The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-27
FOR

= "Then you won't marry me, swess.
hearth" The words were low and plead
ing, the voice very tender and true, but
the girl on whose dainty ears they fell
threw the beautiful head a little farther
back and laughed out her half vexed, half
defiant answer.
when you are on the road to success,
Gerard, III marry you at once II It be
soon, for I can't wait forever, but as you
don't apparently wish for success. them
with a lovely, willful smile and the pretti-
est Of petulsnt moues-'goodbyl"
The man listened, his handsome face
turning white, as II carved in stone.
Success with you Is only another name
"Money," the girl interrupted, with
that lovely light laugh again. II know
it, Gerard, and despise me for 1t II you
will. If you had been brought up In pow.
epty, II you had wanted frocks and pretty
shoes and dances and pleasures OF every
kind-and, oh, thousands Of things that
you couldn't get-then you, too; would
spell SUCCESS with an Ma very big M
and call 1t money! You would, I know
you would" she ended bitterly.
The man sighed heavily. Fate was in
deed against him now, and his career,
light and hopeful a. 1t looked a short tins
ago, seemed sadly dull and somber now,
and whyp Because Of that lovely face that
was turned away from him 30 petulantly,
because of the hooking words that fell
like little strokes Of a whip across his low.
ing heart. And while he thought the
music In tho distance ceased Its soft throb.
bling, the dance was over, and be had had
his answer, he supposed.
He would say III more thing before
they parted, he determined suddenly. He
would have at any rate q clear understand
ing with the woman be loved 30 n,adly.
And after that then the venture--to ting
right or to the leftl
he put out his hand to stay her a. shs
would have risen. II want to ask you
one thing more" he said, 20 gently that
her wandering attention was fixed on him
noe again.
"n ! went into the business, my Ia
theirs business, which, AZ you know, /
hate-n I gave up my dreams Of the bar
and life which I should love- life
which would be poor perhaps, but full OF
promise-if I had the prospect Of success
In the business Of which you speak 30 high
", what thsnf."' ;
She turned to him with . new light
sparkling in her beautiful eyes. Had she
conquered at last-everything, every hopa
every ambition at her feets ,
"Then," she said, her voice tender with
feeling and her soft eyelids dropping above
the brilliant eyes, "then ! should say no
more" And her tones trembled into ST.
lenoe. and her white hands played nerv.
ously with tho violets at the bosom Of her
delicate gown. ..t,
The snow fell outside very softly, wrap.
ping the sordid oity in tenderest white
coverings and transforming 1t into o king.
dom Of crystal and pearl. Inside one Of
the greatest Of it's many fair houses there
were revelry and the ripple OF silvery
voices and the ring of tuneful laughter.
One Of the lands richest men entertain
Cd his guests and Toasted them right roy.
ally, 80 that they spoke increasingly well
Of him and Of his entertainment and Of
the beauty of his peerless wife.
She stood In the great drawing room In
purest white, with diamonds on her snowy
neck and beautiful stars In her golden
hair, and around her a little company Of
the gayest and wittiest and cleverest kept
her court and pleased her with their SAL
lies until her clear laugh rang out above
all the gentle badinage around.
The husband heard the silver ripple OF
laughter, and 1t awoke some Of the old
thoughts, the old memories that he had
striven to lay by, as . child lays BY its
dear old toys when playing days ara over
and done with. g..
And all of. q sudden he felt very weary
and ~tired-tired Of the lights and the scent
Of the great banks Of roses that his wife
had ordered tho skillful florist to arrange
tired Of tho music and the faces and
the crowd, and he slipped away unnotioed
to his quiet study and sat there awhile TO
dream.
he had gone into the business that he
had heartily disliked-for Marguerite
and 1t had proved q success In his hands.
They spoke Of him for q knighthood this
year. It did not elate him much, but his
wife was delighted, and he was not tired
Of pleasing her yet. Only he had pleased
her 81 much once, he had given up 20
much for her sake, that every sense had
been curiously deadened to him since, and
SO the worlds wear and tear came and
went, and he felt but little Of It.
And his idealsi They were laid away
very safely and secretly-the steps he
would have climbed with 30 much vigor
and perseverance were moss grown nov
and gray with molding age. There wos
not much to work for now-so much had
come to him, he supposed by his own IN.
deavors az we'll as by good luck-and hs
had no child to leave 1t to. And his wifos
How tenderly she had earessed HIM at
tho time Of the sacri6oe-how gently her
pretty fingers had smoothe tho wayl Che
was so much accustomed to 1t all now, and
be had "lived 1t down. as she moe said
playfully to him. She was always sweet
and always beautiful, and every n said
he was the luckiest man In London. Per-
haps 1t was true.
he got up and sauntered back to the
drawing room. His lovely wife was chat
ting with young barrister as he passed.
my husband would have been Just like
you today" he heard her say N that OK.
auisite voice Of hers, "if he had not taken
my advice. He took 1t, and you 600 the
result"
The younger man looked round. BE
saw the beautiful rooms. the brilliant
crowd, the flashing Of countless gems, the
peerless beauty Of the woman who spoke,
be heard the music rising and falling In
the distance and breathed the delicate
scents Of rarest blossoms.
Again he saw the word "Suocess" writ
ten everywhere-sucoess that be, . begin"
ner, a novice, could never hope to emulate.
Suddenly the worn face Of the master met