The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-09-01

"Why have you come here" asked
uncle Sam in a husky voice, suddenly
springing to his feet.
Annie Wolsey closed the door as de-
liberately as she had opened 1t, and
leaned her back against it-perhaps
for the support it afforded, for she was
ghastly pale. and seemed unable to
close her colorless lips to give utter
ance to her thoughts.
"Why have you come here?" asked
uncle Sam again. you have received
my letter."
"Yes, 1 have received your letter."
said the agitated woman, after pain
full pause, land l will not believe Its
contents in that form. With those
lips with which you have so often ex-
pressed you interest in me must you
you tell me that you have no wish to
see me again, or I can never believe
It."
"Annie," said uncle Sam sternly, yet
with slight tremor in his voice. what
l have said to you in my letter Is true,
every word, and must be acted upon.
1t is entirely your own fault that 1t
is so. Had you but followed my sim
pie advice this had never happened.
How many times have warned you
of the probable outcome Of your COM
munications with your father! The
result is only such as I feared and
foresaw. Now you have regained your
father, and your father has put 1t out
of my power to be to you what once
was; but in whatever part Of the world
you may choose to live you shall al
ways be provided with large means"
20 Sam, surely this is not to be the
end Of our friendship? Oh, don't for
sake me; defy the worlds opinion in
this as you have defed it in so many
other ways. Consider your great
wealth and the independence 1t con-
fers; what censure you cannot afford
to ignore, you can stife with your
gold. Don't forsake me, Sam"
The speakers face was flushed now;
and having found her voice, she spoke
rapidly, but in a plaintive, pleading
tone that was painful to hear. In the
tall, graceful woman standing before
me could with difficulty recognize the
Suffolk village girl who but few
years before had been my almost con-
stant companion, so changed was she.
But her face and figure were none the
less familiar to me, though for another
and very different reason. When An
ME Wolsey first entered the room
had started involuntarily, so great was
her resemblance to the portrait Of my
mother which hung in the drawing
room at Holdenhurst Hall. would
at once have withdrawn, as having
neither the right nor desire to be pres
ent at such a conference, but that
Annie stood against the closed door,
and my presence embarrassed the dis
putants so little that neither Of them
took the least notice Of me.
Annie Molsey's passionate appeal WIS.,
IDLY disconnected uncle Sam.
Annie" said uncle Sam, advancing
towards her and taking her hand in
his, Il don't think my regret is less
intense than yours, but what I have
written I have written, and come what
may I will adhere to it. Goodbye,
Annie"
annie Wolsey took the hand which
my uncle extended towards her, and
muttered a brief farewell in a voice
too broken with emotion for me to
make out the words of which it was
composed, turned to leave. AS she
did so, my aunt Gertrude entered the
room; and the two stood, scarce a
yard apart, regarding each other in
silence.
Aunt Gertrude was the first to speak.
Bowing slightly she addressed her in
icy tones, but with admirable restraint:
Il beg your pardon, Miss Wolsey, for
so unceremoniously interrupting your
conversation with my husband. Would
you like me TO retlre until you uaVe
concluded your business with him?"
The calmness of the American lashed
the despairing Englishwoman into an
uncomfortable outburst Of fury. mo-"
she screamed; II would not' and
with these words the enraged woman
drew from her bosom small packet
of papers and cast it contemptuously
upon the table. Then, drawing her.
self up to her full height, and darting
one last indignant glance at my uncle,
with flushed face and flashing eyes
Annie Wolsey passed out Of the open
door and was gone.
Uncle Sam. who had been o silent
spectator of this scene, made motion
as though he would follow her, which
aunt Gertrude perceivlng, threw her
arms around his neck and prevented.
My uncle endeavored to put his wife
gently aside, but could not. Follow
her, Ernest, follow her" he cried;
don't leave her while she Is in this
mood. Quick, or she Is lost"
h,,+o-od 1orup tho limo cta frpaSa