The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-07-09
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cheerful rays did not pcne'
trate within a certain room on the sec
Ond floor Of house that looked even
more sombre than those adjacent.
What light there was came through
the window as if reluctantly. ard
Gimly showed figure bent over q desk
engrcSSed in work.
If one could have peeped In ut that
room at the same hour any day of the
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 freshcr and
sweeter.
1t had been urged upon him that
now he was famous X. e. he should
leave the chambers he had first come
to when struggling Junior, and find
a more imposing suite of rooms. But
he clung to the old ones with an affec-
ton that was more the outcome Of long
association than of any actual beauty
or convenience they possessed. for
they We're shabby and mean. and up
two flights Of stairs which clients
grumbled at good deal.
Mr.. Bassington had had a busy day.
and returning few minutes ago from
the courts was anticipating hasty
tea. and after that long evening de-
voted to more work.
But somehow he could not this after
noon easily rivet his attention, as long
habit had given him the power, to do,
on the work before him. There stared
up at him from those dry, rustlinS
papers. as If drawn upon them By
invisible fingers, q girls fair face,
with gray. laughing eyes. and tansle
Of wild. sweet hair; in a word, face
from the past he had hoped was dead
and done with long ago had come to
haunt and disturb the present.
He glanced up at the calendar above
his desk. 1t was her birthday, he
remembered. He supposed it was that
which had brought her so persistently
to his mind to-day. He placed his pen
down and half closed his eyes. Like
dimly-remembered music. her voice
seemed to float to him across the gulf
Of years Why did the aching
memory Of it come back to him now:
She had long ago passed out of bis
life, and even though some Of the
brightness oe it had stolen away with
Ter, she left him his work.
ST have that he murmured, half
aloud; ut must suffice, now and al
ways" Yet in 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 or give
him once more the chance to win the
only woman he had ever cared OF
would ever care for?
With q self-indulgence that was un.
usual to him he was still contemplat-
ing this dream-sweet face, with the
laughing eyes and merry lips, when
there came q rather imperious knock
ut the front door, and breaking his
reverie he hastened to answer it.
Standing outside was vision in
white. No fgment Of the brain this,
but vision Of flesh and blood-a child.
little girl with grave, inquiring glance
and pretty face flushed with excite
ment.
81 told you I should come and see
you, Dir. Bassington." she said to the
astonished barrister, land made
nurse bwing me this afternoon. have
sent her back to the hotel, and told
her to come back for me in an hours
time. I said was going to have tea
with you"
She had crossed the threshold, and
following the bewildered lawyer she
stopped short in the middle Of the
room, and looked at him with candid
blue eyes.
"I'm afraid" she said. pronouncing
her words with delicate precision,
''that you are not vewy pleased to see
me, Mr.. Bassington. believe" she
added, with dreadful solemnity, "that
you've forgot all about asking me"
But this terrible indictment Richard
Bassington fastened to deny. He re,
membered meeting the child a week
ago at friends house where juven'
lie party 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 q
number of questions, where he lived,
and whether she might come to see
him, with a grave seriousness that was
natural to her, and be had replied
in the same strain that upon any after.
noon he would be prepared to receive
her.
"Why should you not think I am
pleased at your visit?" he asked, q
little awkwardly. He was unused to
children and not at ease with them
"Wby so to my fwiends they al
ways kiss me-" was her indirect an
swer.
'Oh, I see," be replied, with laugh
"Well, that Is an omission soon, rene
died." and catching the child up II
his strong arms he kissed the sweet
baby lips. That seemed effectually tc
break the ice between them, and in 9
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 fol
him in return. with nothing to live fol
but incessant work, In which he found
his only dreary pleasure, Richard Bas
sington was almost surprised to hnd
that he was still human, and that this
dear child with her pretty ways seemed
already to be claiming adm1ttance t
his heart.
With quick, accustomed hands he
took from the cupboard two cdd cups