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

until after he was able to 90 about tho
house unaided did the permanent,
changes wrought in him by the Illness
through which he had passed become
fuzzy apparent, and then it was seen
that his once light brown hair had be.
come almost entirely grey. that there
were lines in his face which had-net
been observed before his illness, and
that his step was a trifle slower and
less elastic than of old. thought his
cheerfulness and his frank cynicism
had escaped unaffected until he sur
prised me one morning by informing
his friend, Mr.. Rosenberg, in my pres
ence. that it was his intention as soon
as he returned from Newport to close
his speculative business affairs, and de.
vote his remaining days to safeguard.
ing such dollars as he had already &C.
quired. leaving the pursuit Of wealth to
younger or more ardent spirits.
By the opening Of March uncle Sans
family-in which, Of course. include
myself. for long before this time was
regarded by everybody as belonging
thereto-were comfortably settled In
his villa at Newport. Rhode Island,
where it was thought the ocean breezes
and coltinued withdrawal from bua-
ness cares might restore him to his for
ner condition of mental and physical
! vigor. 4
Chatham Villa is one Of the numer-
J Gus artistic summer houses which
abound in the southern portion CT
Rhode Island. and stands in extensive
pleasure grounds overlooking Nara
| gansett Bay. AS yet the weather was
very cold for living in such an open sit
uation, but the sky was almost always
clear and bright, and scarcely a day
Of the seven weeks that we remained
on the island passed without Con-.
stance and me, thickly clad with fTrs.
taking an invigorating walk, In which
exercises we were sometimes accom-
panied by uncle and aunt, the former
Of whom would point out where the
5000 British troops and their Hessian
mercenaries were Quartered during the
American Revolution. and the wastes
where once fourlshed the fine groves
which they cut down for fuel; and he
would sometimes further describe how
my countrymen had destroyed nearly
500 of the houses and all the shipping
then harbored there.
Although, all things considered, /
must always look back upon my first
sojourn at Newport with much gratih-
cation-indeed it could hardly be othr
erwise, for I enjoyed the almost unin.
terrupted company Of Constance while
I was there-I was rejoiced as the Pc
rlod fixed for our stay drew towards its
close. and that for the best Of all pos
sible reasons.
Before leaving New York it had been
arranged that Constance and were to
be married at a Presbyterian church
ON Fifth avenue the first day OF May.
and we were to return to the city one
week prior to that event. In accord
ance with the wish Of everybody CON-
cerned, the ceremony was to be OF the
simplest possible character, and an
hour after its accomplishment we were
TO leave for Saratoga. where suite OF
rooms had been engaged for me at the
Grand Union Hotel.
Preoccupied as I was with the ant1ci-
patton of my approaching happiness, !
could never forget my father, and IN
nv more reflective moments was dls-
turbed at hearing no news OF MIN,
either directly or indirectly. but could
not think OF any better way OF amend
inc the unfortunate rupture between
us than that which Constance had pro-
posed-a plan not yet practicable, IN
creasing my already great impatience
with the slow-moying hours.
The eve of our return to New YORK
at length arrived. April wasdrawins
to IT'S close. and the weather was so
genial that we sat with comfort In
group by the opened glass doors when :
lead on to the veranda that overlooks
the bay. Uncle Sam and were smoK-
ing. a habit which by long use our re-
spectiye ladies had grown to tolerate
at all sorts of unreasonable times ana
places. Aunt Gertrude was engaged
Working a monogram in silken charac-
ters on a strengthening purse OF nne
network which she had designed Tor
her sister, while the latter nestled at
nv side wistfully turning over an az
bum of photographs. "The cardinal
had lust been carried of to bed by his
nurse, after amusing US for ten min
utes by an exhibition Of his precocify.
his customary evening privilege.
c,o Sam was in high spirits, and more
his former self than at any time {
his illness. After intently oo-
>. ling his wife's work for some min
ures (my aunt had completed the G ana
was now outlining T. not an NJ, ne 4
suddenly exclaimed: Ernest, you are
a lucky dog" to which inelegant assef-
ton I signifed my assent. at the same
time taking Comics hand In mine.