The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-04-07
Her letters come s-arn alI ..,nhrtss of the


world, but I an now satisfied that
they are sent to the places where they
are posted merely to disguise the
whereabouts of the writer. and think
it is probable she is in England in the
neiShborhood of London. Last year
when l was i'll in Wellington. New
Zealand. the particulars Of my illness
were known to her. and she wrote to
me more frequently than usual.
Only once since she went away did
she fail to write 10 me for three
months. ard then came Il lon- inttcr.
couched IN terms more than usually
affectionate. informing me that she
had been Ill, but was now recovered:
that there was nothing she desired
more than to see lie again, but that il
she could not ask my forgiveness in
the character OF wife she would not
ask ii in the character OF mO.he:.
| am convinced tina; my girl is we'll
treated. so far As is possible under any
such arrangement us ihai TO which
she Is a party. | forgive her the step
shr has taken from my very heart,
though l reG-c. 1t as k2enly as any
father could Were l TO sea her or
write to her should tell her this and
use no word o. r6p:Oacn
And now for the aid require from
you. I have noticed that the letters
which reach me from Annie are en-
closed il cEvclouCs embossed At the
extreme edge Of the opening. "Dicken
son. Maker. Richmond. Surrey" That
you may not fail to understand my
meaning. | enclose one OF the envel-
opeS. From this evidence / have
formed the opinion that she lives in
Richmond or the"eabouts. and l want
you. if you will to institute secret
inQuiry-personally. if You can convc
niently do 500 ascertain this posi-
lively. but you must be careful thar
she does not see you. OF before I could
return to England she would he gone
Should You discover her You might
telegraph 20 lIP, bu, Il YOU fail 10 do
2Si1. POStofiice. Sydney. " s. W. I
am anxious to avoid returning to Eng
lard unless there is a good chance Of
achieving my object. and this for sew.
cral reasons. OF which economy is not
The least. for l have not found it easy
to travel as l have done on an income
less than 200 year-though of this
make no complaint. If only 1 might
see and talk with my Annie once morc
could die content.
With every good wish for yourself
and my grandson Ernest-who must
be almost, if not quite. man now
and assuring you both that l have
never ceased 20 think of you notwith.
standing my long silence, remain. nj.
ways yours faithfully.
WILLIAM WOLSEl.
The letter fell from my hands and
sat for some minutes lost in thought.
That the playmate Of my childhood,
she who had always been to me as a
sister rather than the relation she.
really was. should have fallen so low.
filled me with sadness. while I could
not but feel extreme pity for my
grandfatherin in his desolation. Thoughts
Of the happy Saturdays in summer
when. with little Annie for my com.
panion. 1 had wandered through the
Suffolk groves in search of nuts. or
chased her among the neglected grave
stones Of Holdenhurst churchyard, Of
her bright eyes. rosy cheeks and happy
smile. crowded upon my mind. And
thought. too, Of the stalwart old man
who had taught me to ride and shoot.
whom l had accompanied l know not
how many times to Bury market in
bis village cart. picturing him now as
white-haired and bowed with care. I
know not how long my reverie lasted,
but when was recalled to myself by
summons to breakfast started up,
full of energy. resolved to do whatever
might lie in my power to satisfy the
pathetic appeal had just read.
My uncle and aunt and Miss Marsh
were already seated when I entered
the breakfast room. Uncle Sam was
stirring his coffee vigorously, and ap-
peared even more vivacious than usual.
What he exclaimed. as entered
the door. lone week in London and
your country habits already lost!
Why, l thought you were an early
riser. Come, Ernest. what have you
to say for yourself:"
only that 1 have been up for nea-l.-
two hours"
Two hours" echoed uncle Sar: =.
credulously: why what have you
been doing:"
l replied that had been reading my
letters. The declaration mystified rp-
Gle Sam still more He said he had
himself sorted all the letters which
had arrived. and there appeared to be
none for me. Ny explanation Of this.
l thought, was not very pleasing to my
uncle. for after remarking that what
ever might be the nature Of my CORR
spondence it did not seem very beneG
cial to me, for l looked very pale owe