The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-11-18
think from his appearance and man.

think from MS dppeaFduce auu mon,
ner."
Evidently astonished at the greeting
he had received, the gentleman stared
at the artist for a moment, then turned
toward the signorina. Immediately
Miss Aspinwall, still unobservant OF
the almost tragic signs which the artist
hurriedly made her, opened her lips
to speak the formal words of the neces-
sary introduction, when the latter
stopped her by uttering it himself:
"Signorina Valdi, allow me to pre-
sent to you Mr.. Degraw, of Cleve-
land"
Instantly an expression Of surprise
passed over every face. Though we
still speak Of the singer by the name
under which we first knew her she had
been universally known in this house
by the simple one bequeathed to her
by her parents. To hear her ad-
dressed, then, in this public way by
the stage name she had definitely dis
carded reused the curiosity Of all who
heard 1t. This the speaker had ex-
pected, but what he had not looked for'
and which, coming at this critical mo-
ment, literally shook his self-posses-
sion, was the look Of disappointment
that came into the countenances OF the
two persons introduced. That the
stranger was expecting to hear differ
ent name was evident, and that she
was not pleased at this effort to pre-
serve an incognito which she had def
nitely cast aside was equally plain.
She soon proved this to be a fact be-
yond dispute.
II think" she remarked, smilingly
to The artist, "that you allowed your
self to forget that when I withdrew
from the opefatic state dropped my
stage name. I was Signorina Valdi,
Mr.. Degraw," this to the stranger,
"but now" She paused, for the art
list had made her an unmistakable ges-
ture-a gesture which had caused her
to turn pale, but which did not hinder
her from finishing the phrase which
she had begun. "But now" she per-
sisted. ut is as Jenny Rogers I am
known both here and elsewhere"
It was done. The stranger looked
relieved; the artist, discouraged. If
safety lay for her under the incognito
the latter had attempted to improvise
for her she had thrown that safety
aside. Did she realize il? There was
no token Of the fact in her face, which
was upturned to the stranger with con-
fidence and content engraved upon its
every lineament. Troubled at the
sight her lover turned to Miss Aspin-
wall, and drawing her step away
said anxiously:
"You must excuse any seeming rude
ness which you may observe in me. I
have no confidence in this man and
was very desirous of preventing his in
PREDICTION to Miss Rogers. Why, can
not tell you now, but, believe me, the
reason was good and such as you
would pardon" Then, as he saw the
person thus alluded to was too busy
with his new acquaintance to notice
this little side-talk, he added, hastily:
"Be sure he is the person alluded to in
his letter OF introduction before you
show him too much attention. If he is
the man I have every reason to believe
him"
But here the stranger turned and the
artist was forced to leave his sentence
uncompleted. Perhaps it was as we'll.
A full knowledge Of her guests iden-
tity would have hopelessly embar.
rassed Miss Aspinwall and made the
remainder Of the evening unbearable.
Whereas, now, it passed off without
any marked constraint, though those
who knew the hostess best were aware
that all was not as it should be, either
with her or THIS stranger. The doubt
evoked by the artists broken words
remained in her eyes, and though the
stranger did not remark it, others did,
and were either pleased or displeased
according to the character Of the i'm
preston which he had made upon
them.
Ten o'clock came and with it the de-
parture Of this gentleman, who for one
reason or another, occupied the atten-
ton Of every one present. When he
rose to go-he had been talking for
some time to group Of girls, though
his attention did not seem to be with
them, but with the face and figure Of
the beautiful signorina sitting a short
distance from him, in her old place on
the wide window seat-there was an
actual air of relief from all sides. And
yet no one in all the room, not except
ing even the handsome artist, looked
more nearly the beau ideal Of man
hood than this man with his tall and
imposing figure, strong face and court
u expression.
r To be continued.