Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-07-29

gaily. Frightening with its
~ gold the. grim. tlme-darS-
sl[sl l[5EJ ened houses. But the
-. cheerful rays did ;ot pcne-
trate within certain room on the sec
ord floor Of q house that looked even
more sombre than those adjacent.
What light there was came through
the window as if reluctantly, and
sdimly showed figure bent over desk
engrossed in work.
= If one could have peeped in at that
room at the same hour any day of tho
year, one could have seen the same
still figure at the same occupation:
except during the vacations, when
Richard Bassington left work and the
Temple for time and sought some
.place where the air was freSher and
Sswceter.
s. 1t had been urged upon him that
now he was q famous X. G. he should
sleave.thes chambers he had first come
Ito when "a struggling junior, and find
n more. imposing suite OF rooms. But
<hes chung to the old ones with al affec-
ton that was more the outcome Of long
association than of any actual beauty
sor convenience they possessed. for
.they were shabby and menn and up
3two flights Of stairs which clients
grumbled at good deal.
Mr.. Basslngton had had busy day.
@and returning few minutes ago from
the courts was anticipating a hasty
tea, and after that long evening de-
voted to more work.
s Butssomehow he could not this after
snooneasilySrivet his attention. as long
habit had given him the power to do,
5on the work before him. There stared
up at BIN from those dry, rustlmg
papers. as If drawn upon them by
Invisible fingers. q girls fair fHcc,
with gray. laughing eyes. and a tnngle
Sof wild. sweet hair; IN word. face
from the past lie had hoped was dead
land done with long ago had come to
shaunt and disturb the present.
He glanced up at the calendar above
HIS desk. 1t was her birthday, ho
remembered He supposed it was that
which had brought her SO perslstently
to his mind to-day. He placed his pen
down, and half closed his eyes. Like
dimlysrelnembered music. her voice
seemed 10 float to him across the gulf
of years. Why did the aching
memory Of 1t come back to him now!
She had long ago passed out of his
life. and even though some OF the
brightness Of 1t had stolen away with
her. she left him his work.
"I have that" he murmured, half
aloud; at must suffice, now and al
ways Yetin that moment the wealth
and fame he had won seemed but as
Dead Sea fruit, turning to ashes in
his mouth.
He thought Of certain thousands that
lay snugly invested. OF what use
were they TO buy back the past OF give
him once more the chance to win the
only woman he had ever cared or
would ever care for?
With self-indulgence that wns un-
usual to him he was still contemplate
ing this dream-sweet face. with the.
laughing eyes and merry lips. when
there came a rather imperious knock
at the front door, and breaking his
reverie he hastened to ,answersjt. 20 y.
Standing outside, Was a-,yision Ia
white. No flgment Of the brain this
but q. vision Of flesh and b!ood-a child,
little girl with grave. inquiring glance
and pretty face flushed with excite
ment.
81 told you I should come and sec
you, Mr., Bassington," she said to the
astonished barrister, "and 1 made
nurse bwlng me this afternoon. I have
sent her back to the hotel, and told
her to come back for me in an hours
time. said was going to have teo
with you"
She had crossed the threshold, and
following the bewildered lawyer she
stopped short In the middle of tine
room, and looked at him with candid
blue eyes.
"I'm afraid" she said, pronounclng
her words with delicate precision.
"that you are not vewy pleased to see
me, Mr.. Bassington. / believe" she
: added. with dreadful. solempity. that
you've forgot all about asking mel"
But this terrible indictment Richard
Bassington FASTENED to deny. He re-
membered meeting the child week
ago Mt friends house where juven
ilesparty was in@progress. He did not
know her name, but he had been at
tracted by her quaintness. After the
manner Of children she asked him a.
number Of questions where he lived,
~a,Hi whether she might: come SEQ
him, with q grave seriousness that was;
natural to her, and be had replied
in the came strain that upon any. after
noon he would be prepared to receive
her.
"Wby should you not think I am
pleased at your visit"' he asked, a
little awkwardly. He was unused to
children and not at ease with them.
"Why / go to my fwiends they al
ways kiss me" was her Indirect On
swer.
"Oh. I see," he replied, with a laugh.
"Well, that is IN omission soon rene
died." and catching the child up In
his strong arms he kissed the sweet
baby lips. That seemed effectually to
break the ice between them. and in
few moments the little girl was eX-
planning how she had obtained per-
mission from her aunt-a lady careless
of children and whose brains were
woody in the afternoon = to come out
with her nurse to see Mr.. Bassington.
Standing alone as he did In the world,
with no tie, no one to love or care for
him In return, with nothing to live for
but incessant work, In which he found
his only dreary pleasure, Richard Bas-
sington was almost surprised to find
that he was still human. and TINT this