The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-11-25


would not have ventured if she had.
Indeed her manner had been in slight
degree repelling. Though she had
smiled upon him and even blushed at
his look, which conveyed more of his
feelings than he doubtless intended at
the moment, she had not shown that
shy delight at his homage which he
had observed in her before the advent
of the other Mr.. Degraw. He had,
therefore, this estrangement to think
of, as well as of the danger which pos
sibly threatened her. And there was
another thing. He had sometimes
thought that the mysterious Montelli
and the unknown prosecutor of the in.
nocent girls so often alluded to were
one and the same man. But if this
gentleman whom he had met this even
ing were the latter person, as he fully
believed, then he and Montelli were
two distinct persons, for he had noted
the figure and face of both and realized
that by no art could the one have been
transformed into the other. There
were, therefore, in the case Of the sig
norma, two enemies to fear, and
which of these was to be dreaded the
more it was impossible to say.
But it was not to watch or think
that he fingered in Miss Aspinwalls
grounds on this night. 1t was to be
hear the woman he loved, to breathe
the same air, to sigh beneath the same
stars. 1t was next to having her
promise; next to knowing that she re-
turned his sighs and dreamed his
dreams. He would not have courted
sleep if he could; it was too much like
paradise to stray beneath the trees
and think himself Romeo to this Ju-
liet.
He had paced several times up and
down a certain graveled walk bor-
dered by clustering bushes, when sud-
denly the fancy took him to stray
into another path less heavily shad-
owed. But as he stepped into it he
paused. Was it safe to travel its
moonlighted surface, within sight, as
he perceived it to be, Of fully one-half
of the house? No, it was not safe.
But for that very reason it was tempt
ing to him, and, without sounding very
deeply the intuitions which led him to
this sudden exposure Of his presence
he passed smilingly down its length
ened vista into the semiciTcle Of ever
greens which terminated this walk.
An exclamation Of astonishment fol-
lowed by a sudden recoil was the re-
suit. He was not alone in this place
of expected solitude A man was be-
fore him, whose tall form, drawn up
within a shadow that failed to conceal
his presence gave to the artist such a
shock that he well nigh lost his self
possession.
The other, who had evidently been
driven into this retreat by the sound
Of approaching steps, showed great
embarrassment also. Though he came
forward at the first exclamation of the
intruder and made bow that should
at once have reassured the most sus-
picious, the words he uttered did not
sound quite natural to the artists SEN
sitive ear, nor did his bearing betray
that ease which had hitherto accom-
panied it, even in situations most try
ing to a gentleman.
"M1. Degraw"
"Mr. Degraw"
The words rang simultaneously, but
in wholly dissimilar tones. Then the
two paused and looked at each other,
and then the gentleman from Cleve-
land remarked:
"You find me still intruding upon
Miss Aspinwall's grounds. How shall
I explain it? Not by the real reason
Test that should seem sentimental to
you. Shall I say that it is the beauty
Of the night which allures me, and
trust to your good nature not to be con-
tradicted in my statement?"
The artist, who had withdrawn him
self into the moonlight, responded by
q short but significant silence. Then
he observed:
81 shall contradict you in nothing,
Mr.. Degraw. I have not yet recovered
from the surprise of encountering q
person Of my own somewhat unusual
name"
"You make a great deal Of that
Shall relate to you my pedigree, or
send for that leaf in our family Bible
which is duly inscribed with my
namew
Gould you?"
"Mr. Degraw, you insult me. Were
there any cause for it should prob
ably resent it. AS there is not find
it more consistent with my self-re
spect to regard you as moonstruck
enthusiast, unworthy Of my attention
or revenge"
This tone, which was certainly un-
expected, took the artist by surprise.
For a moment he hesitated, not know
ing what to reply, then he said, boldly:
II certainly find myself under great
obligations to you. To be thought a
moonstruck enthusiast is better than to
be thought villain and a fraud"
And with q determined step he
wheeled about. leaving the passage
open to the man whom he now be-
lieved he had made his enemy.
He had walked but a short distance,
however, before he heard the others
step ring close at his side.
II cannot let you co." said the stran-
ger, as the artist turned toward him,
It'll you have in some measure eX-