The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-10
The Long Arm
Of Coincidence.
Observation-Disclosures
WONDER why you never
married, Sir Edgar?"

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tCI WONDER why you never
married, Sir EDGAR"
Sir Edgar Winter lifted his
a oars out of the water and
hooked up at the dainty figure Of his
companion, seated luxuriously among
the cushions of the boat.
II did once think of marrying, nearly
twenty-five years ago." he replied
thoughtfully.
Really! Oh, do tell me about it.
Or perhaps you would rather not?"
Sir Edgar smiled gravely.
"Oh, there are no painful memories
connected with the subject, I assure
you. will tell You the story"
THANK you. Women are always
interested in love tale, you know. I
should like to hear it." and Mrs. Els
worth was all attention.
She was a pretty woman of about
thirty-fve, the widow of a rich Ian
cashire manufacturer. Some ten years
ago she had married man nearly
forty years her senior. and had re-
joiced at the opportunity Of exchang-
ing the somewhat dull existence Of an
obscure country parsonage for life of
wealth and luxury. John Ellsworth
had been both proud and fond Of his
young wife, and when. after five years
Of happiness, his death took place he
left her sole mistress Of his large
fortune.
But Madge Ellsworth had no inten-
lion of remaining a widow. Her
wealth, together with rather more than
the usual amount of tact-so indispen-
sable for her purpose-had enabled her
to plant her foot on the first rung Of
the social ladder. and she meant it to
aid her in mounting good deal higher.
Chance had thrown her much lately
into the society Of Sir Edgar Winter. a
handsome, well-presarved bachelor on
the right side Of fifty. He had proved
to be-if not one Of the most devoted
at least an admirer Of hers, and sew
eral Of her friends had remarked his
attentions. And Mrs. Ellsworth was
more than willing to receive those at
tentions. Sir Edgar was popular
man, much sought after, and the bar
onetcy was an old one.
They were both at the present time
guests Of Lady Popham at her charm
ing house on the Thames, and Mrs.
Ellsworth had by little strategy man.
aged to get Sir Edgar to take her on
the river for a moonlight row. Moon
light on the water savored Of sentiment
and romance, and even the coldest had
been known to thaw under such cir
cumstances.
1t was certainly lovely evening.
The moon was climbing higher and
higher in an opal sky. A soft wind
gently rustled the overhanging trees,
and there was perfect stiffness save
for the cawing of few rocks and an
occasional slight ripple on the water.
Sir Edgar drew in the oars, letting
the boat drift slowly down the stream.
Then he lit cigarette.
1T was just before I left Oxford"
be began, that met Kitty Montgom-
cry. She used to sing and dance at
some theatre in London, and was all
the rage at the time I don't remem-
Der much about her row. except that
she had very red hair. thought her
an adorable creature, and fell violently
in love with her. I think kitty was
bit fond of me, too, and / was rather
proud Of my conquest. as most Of the
fellows Of nv time had lost their
hearts, and some Of them would have
given a lot for even q smile from
Kitty Montgomery.
"Well, one Sunday I happened to be
spending the day on a friends house
boat up the river. He had invited q
lot of theatrical people. and Kitty was
among the number. Somehow during
the evening she and I managed to Sc
cure a boat to ourselves. and We stole
away from the rest Of the party. It
was a ripping evening, just the sort
Of night to make US sentimental and
foolish. Moonlight, ripping water,
music in the distance-you know the
kind Of thing"
Mrs. Ellsworth nodded. She under
stood perfectly.
"Well, We We're sitting in the stern,
and had just Begun to talk the usual
sort Of nonsense, and was on the point
of asking her to marry me when a
party Of Cockney trippers came sud-
denly round bend in the river. and
before We had time to realize what
was happening they ran into US, up
setting our boat, and turning US into
the water"
How very dreadful! And so the
poor thing was drowned. was she?"
Drowned! Not bit of it," re-
turned Sir Edgar, shortly. 1--WE both
scrambled ashore hardly a bit the
worse. They managed to rig US out
with some sort of dry clothing on
the launch. and then We had just time
to catch our train to Waterloo"
"Then you Gid not finish your pro-
posal?"
'No. One does not feel inclined to
finish a proposal in railway carriage
among ones friends. We got pretty
well chaffed IS it was