The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-05-31

face of a middle-aged woman-close to
another which rested against his heart.
/ That other was a bonny face-the face
of the girl he loved, and he was quite
unconscious. as he thrust it away, that
the photograph of the older woman had
taken the place Of the younger.
"Well you can tell her. Jack" said
Miss Martin, that l think you're a
Il lucky man. I always liked Kitty IRE
vor. knew Ler mother years ago. and
somehow, when I saw you together,
I hoped it would come TO this. I'm
glad Of it, Jack"
He turned away, whistling like a
%ischoolboy. for the world was 4 pecu-
.IiarIy happy place to him just then.
But fate has a nasty way of playing
a man a trick sometimes, and an hour
or two later. as Jack turned into OK
ford street, fate played him one.
He came face to face with q man,
who stood still when he saw him, and
caught him by the arm.
"Jack Elton, as l live" he cried.
Jack turned and then held out his
hand.
Captain Riley" he cried. "Why, 1
haven't seen you for years-it must be
five or six"
"It's nearly six years." said the Cap
tain, "since I went away, and I sup
pose the world has changed 4 bit since
then. What has happened to you?'
Jacks hand Travelled quickly to his
breast pocket.
"Everything," he said. "The best that
could"
He drew out a 0hosograph-the one
nearest his heart, and held it for an
instant in the palm Of his hand, and
his fingers closed round it as if it were
a treasure.
"Tm-I'm going to be married." he
said, hesitatingly. "to-to-her!"
He lifted Up his hand abruptly with
the photograph lying in the palm, and
turned its face toward the Captain
without looking at it himself. His
eyes were alight, and if Captain Riley
had looked at him he might have been
even more startled than he was.
As it was, he fell back sharply, with
a queer gasp for breath.
What he saw was a woman'S thin
face. with wavy dark hair parted in
the middle, with lips grown bitter
through disappointment, with eyes
faded, perhaps with too much weep
ing. 1t was the photograph of Miss
Martin!
His bronzed face grew grey.
"To marry-ner!' be- cried. huskily.
"Good heaven, mar, you can't mean
itr'
Jack drew back the photograph
hastily and thrust it into his pocket
again.
81 mean it," he said stif1y, "and
why not?'
"Well, I hope she'll treat you better
than she treated me-" he said, bitterly,
and Jack started. and rose to his feet.
Treated youT" be cried, hoarsely.
"What do you mean"
The Captain laughed, and then his
lips set.
~ mean" he said. steadily, "that l
meant to mary her once, and l thought
she meant to marry me-. but it appeared
she didn't. She altered her mind-she
jilted me, as I afterward heard she had
Tilted a dozen men Before me. But you
may have better luck. You're better
looking than I was. anG-and-"
Jack looked at him with his face
growing red and hard:
"It's a lie." he burst out at last. "It
must be a lie. It's impossible. En-
gagged to YOU"
You'd better 90 and ask he: whether
it is a lie or not" be said. "Ask her
why I went away six years ago! Ask
+ hero Heaven! Ask her If she didn't
once swear with her arms round my
= neck that I was the only man she ever
really cared for. and ask her if a month
late" she didn't bid me go where I
would! Ask her-ask her. 1 suppose
she's sworn the same thing to you"
'It's 4 lie" Jack cried. But I'll ask
her. III go now. She's true as steel
Id stake my life on her"
Jack went as rapidly as he could to-
ward his fancee's house: and when he
was shown in to her. he strobe forward
i i~mpetuously. with his heart beating
like a sledge hammer.
Kit" he cried, huskily, 81 want to
ask you something. It's a lie. / know
its almost an insult to ask you, but
I've just seen 4 mana Captain Riley
Il met him in the street by accident,
= and lie says
He hesitated. Kitty had given a little
i start, and a color had sprung into her
cheeks. She gave a quick, involuntary
4 glance out Of the window. How odd!
Il Only an hour ago Miss Martin had been
speaking Of Captain Riley. If it should
be the same! II she could manage
somehow to patch up the quarrel OF ten
years standing. that had been renewed
six years ago, and had never been made
+ UP! If she-Kitty-cc lid somehow heal
Il the breach now!
She looked up at Jack with her lips
parted.
Captain Riley" SIZE asked, breath
Iessly.
Jack fell back,