The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-16
II 4 MATTER = II
J. of WILLIONS. -
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By Anna Katharine Green, Gor''ten
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CHAPTER Nv.
Continued,

"Do not speak of him. OF Of my mas
tiers. l shudder at the thought Of their
anger and cruel disappointment. l
have never been able to face them,
nor never can till l become able to re-
imburse them for all their useless eG-
pense. AS for making another attempt
that is impossible. I had rather die!
AT the mere thought OF confronting
again that cruel sea Of faces, the blood
stops flowing in my veins and the
world turns black before me. was
not made for prima donna, or rather,
something is lacking in me necessary
for success upon the stage. Yet that
success is all have lived for, and
without it, what am / :"
What are you?" The voice of the
artist trembled. his eyes spoke the ad-
miration he could not suppress. "A
young, beautiful and pure girl. Is that
not enough? Most persons would think
1t wealth"
ut will not get me bread" she muir
INJURED. 1T will not pay my debts,
those horrible debts, that weigh upon
me like lead. 1t was this thought that
made me return to these walls SO bit
ter. 1t was this thought which. day by
day, forced me into deeper despair,
till at last I only longed for death,
as release from my perplexity and
pain. 1t was a wicked longing. but it
was the only one knew. so last night
sent Annetta for a deadly poison (she
had often told me she could get me
one) and believing that the powder
which she brought me was what she
said it was, I took it, and lay down on
my own little bed to die. The result
is what you know. She deceived me,
and gave me a preparation which
merely Stimulates death. Was it wise
in her? Time alone can tell"
"Signorinar' 1t seemed the natural
word for him to use, though every
feature of her face and every grace Of
her person proclaimed her to be an
American girl, pure and simple. Il
cannot doubt but that the Portuguese
did we'll. I cannot doubt that the
future holds for you all that even your
ardent spirit can desire. But" He
paused, affected by her look. From a
sad and despairing creature she had
flashed, as it were, into one all cheer
fulness and hope. The change was
marvellous. He hardly knew the BEAM
ing face, the glowing eye. Had his
heart betrayed itself in his words? Did
she see and respond to the passion
which every moment of this sweet but
dangerous intercourse was deepening
within him? He dared not search her
eyes to see He was content to feel her
Joy and to warm himself at the fire OF
her growing hope.
"You do not go on" she breathed.
"You think we have talked long enough
for tonight. Well, you are right. You
have heard enough of misery and I
have gained enough of strength to
make parting between us easy, just
now. So. goodbye, sir, till"
She looked up and smiled. All, how
sweet that smile was; how innocent
and confding. He drew back from
before it slowly, but firmly; he had
fears Of his own judgment, of his
own strength; he would say goodnight
and come again when reason should be
more under his own control, and he
could weigh the treasure he coveted
before he took it for his own.
But two PAGES from the door, a fresh
thought struck him. The mystery OF
her awakening had been revealed, but
not that which surrounded the picture
he had been paid to draw. Till he un-
derstood the purpose for which a copy
of her face and form had been re-
quested from his pencil, he could not
so. The story she had told Of her
lonely struggle and disastrous failure
only made his desire greater. Since
there was nothing in her his
tory to account for this mys-
terious circumstance, how could
1t be accounted for? Were there facts
in her life which she had omitted to re-
late? He must learn or pass sleep.
less night. Coming back, he confronted
her again.