The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-02
ewes with her hands and sobbed. But

instantly recovering herself she looked
up in despair, and encountering the
artists gaze seemed charmed by it so
that she forgot to speak, though words
of grief and shame were evidently
rembling on her tongue.
For him the moment was delightful.
He returned her look and his self-pos.
session failed him.
You are not dead" left his lips in
almost childlike simplicity. THANK
God that appearances deceived me.
You are too young, too fair to yield
thus soon to the great destroyer. I am
glad to see you living. though I know
nothing of you, not even your name"
She smiled family but piteously.
"Nor do know you,' she cried. II
am child lost to the world, lost to lie.
lost to everything. I should not be
here, speaking, breathing. living. suf-
fering. / expected to die, wanted to
die, but some one has deceived me. anG
am alive. For what? Oh, for whatW
The artist stared amazed.
From an image of peace she had be.
come an image of despair. He did not
love her less thus. but he felt vaguely
out of place, and knew not whether to
speak or fly.
She saw his trouble and waved him
back.
"Since I must live" she murmured.
"let me leave this bed Of death" And
without waiting for any assistance she
slid to the floor and stood tottering
there, clothed in long, white garment.
bordered with gold. as beautiful as it
was odd and poetic. What trappings
are these!" she cried. pointing to the
bed and glancing down at her own gar
ments. IF l were not to be allowed to
die why this wealth and beauty of
adornment? I am still dreaming, Or"
Her eyes fell again on Annetta and she
asked her some other question.
Meantime young Desraw had
stepped back to the table upon which
lay the sketch he had been making.
Lifting it up he turned it toward her.
"Let this explain my presence here"
said he. 1T may also make clear to
you what otherwise must seem
wrapped in mystery. Your picture
was desired. l was summoned here to
draw it. You must know by whom.
The name accompanying the request
reads like Andrea Montelli."
She left the old crone and took step
in his direction and that of the picture
he held. A flush was on her cheek,
flush that vaguely irritated him and
made him, for the first time, question
who this Andrea Montelli really was.
II do not understand" said she. but
it is of no consequence. Nothing is or
any importance to me now. l am liv.
ing, that is all 1 can think Of; am liV-
ing and the struggle with my fate must
This expression of grief at finding
herself once more in the world Of hu-
man beings both shocked and touched
him.
Though he felt she ought to have
some one with her Of her own kindred,
or, at least, of her own station and sex,
he did not see how he could leave her
with no one to soothe her but this old
woman, who was at once so coarse and
so repellant.
."Have you no friends in the house"
he asked. y
She sadly shook her head.
"Is there no one I can call?" be per.
sisted, turning now toward the door.
She shivered and caught him by the
hand.
do not leave me- she entreated.
"Do not go till I have told you why l
was so wicked; for you must think me
very wicked to try to take my own.
life"
"And did you" He got no furth-
er, for the tears which now filled her
fathomless eyes called up suspicious
moisture to his own. Strange and
wrong as it all was he had never felt
himself so affected. "Tell me your
trouble" he pleaded at last why
should one so young and, pardon me,
so fair, wish to die before the possibili.
ties of life were fully tested?"
Because" her eyes flashed fire and
q color broke out on her cheeks, "be-
cause had failed"
"Failed!'
II am Selma Valdi"