The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-08-18
WALTER BLOOMFIELD
CHAPTER NXIII.
Continued.

Continued.
These observations convinced me
that uncle Sam had that morning de-
ceiyed me when he had so jauntily as
serted that old Mr.. Wolsey could tell
his wife nothing which she did not al
ready know l was not, however. so
much interested in that consideration
as in the disQuietude Of Constance,
and in hope that might be able to
comfort her, my aunt had no sooner
taken up her position by the piano than
I crossed over and occupied the seat
she had just vacated.
The attention of the company was
wholly bestowed upon the singer, and
. the sound of another voice though but
in a whisper, would have been rightly
regarded as all ill-mannered Interrupt
ton. Though could not for the mo-
ment speak to my fair one. was able,
even in that public situation, to press
her little hand in mine with u signif-
canoe which was not misunderstood.
Aunt Gertrude was followed by sew
eral other singers of various degrees
of merit. but all alike in so far as they
prevented conversation between Con-
stance and me, nor could l find any
convenient opportunity to interrogate
her until We were again on board the
Iroquois. Fortunately l had not long
to wait for this, for the river being a
slow way to return to New York City
it was decided that we should leave
Tarrytown early. We were no sooner
OIL board than my aunt, whom l sus-
pect partly understood the aspect of
affairs, withdrew to the cabin to re-
sumo her book, leaving Constance and
I to do as we would. The evening
being delightfully."- fine and cool, and
the sky an unfathomable blue studded
with innumerable stars, to say moth
ing of other reasons, Of course we pre-
ferred to remain upon deck.
Notwithstanding my impatience to
know precisely how Constance was af-
fected by the information she had
gained from Mr.. Fuller's letter to Mr.
Price. We were seated closely together
for several minutes before l ventured
to ask her. and when did so my ques-
ton received no reply, but hot tears
fell upon my hand. l was painfully
surprised and unnerved by this Incl
dent. and knelt down beside the dis
tressed girl, saying l know not what.
bat doing all in my power to comfort
her After a little while she became
more composed and looked at me stead
ily.
MY sister must never know of this"
She said; lit would kill her."
"Must never know of what?" 1 asked.
'Of the contents Of that letter Mr..
Price showed me-"
II have not read that letter. but !
fear l know what you refer to-" l an
swered.
"Your words confirm the letter. /
feared il was true as l read it. Poor
dear Gertip. and she is such loving
wife. and has such unbounded admira-
tion of her husband. Can it be that
oil men are false"
"No. darling. it cannot. but l confess
/ greatly fear thert are many such.
Speaking for myself. I swear by the
sky above and the water beneath. and
by the great Being. who created them
both. that YOU are the only woman 1
have ever desired: that if you will be
mine and faithful to me. according to
your promise and my belief, 1 am
yours and yours only. till die. With
your faith in mankind thus rudely
shaken. and knowing that must leave
you tomorrow not to see you again
for at least month, can you trust
Ine?'
Constance looked up at me, and the
tears in her eyes glistened in the star
light as she softly replied:
II will trust you"
l caught the dear girl in my arms,
and pressing her face to mine, for the
first time restowed upon her lips
What is this am writing? This will
never do. On reading this page it
really impresses me as more like leaf
from novel than passage from the
memoirs Of a middle aged English
squire.
CHAPTER yyIy