept away all the glow and flush o.
color in her face. A fine scorn re-
placed it, touching her eyes and voice.
II think that Mr.. Bensonhurst for
gets himself" she said. Not 4 move
ment of a muscle betrayed the throb-
bing of her heart. That slim, white,
womanly hand lying lightly upon the
little mound OF sand, perfectly steady
and untroubled.
But he would not so. easily be dis
comfted and stood resolutely beside
her.
Beatrice" he said. Dearest! Lis
ten to me before you condemn me.
You know that love you. / wished
to fell you that first evening, but you
would not listen-and that night l
heard, and heard so directly that l
could scarcely fail to believe, that you
We're indeed coming home-I had SO
patiently waited for your coming
but we're no longer to be won by me.
l Leard that had even no longer a
right to love you, or tell you OF
my love, or even attempt to win You.
did not fully realize how much l
loved you until that moment when 1
learned that 1 had lost you-that you
had come with your promise given
another. But was proud, too.
would not wear my heart upon my
sleeve. Beatrice, dearest, 1 have
learned this moment from your sister
that l listened to lie. 1 have come
to you at once for your forgiveness
ard to tell You Of my love-"
He was an intensely proud man,
this lover OF hers, and ne stood erect
beside Eer, only his eyes and voice
pleading with her as he waited her
reply. But he did not know the sirl
to WON he lad yielded his heart If he
dreamed that she was lightly to be
won.
Perfectly self-possessed and very
beautiful, she sat upon the sand, the
color of her parasol flushing her proud
face. the glitter of the sands and the
restless sea-lights in her eyes. She
even smiled rather pityingly, looking
up to him.
Perhaps you formed your estimate
of women from the one who told you
this lie, Mr.. Bansonhurst," she said,
unmoved. IF 1 loved any one, no
whisper in the world could turn me,
no matter how subtly uttered, with
out convincing proof. Had you spoken
of it to me, would not have told you
truly? If one takes up with serpents,
one must sometimes be stung. There
are antidotes for all poisons, IL taken
in time; if left too long there is no
hope
A deep flush was dawning in his
face, that was growing steadily more
stern under her careless eyes.
rs this my answer he questioned,
bitterly. Miss Beatrice is witty to-
day"
Am Il" she said coldly, her eyes
turned from him to the broad reach Of
cleaning water. There is some
times strongest earnest under the