The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-12-31

sentiments, 50 lie dllSWeieu
"It has not the appearance of being
inhabited at ALL"
"Oh, the best rooms are in the rear
of the house, and we occupy those"
To be sure, it did strike him IS sin
:.ular that Blanche should remain in
so secluded a spot; but Mr.. Graham
had told him nothing about her, save
only that she was poor and an orphan;
50 he speedily dismissed the perpleX-
ing subject with the mental decision
that necessity. and not choice, COM
PEELED her to abide here.
AS he led the horse up to the house
along a very narrow path through the
corn, he could not help remarking the
deathlike stiffness that reiSned every
where.
"The house is desertedw he ex-
claimed.
"Oh, no. : will soon prove to you
the fallacy Of such q conclusion"
Very shyly she put out two beautl-
full rounded arms, and Ray, yielding
again to the subtle spell with which
she seemed to have enthralled him.
lifted her from the saddle and bore her
to the stout oaken door.
Producing a key from the pocket ct
her dress she let him into dark. dis
mal-looking passage, along which he
carried her, kicking open door at
the other end with his boots.
H found himself in large, square
apartment, very rudely furnished
with a lounge, a table and few di-
lapidated chairs. A grizZled, unpre-
possessing man Of fifty sat near one
of the high windows smoking a dirty
black pipe. Ray scarcely looked at
him until he had carried his burden
to the lounge and left her there. Then
he turned to him with muttered apol-
ogy for his abrupt entrance.
II hope you will pardon the seeming
rudeness-"
"Never mind, youngster," interrupt
ed the man in cultural voice. mo
harm done. We don't stand on cere-
mony in these parts"
"This is my uncle, John Gordon"
said Blanche, in her most dulcet ac-
cents. "He has been like a father to
me all my life. I love him dearly"
The last was uttered half in depre-
citation, as if she was aware Of Rays
distrust and found it necessary to give
a reason for having protector so
manifestly uncongenial.
"Ah, yes, to be sure"
"Uncle John" she added, In the
next breath, Il was unlucky enough
to sprain my ankle while rambling in
the woods But ought not to term it
an unlucky accident after all, for it
was the means of making me ac-
quainted with this kind gentleman,
who brought me home. I'm sure you
will be as much surprised as was
20 learn that he is Mr.. Braddon."
"Mr. Braddorw calculated John
Gordon. "Well, I declare. if this amt
a curious circumstance! I am delight
ed to see you. sir, delightedw
Out went his horny hand, which Ray
was compelled to take. and the grip
of those muscular fingers could only
be compared to wise.
"Mr. Braddon has brought the money
that eccentric Mr.. Graham left me-"
said Blanche.
Gall of it," questioned her uncle. an
evil glitter in his wicked black eyes.
every penny" answered Ray.
"Hum! Ten thousand dollars is
snug little fortune. Won't you shine,
Blanche, when you have so much mon
ey to spend? You'll buy no end of
silks and laces and ribbons, I sup
pose?"
GAS if you needed any such furbe-
lows to enhance your beauty" muir
INJURED Ray, close to her seashell ear.
She lifted a coquettish glance to his
face.
Am I beautiful, Mr.. Braddon?"
"Incomparable."
'I'm afraid you are a sad fatterer.
That is wrong to feed simple girls
vanity" And she shook her head re-
provingly. "You should not do it."
"How can I help telling you what
must be palpable to every Observer:
But I'm not accustomed to compli-
ments."
That is strange"
Nearly an hour wore on. and pre-
sently John Gordon seemed to wax un.
easy for some reason or other. He
rose from his chair and began to walk
the floor with hurried, impatient
strides. At last he paused right be-
fore Ray and said, more roughly than
he had yet spoken:
"Where's the plunder, young man"
Rays eyes dilated little. seeing
which, Blanche fastened to explain.
HE means the money so generously
bequeathed by Mr.. Graham. I think
be finds some difficulty in believing in
it's reality before he has seen it,"
"Humph"
She raised a warning glance into the
frowning face bending over her. It
was necessary; Ray remained as un-