The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-11-18
- sSsaha g. 80
Graar Author Of "The Forsaken
ulSSu, u 1nn," Etc.

"You must pardon u.s." said she,
"the seeming discourtesy Of your vel
come. But there is another Hamilton
Degraw in the room, and the name
being an unusual one, my first thought
was that you were seeking an intro
duction to him. viii you sit, Mr.. De-
graw, while I read Mr.. Morris note?"
The stranger smiled and bowed and
took the seat offered him. He was in
no degree embarrassed, and if con-
scious Of all the glances leveled upon
him, did not show it. But perhaps he
was not conscious Of them. For, the
moment his attention was released
by the preoccupation Of his hostess,
he turned at once toward the window
seat with an eagerness that made the
indignant blood leap into the cheeks
| of the watchful artist, and though
there were no impertinence IN his
manner, nor any recognition beyond
that which is accorded by an appre-
ciative nature to suddenly revealed
beauty, all those, who had passed sufi.
cient!y beyond their first youth to
have any insight into life and the hu-
man heart, felt that trouble had en-
| tered the room with this second Ham
ilton Degraw, and that in the very
moment of his introduction, the first
scene in a drama had opened, that
would ere long occupy all their
thoughts.
Nor was this seemingly unfelt even
by the object Of his interest. Though
her agitation was natural enough when
| We consider that her heart and pos
sibly her lips were trembling with
the name he so unceremoniously an
nounced to be bis own, there was Sill
something in her attitude and the
agitation which informed her whole
figure, that expressed the presence of
fear similar to that expressed by
the artist. Was it that she felt the
burning ardor Of this strangers s
glance, and realized the complications
which q new love ut this time would
occasion? Or had she become in some
way aware that the name she had just
heard was not only that of her lover,
but the man who had wrought mischief
with so many Of the name Of Jenny
Rogers? Whichever be the truth, she
showed an emotion almost greater than
that of her lover, though it did not
last so long. By the time Miss Aspin-
wall had finished her note, the sig.
norina's face had become calm, and
her figure regained its poise, and
though a steady pallor had taken the
place Of her ftful bushes, not face
in the room looked more composed
or a mind more at its ease than hers.
II am much obliged to Mr.. Morris" !"
was Miss Aspinwall's remark, as she
folded up the note. II am always glad
to receive any one upon his recon-
mendation; and in this case his recon-
mendation is very pressing" And,
turning toward her friends, she OBJ
served, in her own gracious, dignifed
way: Ladies and gentlemen, allow
me to introduce to you Mr.. Degraw, of
Cleveland; a friend Of my friend, and
soon, I hope, to be friend of each
one Of u.s."
The young people Immediately
crowded forward, for the stranger,
while not handsome, that is, in COM
parison with the gentleman usually
associated with his name, possessed a
figure and bearing likely to attract all
lovers Of elegance and culture. Two
Of the company only remained in the
rear, and these were the signorina and
her lover, who, not relaxing one i0ta
Of his defiance, stood at her side as if
on guard, while he sought to catch
Miss Aspinwall's eye, as If to warn
her to be careful in her demonstra-
tions toward a person with whom
were connected his gravest doubts.
For in the rapid glances which he
had bestowed upon this interlcper since
his first entrance, he had noted that
the stranger was tall, easy-mannered
and possessed not only Of the gray
eyes which had misled the police in
his own case, but Of the black mus
tache also; and, believing that he had
before him the man who had occa-
stoned so much mischief in the city
he had just left, he neither could sup
press, nor did he endeayor to, the
spirit Of antagonism and rage which,
without these reasons for dislike,
would have been sufficiently aroused
by the persistent delight which the
stranger manifested In contemplating
the woman whom the artist now re-
garded as his future wife.
AS Miss Aspinwall, therefore, guided
her new guest from one person to an
other, he followed them with q burning
gaze, that presently took on new
fire as be perceived them turning to-
ward himself and his now self-pos-
sessed and apparently e1pectant com.
panion.
"A1r. Degraw," remarked Miss AS.
pinwall, refraining for various reasons
from raising her eyes to the gaze which
might have proved warning to her
had she met it, "allow me to present
to you a gentleman of your own name,
If not Of your artistic calling. Our
friend is the painter Of whose works
you must often have heard" she ex-
pieined, turning to the gentleman at
her side. ut was on account Of his