The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-15

:@S~ and absolutely a smash.
We'll, it's no good wilmington done
for"
, Jack gave q sigh, for there was
something more than a financial loss
impending, and he knew it.
Throughout the seven and twenty
years of his life he had been accuS-
toned to regard himself. and had been
regarded by others, as a rich mans
Bon. Wetmore s Wetmore had always
been held above suspicion. AS he sat
In his comfortably furnished rooms he
could hear the cries of the newS-boys
with the special edition of the evening
papers
i Further details Of the Wetmore
failure"
! He rose from the table and pushed
the papers YEARLY from him. Stroll
Ing from the dressing room adjoining
he exchanged his smoking jacket for
o dress coat and arranged his tie with
q critical air.
"If it is to be my last appearance"
he said, Eat least III make it as out
wardly respectable as I can"
Then he frowned and looked thought
fully at the fire, his hand unconscious
~ moving toward the mantclpiece till
It touched a massive silver frame con-
tanning a portrait, a recent one evident
~, of q particularly handsome girl.
"It's no good, Bessie-no good. my
ear. I dare not speak to you now.
I'm done for"
Twenty minutes later the butler at
Blansford's announced Mr.. Wetmore,
and after a few words with Mrs.
Blansford. his hostess, he passed into
the ballroom. In all the brilliant
crowd there was only one face he
looked for. one ~well-known figure for
the sight of which he yearned.
At last. after wandering through
several rooms he saw her. She vas
sitting under a shaded lamp. apparent
Iy paying but little attention to the
man who was talking to her. But the
Instant Mr.. Wetmore passed through
the door she beckoned to him.
"Come and sit here, Jack" said she.
pointing to the vacant seat just left
by the other man.
! She regarded him with an amused
little smile and a nod of approval. She
was a young woman with ideas Of her
own. and she appreciated the light,
careless manner with which he seemed
to carry his misfortune.
"You don't look very doleful, Jack.
under the circumstances"
He laughed. a little.
"My dear Miss Blansford, do you
Think it would help matters if 1 went
about looking like a mute at a fun
eral?
"And pray. my dear Jack" she re-
&orted ~mockingly, since when I have
become Miss Blansford?"
"Since 1 heard the news last night"
he answered grimly.
= sob! very we'll, if you are going to
pout and quarrel with your friends
just because you've lost a little
money
I "It may be a little. but unfortunately
1t happens to be all I've got. l owe
q good deal besides"
; Wetmore rose and held out his hand.
He was fast losing his self-control.
81 must be off. I came only to say
goodbye to you
Miss Blansford closed her fan Tith
a snap. ;
; "Sit down. Jack, at once, and don't
be an idiot"
Taken aback at this sudden and pre-
emptory command, he obeyed.
snow, then. what was it you really
came to say > me?'
"To say good-by. and ask you tt
wish me good luck he answered.
"What would you have said if things
had-had been different? Shall I tel
you?" she whispered. you would
have said, Bessie. 1 love you AnC
now. Just because you're a goose ant
an idiot, and 1 happen to possess more
money than 1 know what to do with
you would rather die than say foul
simple little words like that
ooh. Bessie
Eyes. oh, Bessie" she continued
mockingly. It's always oh. Bessie.
And yet through sheer Cbstinacy yol
are putting poor Bessie to the trouble
of making a formal proposal for thu
honor of your hand in marriage"
: Wetmore sprang to his feet.
J 81 won't listen" said ne. "Its no
fair of you, Bessie"