The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-10-20

~ - quettish pretense OF shy
aees, nau so addressed him.
He had known her but short time
when he won her. And now, at the
end Of six blissful months, he was
sittiag In his splendid library. per-
pSexed and miserable. and gloomily
eye1ng the embers of CRATE fire and
AyIAg to persuade himself that the
shadow which threatened to wreck his
fufure could be explained away II
~aiy he had the courage to ask her.
On coming home that afternoon he
had gone % the sltting-room and had
6eund :: empty. Turning to leave. he
saw piece Of note paper lying on the
door, as though it had been brushed of
Asr desk rs she rose in hurry. In
shopping to replace 1t. his eye caught
the two words, "Dear Tom" Dear
Tom! Could 1t be that there was a
dear Tom In her life of whom he knew
soothing? The letter read:
q. HDear Tom-If were TO be asked
why I am writing to you should
have to admit that am yielding to an
impulse. My whole llfc,has been made
Gp OF Impulses, and I never batt.ed
With them but once-alas, the very
Time should have yielded. You know
welt what mean, that night you re-
nourcei ne. renowned me- while your
blooj was on fire with love for me,
which I knew and felt and revelle6 in.
when your eyes dumbly be~gel mo to
refuse to be renounced and your lips
Roid me IT .ould he better to part. Ah,
n bad only yielded then to the I'M
pulse to tell you 1 loved You wei,
ensrgh to share your poverty ana the
task Of caring for your roor, helpless
father! How well 1 remember that
dear. delightful. cruel summer in
Dor,:ing.
"You came, dear. and you stcpred
into my keart with that first smile on
your brave sunny face. Then. aft'r-
ward. Aunt Sarah, when told her Of
sur betro hal. said in her icy. snearirg
ZONES: 4 congratulate you upon your
discretion. 1t is fitting thing that
,yon shoull marry Tom Spencer and let
7yeur early poverty be merged lrto
D:ddle-aged ard elderly poverty. As
Tom Spencer's wife you will have the
satisfaction Of knowing that you have
before you such life MS yorr mother
has led. only intensified, since your
kfe will be encountered by his helpless.
paralytlc cid father
TON. dear. do not utterly deSp'se
ne when tell you that hnr wo"tls had
0eir weight. I did not fear the pow
eFty. for knew yoI were bound to
1neceed, il only. dear one, yoI We're
not hampore6 in your career hy your
father. I knew you ere fond Of him.
and that while he lived YOU would keep
1im with you-that even could not
fnfuence you to send him aw:y. 50.
when YOU told me we had h"tter part,
. offered TO rro:estation. knew yoTr
heart was aching and that you needed
comforting words from mo. kn"w |
had only to speak one word to break
down the barrier and have you take
seae to yorr heart forever. did not
speak that word. Though my heart
cried out to you. 1 could not tell you
that loved you we'll enough to SHIRE
yorr burden. I did not speak that
word. I am married now. Ny hus-
1aad loves me. and am rich beyond
NY fondest expectations. I have all
Abose things which my luxurious and
expensive tastes craved-yet am not
happy. This is indeed my farewell.
lear one. You know now-every wo d
q this letter has told you-what you
ere to me. You will not misund"r-
latand-you will not come to me. 1t is
ever, Tom, and"
Here the writing ended abruptly.
Robert Malcolm was a loyal man.
end though the evidence was against
Der. ae refused to believe his wife
guilty of all that the letter implied.
He told himself that If he dared to
ask her for an eXplanati ton she would
give it. and it would be satisfactory.
Get was also to confess a lack of con.
Ederce in her.
While he WAS sitting there the door
opened noise.essly. A slight girlish
Gsure stole across the thick Garnet end
'eehird his chair. Two soft small hands
we're claspsI befot, his eyes and a
yoiee whispered:
eGuess who it is."'
His heart gave great bound and
De took the hands down and kissed
0em. Finally. as if satisfied with
Rhat he saw, he asked:
~Have you been shopping?"
She seemed surprised at the trivial
question following so closely upon the
scrutiny she had undergone. and said:
"Is that all, Mr.. Bluebeard? Graci-
Gus, how you scared me. expected to
Aear yeu say in sepulchral tones. 'Wo-
ssaR, there Is guilt in your face
where have you hidden the body 2
Ard instead nftpr th8 S0ul-Sea rchinD