The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-11-19

| accompanied her to the British Mu-
scum. AS they were descending the
stairway from the galleries, 1 was
| passing through the hall. Eunice in
troduced me to her mother, and We re.
mained in conversation for the best
part Of an hour, when Mrs. Firth sud-
denly remembered her doctors instruc-
tions not to "try herself too much"
! and pronounced for home. TO her
alarm, on our arrival at the vestibule
Of the Museum, It was raining smart
ly. Once again luck favored me. My
| umbrella, property which nine days
! out Of ten left at home. proved a
ready friend for once. Under its shell
ter Mrs. Firth reached her bus in
comparative dryness. I offered it to
her. "Oh, no, Mr.. Athelstane, I won't
deprive you," she said.
But my insistence carried the day,
and suggested that Eunice might find
it useful in the morning. That young
lady, however, declared she chad one
Of her own"
Mrs. Firth settled the question by
saying:
II will take it, Mr.. Athelstane, on
condition that you will bring Eunice
home this evening, and join US at our
little tea dinner, and then, you see,
you can take possession Of your um-
breila" To this consented.
After leaving Eunice and'her mother
I returned to the reading room, in.
finding to put in an hour or two of
work, but in this 1 was frustrated by
the receipt of telegram, which an
nounced the serious illness Of my
father and desired my early attendance
at his side.
Here was call that brooked no in
attention. I showed the wire to Eunice
and begged her to express to her
mother my regrets. and bidding her
what was intended to be an impressive
"Good-by," left for my home at Wells,
in Norfolk.
Little did I think that two long years
would elapse before I again set eyes
on Eunice Firth.
I was away in Norfolk for some
three months, my fathers condition
varying to such an extent, owing to
frequent relapses, as left me no alter
native but to stay with him. I was his
second son, mt brother Christopher
being two years my senior; our mother
had been dead many years.
My father had been dead some six
weeks, during which period had been
busying myself in the administration
of his little estate and winding up my
enforced rest from pedigree hunting
and other such trifes, when the great
change in my life began. The African
mail brought me a letter from my
brother Christopher, or rather from a
friend Of his, acting as amanuensis.
Christopher had met with a very seri-
Gus accident in the mine. Most Of his
ribs had been broken. and the doc
tors feared that much internal lacera-
ton had also taken place. Chris was
anxious to see me. fearing fatal
ending. Would I come at once to
Kimberley? He had also enclosed a
draft for $500 to cover travelling eS-
penses. and IN case the world had not
used me kindly.
To pack up my traps was but short
work, and the old home I left in charge
Of maiden aunt.
After had booked my passage had
few hours to spare. These I spent
in a vain search for Eunice Firth. I
could hear no ddings at the house
where they had lived The landlady
only knew they had left-gone, she
thought, into ''unfurnished' rooms.
I did not feel easy on the matter.
but hoped for the best, and made my
way to q hotel near Waterloo whence
had to start the next morning on
my first venture beyond the white
| cliffs of old England.
The Castle liner on which I had taken
| my passage did her voyage we'll and
rapidly. The succeeding day to that
on which I landed in Cape Town saw
me being transferred. as rapidly as a
South African railway can manage 1t,
| northward. 1 arrived too late. Poor
Chris had gone to the bourne whence
none return.
His lawyer met me soon after my
arrival, condoled with me. and eulo'
eized poor Chrls's many virtues. He
said that my brother had been most
successful man up to a certain point
But lately owing to-to-er-scruples'
he had been placed ut q disadvan'
tage. Still. he remarked:
Still. Mr.. Athelstane, your brother
died pretty warm. His personality
T should say-well. let me see-er, well
is quite s35o,ooo."
I explained that my brother had
never confded either to his father OF