The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-12-29

world for me-" he concluded, the color
that usually glowed under bis tan
nodcably absent. From the first mo
ment knew it. I would have follow
ed you to the ends of the earth to tell
you this, even though had known
that you would refuse me"
Betty Aston, her face as white as
his own, turned to him with quivering
lips. His earnestness frightened her.
But there was jack Winter-dear
Jack with the laughing eyes and the
gay smile! And yet Jack would never
have followed her out Of the crowd,
and
She covered her face with her hands,
and Aanice, pitted against fate, set
his jaw grimly.
Us there any one elser he asked
at last, and at the gentleness Of his
voice Betty took courage.
"Yeu don't know how unworthy I
feel" she began in q trembling voice.
"You see, don't know myself. hate
myself for It, but I really don't. II
you love me like this, ought to
know, oughtn't I, whether love you
or not?'
She looked at him with the puzzled
confidence Of q child appealing to an
elder for help In a crisis. Then sud-
denly the color came up over her soft
white neck, rising higher and higher
until It sufrused her whole face, and
the eyes that had been gazing so clear
" and childtshly into his dropped. In
that moment her heart was clearer to
him than It was to herself.
Think about It for week, sweet
heart" he whispered, and, carrying her
hand to his lips for a brsef moment
turned and left her.
s'She loves me-she loves me, God
bless her! I know it." Manices
thoughts run during the days that fol-
lowed, and, though the hours seemed
endless, not once during that time did
he approach her. He shrewdly sus-
pected that his absence would do more
than anything else could to reveal her
heart to herself.
So sure of his answer was he that he
wanted to make the day memorable to
both Of them. Many plans suggested
themselves, but none Of them seemed
worthy. Then a chance remark of hers
fitted across his mind, and he muir
mured. with enthusiasm, "The very
thing, by Jore!'
She had whimsically said to him once
that it was her idea Of bliss to have
Hagadorn, the well known organist,
play the wonderful organ at St MI
chaels an hour for her alone, and he
decided that If Hagadorn was suscep-
tible to the persuasive power Of money
she should have that pleasure.
But to his dismay he found that he
was not. He did not understand the
gentleman's request, and he refused
the offer somewhat haughtily. It was
then that Manice appealed to the man,
ignoring the artist, and at the end Of
his brief but somewhat shamefaced
explanation Hagadorn was smiling
genially.
'T'u do It with pleasure" said he,
holding out his hand.
"And Of course you'll know just
well, Just the right sort Of muster
suggested Manice. 'eThe sort that will
that wilI"-
eyes," assented the organist Il
think I know the sort" And they part
ed In great good humor.
At the end Of that rapturous hour OF
wonderful music in the dim interior OF
st. MichaeTs next day Betty simply
turned her humid eyes upon Manice
and held out her hands It was not un-
til she had gained the poise and asser-
ton Of six months Of wtfehood that
she accused him Of taking an unfair
advantage.
"As If any girl could have refused
such loverr' she taunted, ruf1fng bis
hair d1sgraeefuIly. TT was what the
papers call claptrap."