The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-22

him on winnie so tUlt uc might uahe
! her n ward of Chancery and be able
! TO -ct IN injunction against the young
mani forget His name.
"Hetherington:"
"Ycs. OF course. that Is II. Well. now
! il turns out that the mans wealth was
all sham and pretcnce. He has been
practically a bankrupt for years. and
| I may think myself lucky that | was
paid my last terms bill. or course. l
shall get nothing for this term. but
| fortunately Il has just commenced.
Then you mean that Winnie must
90 out to India:'
! That would be a wild goose chase.
said the schoolmistress with n little
scornfr. laugh. NO one knows pre-
cisely what has become OF Mr.. Gordon
at least. l have not been able to learn
ANYTHING of his whereabouts. and
fancy more than one Of his creditors
would give n good round sum to get
his address
Then what is 20 become Of WlnE:c:'
THAT is just what should so very
much like to know. I hoped. when the
servant told me you had come to in
ouire for her. that You might have
something to propose - something In
the nature OF home to offer her"
l shook my head.
Then what Is TO become OF the poor
child I cannot imagine. She Is too
young to earn her own livinS-much
too young. I cannot send her to the
workhouse. and yet cannot be expect.
ed to keep her here for nothing"
NO one surely would be SO unreason-
able as to expect that you would VOL
unfairly do thing Of that kind" ex-
claimed, and the lady looked at me
very sharply to see whether l was
speaking ironically before she replied.
II must try to get her into some or.
phanage. but I fear 1t will be very diff
cult"
A she said these words the door
opened and q girl OF about sixteen
came shyly into the room. She was
not strikinsly pretty. but her express
sion was gentle and sweet and she was
pale as from q recent illness.
beckoned her to come to me. and
without noticing the young man who
stood close to my chair wondering. no
doubt. who was and what I wanted
with her.
Mrs. Melrose considerably left us to
ourselves, and my temporary servant
drew few steps nearer rs soon as the
door had closed behind her.
MY dear" said. taking her by the
hand, "there Is some one here who Is
very anxious to see you
She followed the direction OF my
eyes and then with little scream her
hands went up to her breast. And the
next I knew was that they were In
each others arms.
I had forgotten all about the Chanc.
cry Division OF the High Court Of JUS
tice and It's ridiculous Injunction. but
Ii was scarcely worth remembering
now when there was no one who cared
to enforce it, Perhaps II I had had
the use Of my limbs I might have
thought 1t necessary to 90 out OF the
room or ut least to turn my back. As
| II was I might have shut my eyes. but
| this did not occur to me. 1t was most
touching and beautiful to watch the In.
rocent raptures Of the two young low
ers. There was no time for words. and
1t was plain that they had better Ian
yuage than any verbal one. A broken
sentence now and then was all they
seemed to need. The lads face was ra-
dlant. his eyes burning. his whole
frame quivering with excitement, and
as for Winnie she seemed to be literally
drinking In great draughts Of happi.
| ness.
As I looked made up my mind.
"Hetherington. my boy" said I. "be
good enough to retire for a few mo-
ments to the other end Of the room or
outside the door. whichever you prefer.
Winnie. come here"
She came close up to me. and I said.
give me your hand"
She put her slender little hand In
mine.
II know your story. my child" said I.
"but you do not even know my name.
As you see. I am an old man. ut least
compared to you. and a cripple. I
have an aunt who keeps house for me.
Would you like to make your home
with ME. Winnie? 1t may not be for
very long. for can see that the day Is
not far of when you will want to fly
away to little nest OF your own. But
till that time comes will you let me be
y0ar father? know just how you are
feeling about Ned there. but you know
| marriage IL a serious thing and there
ought to be some one to see to things
for you. Will you let ME be that some
one?T
Her bonny brown eyes opened wider
with surprise and then n pleased look
came Into them. Finally she bent
down. rested her arm ON my shoulder.
and lightly kissed me on the cheek
Philadelphia Telegraph.
Nordica's Mistniss.