The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-10-05
.OBERT MALCOLM ha(

W ri quettish pretense Of shy
esS, had so addressed him.
he had known her but a short time
Fhen he won her. And now. at the
nd OF six blissful months. he was
fitting in his splendid library, per
le1ed and miserable. and gloomilJ
5yeing the embers of a CRATE fire and
lying to persuade himself that tie
hadow which threatened to wreck his
lture could be explained away il
nly he had the courage to ask her.
On coming home that afternoon be
ad gone to the sitting-room and had
bund l.. empty. Turning to leave, lie
hw a piece Of note paper lying on the
Dor, as though it had been brushed of
err desk as she rose in a hurry. In
looping to replace it, his eye caught
be two words, "Dear Tom" Dear
ON! Could it be that there was 4
Ear Tom in her life Of whom be knew
pthing? The letter read:
"Dear Tom-If I we're to be asked
Thy I am writing to you I should
hve to admit that I am yielding to an
npulse. My whole life has been made
p Of impulses, and 1 never battled
It'll them, but once-alas, the very
me I should have yielded. You know
6ell what I mean. that night you re-
Punced me, ,renounced me while your
God was on fire with love for me,
3hich I knew and felt and revelled in,
hen your eyes dumbly begged me to
fuse to be renounced and your lips
lid me it would be better to part. All,
I had only yielded then. to the i'm
Use to tell you I loved ysu we'll
ough to share your poverty and the
SIX of caring for your poor. helpless
ther! How we'll I remember that
lar, delightful, cruel summer in
brking.
5'You came, dear, and you stepped
TO MY heart with that first smile on
ur brave sunny facet Then, after
ard. Aunt Sarah, whef In 1 told her Of
r betrothal, said in lyer icy, sneering
pes: I congratulate you upon your
Fcretion. 1t is a fitting thing that
u should marry Toh Spencer and let
ur early poverty be merged into
|ddle-aged and elderly poverty. AS
IN Spencer's w~ife}you will have the
Fisfaction Of knowing that you have
fore you such a life as your mother
$ led, only intensified. since your
will be encumbered by his helpless,
Falytic old father
Tom, dear, do not utterly despise
when I tell y9u that her words had
Air weight. i did not fear the pow
y. for I knew you were bound to
fceed, If only. dear one. you were
hampereG in your career by your
her. I knew you vere fond of him,
that While he lived you would keep
With you-that even I could not
uen&e you to send him away. So,
epIyou told me we had better part,
EFered no proteStation. I knew your
BART was aching and that you needed
bmforting words from me. I knew 1
nd only to speak one word to break
pwn the barrier and have you take
be to your heart forever. l did not
peak that word. Though my heart
Fied out to you. I could not tell you
bat I loved you we'll enough to share
pur burden. I did not speak that
FORD. I am married now. My hus-
and loves me, and I am rich beyond
BY fondest expectations. I have all
bose things which my luxurious and
Expensive tastes craved-yet I am not
Fappy. This Is indeed my farewell.
ear one. You know now-every word
b this letter has told you-what you
RE to me. You will not misunder-
tand-you will not come TO me. 1t is
Rver, Tom, and"
Here the writing ended abruptly.
Robert Malcolm was a loyal man,
md though the evidence was against
Ter. be refused to believe his wife
utility Of all that the letter implied.
Re told himself that il he dared to
SIX her for an explanation she would
live it. and it would be satisfactory.
70 ask her to confess 4 dishonorable
let was also to confess i lack Of con-
|dence IN her.
While he was sitting there the door
|pened ~noiselessly. A slight girlish
|gure stole across the thick carpet and
behind his chair. Two soft small hands
Fere clasped before his eyes and a
|oice whispered:
Guess who it is"
/ His heart gave a great bound and
lie took the hands down and kissed
hem. Finally, Gs if satisfied with
That he saw, he asked:
Have you been shopping?"
She seemed surprised at the trivial
Question following so closely upon the
|crutiny she had undergone. and said,
'Is that all, Mr.. Bluebeard? Graci,
Jus, how you scared me. expected tc
ear you say in sepulchrai tones. 'Wo'
ban, there is guilt in your face
where have you hidden the body?
Ind instead. after that soul-scarching
Faze, you ask the commonplace ques
ion in commonplace tones, Have YOU
Peen shopping?'"
With a sigh Of content and love ant
elief he threw his arms round bel
nd drew her to him for a moment
Then she seated herself opposite hin
b a low chair, where the freight fel
IN her face, bringing out all its charm
In the magnetism Of her presence
her husband became almost happy
bnce more-until the memory of tina
letter came back to sting him.
Suddenly he asked her:
"Adele, were you ever in Dorking?
She opened wide her eyes and an