The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-01-04

WOMAN'S VICTORY

BY A. WIGHT.

Saa~ low, old-fashioned build
ing-stood q few rods from the hotel,
and accommodated about thirty guests,
OF whom Dorothy Stretton was one.
Dorothy was at Cults Head with
her father and a widowed aunt, who
acted as chaperon. .
People said she was the gentlest,
Ioyeliest girl they ever knew with her
fri nds and with the unfortunate, and
ths t she was like ice FOR GOODNESS when
she chose to be.
Oscar .Dinsmore,. who had followed
her to Cults Head. was boarding at
the Excelsior House. He vas cousid-
cred a capital fellow" among his as
sociates; he spent money freely, owned
a yacht, drove a handsome pair, was
witty, accomplished, and had been
nearly everywhere.
This man. who had been dattered
and eourted enough to spoil most men,
was N love with Dorothy, and she was
not Indifferent to him, though she en-
-deavored to be.
He was too bold q lover to be daunt-
ed, however, and so, n lovely night,
when a pale young moor swung low
over the solemn sea, and the sound of
tripping feet mingled with the throb
of viol and cornet in. the hall. he
wrapped a shawl about her, drew her
out upon the balcony, told his story
as he alone could tell it, passionately
and tenderly, and waited for her reply,
scarcely doubling what it would be.
He gazed at her in amazement when
the girls sweet lips syllabled softly:
issNo."
dorothy! I would have sworn that
you loved me. I know you to be above
triaing with the honest love of any
man!w he cried.
II think it will make you angry, but
] must speak, much as I value your
friendship. I refused your offer to-
night, Mr.. Dlnsmore, because I know
&iat you are frittering away 4 splendid
manhood, and God does not put us into
the world to cultivate the meaner part
OF our natures. 1t is an actual sin
for a man of your ability and means
to drift with the tide, as you are drift
Ing" ,,
The low vibrant voice died away
upon the cold night air.
Oscar stood before her in COMPOUNDED
silence, a hot flush burning his
brow.
And through this thought was the
uneasy consciousness of his own short
comings.
He collected himself with 4 sudden
effort, and smiled with cold courtesy
as he gave her his arm. .
Miss Stretton is pleased to be criti-
CAL" he observed. "But even blame
from her own lips is an honor. Shall
we return"
Il knew you would be angry with
ne,'. she said, wistfully, just before
they entered the hall; 'but I have
spoken only the truth. Your future
lies, in your own hands"
For weeks Oscar avoided Dorothy,
and lived 80 recklessly that lie became
the talk Of all the people at Cults
Head.
Day by day the girl saw him whirl-
= ing by behind his handsome thorough
breds with 4 set of men who were glad
ITO spend his money; or heard his voice
in reckless laughter as he betted in
tue bowling alley or billiard hall; and
not ;nfrequently she saw by his flushed
oo o-I ,,rctaa1u avaC Lhot. Ia ho1
been drinking too freely.
Dinsmore never missed an expression
Ion the fair, pale face when she was
WITHIN sight, although he s%crupulously
avoided speaking to her. He took 4
Sort Of savage delight in his reckless
sourse, sand in the grave sorrow Of the
x girls eyes, and all the while his love
q FOR her grew stronger and stronger in
y his heart.
The summer was ended. The first Of
4 Che September days had come, and Dor
othy's party were preparing to return
\ to town. The girl had suffered q new
experience, for the pain was too deep
for uninterested eyes to read.
in the six years which followed. it
was 4 mystery to Dorothy's friends
why she did not marry. Suitors she
/ hal in plenty, and admirers who would
kGave wooed her had they dared; but
dorothy, to ali appearances, was invul-
kerable.
II was during the winter after her
gtwenty-sixth birthday, thct she, in com
pany with her father, was travelling
Niu England. and the fame of the great
) surgeon, Doctor Dinsmore, came to
their ears. People focked 10 him in
scores; his operations were wonderful,
and his sympathy and generosity some
thing to be ted Of by The destitute and
suffering with tears ard blessings.