The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-03-02

who really experienced certain re.
lief in making these condolences, felt
irritated, and finally asked:
What do you mean by that but
Byrd? Have you any reason to think
she is not a true woman? Have they.
been talking scandal about my dar.
ling!"
Far from it," was the quick reply.
"She is universally commended. Peo.
pie note her grace, her gentleness and
her dignity, and wonder If it was ler
study for the stage which has made
her so fitted to sustain the part Of a
grand lady. No, she has'but few de.
tractors so far as have been able to
learn. and have taken occasion to
hear the talk about her, for I was inter-
ested in seeing how her nature would
bear the strain Of such good fortune"
But that but? What did you mean
by it? 1t sticks in my ears
Eyes, I made a mistake in using it,
especially as I cannot really say why 1
did so. Perhaps because the usual risk
there is in marrying woman Of so
much wealth is aggravated in her case
by the suddenness with which she ac-
Quired it,"
"That wretched money"
"You know, Degraw, that am not a
light-hearted fellow; that look at
things seriously and that'I regard love
and mutual regard as the only good
foundation Of marital happiness.
Therefore, when I warn you to be
careful and make sure Of this woman
before you place your honor and hap.
pfness in her keeping am but acting
friends part to you. I should so
hate to see your fame and the serenity
Of your life sacrificed to a capricious
or selfish woman"
"They will not be. If she marries
me at all it must be because she loves
me. 1 have painted pictures, but !
am not yet first in my art, and men
more eminent than myself have done
her homage"
Byrd shook his head and wheeled a
portable mirror suddenly in front Of
the artist.
"Every man does not look like that, y
he remarked, pointing to his friends
reflection in the glass. "She undoubt:
edly loves you, but There is that
miserable but again." he laughed.
II do not wonder you are angry. am
insufferable, I know"
The artist looked greatly discam.
posed, but it was not exactly with an.
ger. If Bryd's objections were unex.
pected and calculated to wound his
keenest susceptibilities, the manner in
which they were urged was so candid
and sympathetic that a more irascible
man than Degraw would have hesi.
tated before taking offense. 1t was
fear which had been aroused in him
by his companions words, or rather
dread. The future, whiclrsh had looked
so rosy an hour ago, was becoming
darkened by shadows he neither aun.
derstood nor welcomed.
"You have heard something against
Miss Rogers" he finally affirmed, land
are trying to break it to me-"
But Horace Byrd shook his head.
"No." he declared, you are mistaken.
All that have heard is in her favor
I have absolutely nothing to urge
against her. only wish you to be
careful, and to blind yourself to her
beauty and her wealth till you know
the depths of a nature that may well
have been greatly tried by this sudden
good fortune. Is it asking too much?
Am I transgressing the bounds of
friendship, or obtruding too much Of
detectives caution. into the, impetuous
artists affections?'
y Hamilton Degraw did not immediate.
ly answer. He was engaged in drop.
ping a curtain over the exquisite pic.
ture Of the signorina, which he may
have thought was being robbed of
some of it's sacredness by this free
talk concerning it's beautiful original.
When it was quite hidden he spoke.
To be continued.