The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-03-30
have much to say to each other, have

have much to say to each other, have
we not?"
Much; we have to plan for a life
time," he declared.
"And you have to explain why you
left me for three days lowering be-
tween hope and, despair"
His face fell; shadow fitted dark
and threatening across his satisfaction.
| He sighed and reluctantly admitted
that he had relied upon the judgment
of friend who had conceived an in.
explicable distrust of her. She felt as
if an axe had been laid at the root OF
her happiness. She falteringly asked
who was this person, and when he an.
swered "Mr. Byrd" her eyes looked
wild and her speech sounded thick.
She pressed for an explanation of this
mans distrust. Her lover replied that
he did not know. He only told her
why he had not gone to her after her
loving revelation at Miss Aspinwalls
reception.
II yielded to his earnest entreaties,"
he said. "Mr. Byrd asked me to wait
a week until he could substantiate his
doubts. I see now that I did wrong.
should have trusted you implicitly. 1
withheld myself from you for three
DAYS. Then my love triumphed. 1
went to him and told him could not
and would not believe that you were
not all your sweet face promised, and
gave as an argument in your favor the
fact that you were ready to give up
your great fortune to. please my whim.
He was overwhelmed, and confessed
that he had a total misconception of
your character. This was at 8 o'clock,
Jenny. At $50 I was at your house.
There were lights in the parlor, but
was not admitted"
1T was through mistake" she mur-
INJURED, with lowered head and brow
turned away. 4" And there she
paused. How could she 60 further?
How explain this situation? Besides,
she felt weak and shaken. That any
man should have distrusted her and
made her lover share her doubts, If
only for a few days, was terrible to
her. She did not know how to hide her
agitation, nor how to keep back her
tears.
II love you so," he said, forgetting
Mrs. Dutton's presence, which, indeed,
old not obtrude itself, "and my trust
is so completely restored! I can never
doubt you again, nor will I ever in the
future listen to any ones words against
you. Jenny, Jenny! my queen! my
life! Look around, give me your hand,
breathe sweet forgiveness, and for.
get"
At this juncture Miss Aspinwall en-
tered, and great was her astonishment
at the scene before her.
"A1r. Degraw! Jenny! did not
think to find you here together" she
calculated, with pointed look.
Jenny seized hold of small table
near her to- steady herself, and cast an
entreating glance upon her friend.
That friend did not see it, or failed
to understand it.
IT have just come from an interview
with Mr.. Degraw, Of Cleveland. whom
met Unexpectedly at Tiffany's this
morning." Miss Aspinwall continued.
"FIe told me you had engaged yourself
to him, Jenny, and came here" Her
full, sweet look at the artist told why.
But nobody saw that look. He and
Jenny were both absorbed in the one
wild glance each had cast upon the
other at the utterance Of these fatal
words.
"What facts are these?" exclaimed
the artist, after one terrible moment
"You have engaged yourself to my
rival, and now come, here"
"Oh, I can explain it," interrupted
Jenny. II can explain it. He came
when I thought myself deserted, Of
fered his hand without conditions, and
-and-I listened to him."
"And are you solemnly engaged to
marry him.? sternly continued her
lover.
"Not now, not now; wrote to him
to-day, after heard from you. I could
not keep my word to him when
found that you still loved me, and I
told him"
What"
She did not answer. She was sway
ing like reed.
."What, Miss Rogers?"
"Ahw Her cry rose from. a wounded
heart. She turned and fed toward
Mrs. Dutton. "Take me home!" she
cried, then suddenly tottered and
turned upon them with drawn and
frightened face. 81 have no home"
she moaned, II sent the deed with my
letter; I have neither home or friends"
This was too much for Hilary and
too much for him. They both sprang
and caught the unhappy girl in their
arms.
You sent him letter and the deed?"
he repeated, but this time in gentle
tones. What did he reply?"
To be continued.
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