The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-11-04
CHAPTER XIV.
FRIENDS.

IN n summer house, half covered
with verdure, sat two beautiful Wom'
en-; one with a noble poise of head, a
gracious and dignifed manner, regular
features and a womanly expression;
the other with slighter proportions,
but with a strange, unearthly sweet
ness in her look and tone that went at
once to the heart and awakened its
deepest emotions. The former was
blonde, the latter of a fair complexion,
but with an aureole Of dark hair and
eyes that were large, black and bril-
liant They sat side by side, the violet
dress Of the one mingling with the
white garments of the other, and 10
neither could q man have said NO."
had the language Of their lips been of
entreaty or the glance of their eyes an
invitation or appeal. Miss Aspinwall
was the younger Of the two, but she
looked by three years the senior of hec
more delicate and childlike companion.
They are talking. Shall We listen to
what they say?
"And you cannot sing to me-to me
who overheard you once at the Sig
nor's and was so irresistibly moved
and charmed that stood outside the
door with my hands clasped and my
breath hushed. thinking had Glanced
upon the performance Of some great
prima donna"
Il might sing for you if I thought
We were alone and none Of your many
guests were hidden behind the cur
tains or portierres. Indeed, I know
that I could sing for you, the one
friend who has smiled upon me in my
misfortune and opened her doors to
shelter my defenseless and unpro-
tected head. Oh, am grateful to you!
1 am so grateful that would be will
ing to do much more than sing for
you, should chance ever put it in my
power"
"Your company is all that I ask,
dear signorina. Since that night when
your hopes came to such a disastrous
end 1 have cherished but one wish,
and that was to open my arms in COM
fort to you. But strange timidity
held me back. I feared to seem intru-
sive. I remembered that we had
never spoken, and dreaded your first
look of astonishment and displeasure.
And when at last I did overcome my
fears sufficiently to call upon you IN
your home you can imagine my SELF
reproach at finding I was too late;
that you were, as I believed, dead,
and thus removed forever from my
sympathy and love. Bitter regret over
whelmed me, and vowed then, while
strewing flowers above your silent
breast, that in future nothing should
ever hold me back from those in dis
tress but their refusal to receive me,
and when I heard that appearances
had been deceitful, and that when 1
saw ycu, you had been only lying in
trance I felt as if providence had
heard my praper and that I should
yet have the opportunity Of telling you
Of the love felt for you"
"Ah" sighed the signorina, while the
tears welled up in her eyes, II am un-
worthy OF such interest; I am unwor-
thy Of your care. Do not love me so
we'll. You may be disappointed in
me-"
Miss Aspinwall smiled.
"You have not disappointed me yet"
she asserted. "As for the future, We
will be such friends that regret shall
not find room to come in between us.
Do you not think you can love me,
trust me, rest with me and be happy"
The signorina's eyes, which had been
lowered to the ground, rose slowly till
they rested upon Miss Aspinwalls
face. There was trouble in them, but
there was gratitude also, and 4 sud-
den light that seemed to come from IN
awakening soul.
Love you?" she repeated. "Ah,
there is no doubt but that can love
you. But" she added, in another
moment. with restless change Of man.
ner, did you not think it strange
when you found me on the platform
at this place, alone and without ap-
parent purpose?"
To be continued,