The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-09-08
BLOOMFIELD

ObxhT bOSNkEs oONes
; What a mean. spiteful fellow Mr..
Price is, to be surew exclaimed Con-
stance. II never liked the expression
of that mans face, nor his manner, but
I am surprised be should write such
a letter as that. What good can he
hope to get from it?'
Don't you see. dear. how much he
would like to separate us! l have al
ready told you the facts upon which
he has based this letter..
"Yes, Ernest, and please don't tell
me again. I'm afraid I'm little tired
Of speaking and thinking about these
things alluding to the seQuins which
she was turning round and round with
her delicate white fingers. But sup
pose Mr.. Price could separate US. how
would that benefit him? He knows I
would not marry him in any case. 1
have told him so in plain words many
a time"
"Spiteful and mischievous as the man
is, I don't in the least doubt. my dear
Connie, but that he loves you as sin
cerely as his nature allows him to
love. Indeed. it is difficult to conceive
Of any man not loving you who has
once seen you. and it is the quality Of
never to entirely despair of achieving
it's object until that object is irrevoca-
bly, lost. This letter was written yes
terday, so by now Mr.. Price IS on his
way to England Before be reaches
Liverpool you will be my wife. and
when he learns that fact perhaps he
will cease to interest himself in our
affairs. Only six days! Fancy that,
petw
"Yes, fancy it! How sudden it has
all been! I am in disgrace with my
friends for deserting them, and in de-
Tending myself I have laid the blame
on you for monopolizing my time. 1
say, Ernie, dear. one Of the six girls
whom I have asked to be bridesmaid
has declined" x..c.,.,
"Who is she?" I inquired.
"Miss Christison-you know who l
mean; the young lady who can't marry
! without losing her. fortune"
20 yes; remember her. Who will
take her placer"
Tnez Juarrez."
"You must forgive Miss Christison
on account Of her absurd and cruel
circumstances"
"Of course. dear, but"
At that moment our conversation was
Uninterrupted by the loud and continuous
ringing of electric bells within the
house, and the hasty running of SER
wants up and down the stairs. Con-,
stance and l started to our feet and
listened for q moment, and the con-
fusion continuing we left the room
to ascertain its cause. Outside the
door. upon the landing, we met my
aunt Gertrude, who was descending
the stairs dressed for going out, and
no sooner saw her face, veiled though
it was, than 1 perceived that she was
painfully agitated.
What Is the matter?" We both asked,
as with one voice.
"Oh, Connie. dear, don't stop me! A
clerk at Mills Building has just tele-
phoned to say that Sam has been seized
with sudden illness, and l am not to
lose a moment in going to him. I
fear h. is dead. though they say he Is
not"
Dead! Impossible! An hour ago
he was here and well!'
But aunt Gertrude could not hear the
exclamations either Of her sister or me,
for she had scarcely paused in her de-
scent while imparting this terrible in
formation. A world of confused and
painful thoughts filed my mind, and a
strange pallor overspread the face of
the dear one at my side; the color faded
from her lips, and but for my timely
support she would have fallen. The
next moment the street door was heard
to close, and the carriage containing
aunt Gertrude was driven rapidly
away.
Leading Constance back into the
room, We both sat down upon couch
and regarded each other in silence. l
consulted my watch; the hour wanted
twenty minutes to midday. Uncle Sam
had left home to 60 to his office at 10
o'clock. he being then in sound health
and high spirits. Constance was the
first to speak. II can't believe, Ernie,
dear" she said. that anything very
serious can be the matter, though
Gertrude seems so frightened. How
could there be-" But the unconcealed
agitation of the fair speaker belied her
words, and l was in no condition to
support them by argument. "Let US
60 into Sans study and inquire by
the telephone how he Is now," she
presently added.
"Yes. certainly; that is good
thought. But doesn't uncle keep his
study locked?"
Yes; but Gertie also has key of it,
and 1 don't suppose she stayed to lock
il in her haste"