The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-10-14
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|
element preying on an enfeebled
| frame"
"Oh, where is my guardian? I wish
to go home. I anu afraid Of this horr!-
BILE New York. 1t is full Of deceit and
shame and misery"
The detective saw she was on the
verge of Mysteries and waited respect
fully for her self-possession to return.
| II am sure" he observed at last,
"that your guardian will be one of the
first to urge your return if he can be
convinced that you are in any danger.
If you will tell me just what has
passed between you and this man
"Oh, very little; so very little that l
am overwhelmed at the indiscretion
which led me to leave the school just
to see a person whose personal appear
ance and pretended admiration had at
tracted ME. do not understand now
how I could have allowed myself to
listen to him. I am Mortified at myself
and hate him so that"
THAT you are only anxious to see
him punished: Is not that so, Miss
Rogers"
Anxious? would give hundreds Of
dollars"
Give me something less; give me
your confidence. I will respect 1t and
only use such facts as will lead to his
detection"
"Ah, that is what you want from me.
Well, am only too happy, only
She paused, clasping her hands in
sudden confusion and dismay.
"What q scandalw she exclaimed.
"How can 1 bear the shame of it and
all the talk? And the police courts
YOU spoke Of them-oh, do not tell me
| shall have to go there. should die
Of confusion and horror. My guard
| ian"
do not think of that. If you can
be saved from publicity, you shall. At
present we want nothing more than
short account of what has occurred
between you and this mysterious per-
SOD in the short interval Of time dur
ing which you were absent from the
school. Did you succeed in meeting
him? Was he at the place appointed!
For take it for granted he had en-
treated the honor of an interview"
Eyes, yes, but am glad he failed to
come. I went to Jersey, City; I, who
had never been in the streets before
without a companion. He had written
me a note-but you shall see it. I can
not keep this matter any longer to my
self and you look so good if you are
detective, that I cannot help but trust
YOU. Besides, perhaps, when you see
what tempted me you will not think
so harshly of my folly. did not mean
any great wrong, but was carried away
by what seemed like the romantic ad-
ventures of some of my favorite hero
ines. But then, in books, the lovers
are always gentlemen, while mine-Dut
here Is the letter. Look for yourself,
sir. 1t came by mail the day before
yesterday. An! how long it seems
now"
She fumbled in her pocket and
brought out n note The detectives
eyes glowed; he was attaining the OBJ
iect of his wishes with less difficulty
tha 4 he had anticipated.
Call that had passed between this
person and me before I received this
letter was an interchanged glance or
90. had passed him in the street sew
eral times, and each time he had
looked ut me in what thought was
an unmistakable way. so l was not
surprised at these words, monstrous
| as they seem to me now"
The detective meanwhile had read
the effusion which had occasiored so
much mischief. 1t ran thus:
Dear and Beautiful Miss Rogers
May an unfortunate, who is not per-
mitted to enter within the charmed
walls which at present holds you pris-
oner, utter one word against the tyr
amy Of the fate which restricts him?
"I have seen you and I cannot be
still. I have learned your name and it
| has become the lode star Of my life.
Will you accept an homage that must
he secret. and believe in the devotion
of one who. if he may not approach
you, here swears that he will approach
no other woman while you remain un-
married.
"But must I live in darkness and
never break the silence which has
hitherto been maintained between US?
| Is there no hope for me, whose only
thought is to make you the protecting
angel Of my life? May 1 not hope for
one word, one look uninfluenced by the
presence of others? If fate can be so
kind and your heart so responsive to a
noble passion then remember that for
three days shall spend the hour be-
tween 12 and in the depot at Jersey
City. If you choose to pass through
the place you may be certain that one
pair of eyes will follow you with de-
votion little short of that which saint
casts upon his guardian angel.
Il bavc no fear that you will hesitate
as to who has penned these lines.
Have not our eyes told the mutual tale
Of love"
Isn't It dreadful?" cried the now
thoroughly disillusioned heiress. But
when received it, it seemed to me so
beautiful and romantic that l was in
ecstaces. I never for a minute doubt
ed the writer, and as he had always
looked so gentlemanly, had not one
fear of his proving himself other than
the hero I have worshiped in my
dreams. I decided to make the Jour-