The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-01-21
BLOOMFIELD
copyright I0ss byq eBsaf Boxxxs's soSa

her delicate white fingers. But sup
pose Mr.. Price could separate rs, how
would that benefit him? He knows ]
would not marry him in any case.
have told him 90 in plain words many
q time"
"Spiteful and mischievous as the man
is. I don't in the least doubt, my dear
Connie, but that he loves you as sim
cerely as his nature allows him to
love. Indeed 1t is difficult to conceive
Of any man not loving you who has
once seen you, and 1t is the quality Of
never to entirely despair Of achieving
it's object until that object is irrevoca.
bly, lost. This letter was written yes
terday, 30 by now Mr.. Price is on bis
way to England. Before he reaches
Liverpool you will be my wife. and
when he learns that fact perhaps he
will cease to interest himself In our
affairs. Only six days! Fancy that
petr
Eyes, fancy It! How sudden 1t has
all been! I am in disgrace with my
friends for deserving them. and In de-
tending myself I have laid the blame
ON you for monopolizing my time. !
say, Ernie, dear. one Of the six girls
whom I have asked to be bridesmaid
has declined"
"Who Is she?" I inquired.
Miss Christison-you know who ]
mean; the young lady who can't marry
without losing her fortune"
20 yes; I remember her. Who VIII
take her place?"
"Inez Juarrez."
"You must forgive Miss Christison
on account Of her absurd and cruel
circumstances"
"Of course, dear. but
At that moment Dur conversation was
interrupted by the loud and continuous
ringing OF electric bells within the
house, and the hasty running Of SER
wants up and down the stairs. Con.
stance and I started to u feet and
listened for a moment, and the con-
fusion continuing we left the room
to ascertain its cause. Outside the
door, upon the landing, we met my
aunt Gertrude, who was descending
the stairs dressed for going out. and
I no sooner saw her face. yelled though
It was. than I perceived that she was
painfully agitated.
What Is the matter" we both asked.
as with one voice.
"Oh, Connie, dear. don't stop me! A
clerk at Mills Building has just tele-
phoned to say that Sam has been seized
with sudden illness, and ! am not to
lose q moment in going to him. i
fear he Is dead. though they say he Is
not"
Dead! Impossible: An hour ago
he was here and well"
But aunt Gertrude could not hear the
ordinations either Of her sister or me
for she had scarcely paused in her de-
scent while imparting this terrible in
formation. A world Of confused and
painful thoughts hlled my mind, and a
strange pallor overspread the face Of
the dear one at my side; the color faded
from her lips. and but for my timely
support she would have fallen. The
next moment the street door was heard
to close. and the carriage containing
aunt Gertrude was driven rapidly
away.
Leading Constance back into the
room, We both sat down upon a couch
and regarded each other In silence. I
consulted my watch; the hour wanted
twenty minutes to midday. Uncle Sam
had left home to 80 to his Office at 10
O'Clock, he being then in sound health
and high spirits. Constance was the
first to speak. II can't believe. Ernie,
dear" she said. that anything very
serious can be the matter. though
Gertrude seems so frightened. How
could there be-" But the u~nconcealed
agitation OF the fair speaker belied her
words. and I was In no condition to
support them by argument Let Us
go into Sans study and inquire by
the telephone how he is now" she
presently added.
Eyes, certainly; that Is a good
thought. But doesn't uncle keep his
study locked?
"Yea; but Gertie also has a key Of 1t.
and I don't suppose she stayed to lock
1t In her haste"
The suggestion was NO sooner made
than adopted. and the study door being
open. as Connie had surmised, she en-
tered and at ono made her inquiry.
I can never forget her appearance as
she stood with the tube applied to her
ear. her youthful beauty showing
grandly despite the pallor induced By
her anxiety. while / watched with
deadly interest the varying expressions
Of her face as a clerk ut the Mills
Building Informed her Of uncle Sans
condition. Presently Connie restored
the tube to its place. and throwing her
arms around my neck. burst into tears
In the manner Of one whose fortitude
fails at unexpected release from some
supreme dread.
What has h%appened?" I asked.
catching my breath.
sam learned on arrival at his office
that Miss Wolsey had died suddenly
In Paris. and the news SO upset him
that he talked incoherently for a time,
and then had some sort Of seizure.
greatly frightening his clerks: but he