The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-04-24

~ ssAsS
y q zsse 49, - -
n ~ 4 JOHN. WINTHR0P'S DEFEAT.
Ms ~, q Noue
BY
JEAN KATE LUDlUM,
JEAN KATE LUDlUM
q sNopel.
,coprR1eHr. RosEnr BoSSEE's Sons. 1851

die pretty free from harm
Don't be angry with me Lane. said
Gregory Bensonhurst, quietly. IL
would only save them unpleasant
ness"
well, you need not bite my head cf
defending them, anyway. retorted
Leland, somewhat Modified. He was
too good-natured to long remain an
gry with any one. 1t isn't my way TO
walk meekly into the lions mouth If
know it. Bensonhurst!'
Leland is one &C the best-hearted
of fellows" said Dillingham;, as he and
Gregory Bensonhurst walked up to the
hotel piazza. He meant no harm. II
this Graham is the man you say, 1t
isn't probable that this report is true,
although the financial world is shaky
lust at present. His wife is remark
ably handsome woman.
But l cannot help thinking, said
Bensonhurst uneasily, that Graham
did look pretty we'll done up when he:
came out tonight. l am afraid to be-
lieve either way. What blow his
failure would be to his wife; but she
has a fortune in her own right Gra.
ham would rever lose that foT her. ,
Undoubtedly that is solid, and could
carry them over even deeper sloughs,
than could come to him with the worst
Of failures"
Considerably cheered by this con-
clusion, the two passed out upon the.
ocean side Of the piazza.
Just then, pretty Miss Bess Gather;
wood was Querying as she leaned be-;
side one Of the posts Of the pier, her,
black eyes wicked with the nerryi
heart beneath:
You look so wrathtul, NJ. Leland.
What was the matter in the city, that
you came out with such an air.
She was one of the sailing-party,
and was tarrying to watch the sunset
| effects upon the water, and the fash.
| ing out of the lighthouse lamps ere
she went in to dress for dinner Pretty
| Miss Catherwood was inclined to be
late and never in hurry; but what
could one urge against. this element of
character, when she declared that life
was altogether too short, anyway.
And you are so cool and charm
ing, that I am already rested" said
Leland, smiling.
She was such charming woman.
and so pretty in her dainty buff-and-
blue boating dress, with the blue an
chor upon her breast and her tip
tilted cap atop Of the curly black hair,
her yellow ties with their blue rib
bons, one white hand twirling the buff
parasol with its great blue bow Of rib
bon, round and round just over one
spot in the boards o. the pier.
'On, dear. Always pretty words!
Why don't you say right out you arc
as mad as mad can be, Mr.. Leland?
I'll let you
He laughed, taking tie restless par
asol from her hand as tenderly IS
though it were worth its weight in
gold. He was in love with wicked
little Bess Catherwood, as that young
lady knew quite we'll. She used this
knowledge to his dire disadvantage.
+, too, very often.
Because" he made reply, Il am not
mad any longer. l am happy. Mi:s
Catherwood."
Well" she eyed him critically: not
uinching from his eloquent eyes. Il
believe you do look better-natured,
Mr.. Leland. You came out with Mr..
Graham, didn't you? What a hand
some man he is, 1 don't wonder that
his wife :.dores him. And the love-
ly, lovely things he lavishes on her
the dresses and diamonds-sucb
dresses and such hats? I don't see
why he didn't fall in love with me in
stead of Alicia Field. I'd have been
so dreadfully glad to marry him-fc-
his money"
Leland frowned. If he were happy,
as he had just protested, his LOOKS
belied it. He possessed considerable
of this worlds good things, but it
would not be possible for him to Law
ish such dresses and such hats
upon his Wife, when he should marry,
as Harold Graham showered upon
Alicia. Tormentins Miss Cathewood
was forever declaring she would nev-
er, never, never marry without unlim-
| tied wealth.
But suppose that you should hap
pen to marry man who lost his
money every cent-afterward. What,
then, Miss Catherwood?'
She puckered up her brows and