Macon beacon., 1905-07-08
pity was akin to q much more erxe-
uonal passion.
"Sh!" said the lawyer raising Q
| warning finger.


uonal passion.
"Sh!" said the lawyer raising {
warning finger
There was the sound Of light foot
step and a sharp rustllng of feminine
garments. Percy gasped and looked
around. A slight girl who answered
the description recently given stood
in the doorway. Her full. clear eyes
were turned upon him with a look Of
sweetness and reproach that made
him keenly aware Of the absurd lack Of
taste In the defendant whom he evi
IDENTIFY was representing.
SSH" said the lawyer again; and
with that tact for which his profes-
sion is noted, he tiptoed to the door
and closed it behind him, leaving the
two alone.
That something must be done was
evident. What 1t should be was an
other question. The fair plaintiff
stood still, not venturing to advance
and not willing to retreat. Her eyes
we're downcast. and her breast was
heaving TREMENDOUSLY Percy, In still
more perplexing situation, stood gaz,
ing at her until their eyes met Then
she spoke:
"Oh, Fred!" she cried, "how could
you!"
Not being sufficiently acquainted
with the facts In the case Percy
couldn't have answered If his life de-
pended on it; but he saw that the
time had come to dispel the illusion In
regard to his character
There seems to be some-some ter
rible understanding, he STAN
mered." IL"
Dear Fred!"
mo, MOI" he cried. mot that! You
seem to have made the mistake Of
thinking-thinking-"
Il know IT," she cried generously
ut was all my fault"
Unconsciously he took her extended
hand, and thrill passed up his arm
and lodged somewhere beneath his
left shoulder; but presently he re.
gained his self-possession and released
his grasp.
you don't understand mel" he ex-
planned hoarsely 'You don't love me
you love another"
She placed her head between her
hands and sank into the chair, Sob
bing 1T was all that cruel letter,
she cried. Il only wrote it-in-in
fun; and-besides--didn't you know
Arthur was my consin?'
Excuse me-" said Percy, laying his
hand tenderly upon her shoulder "you
are still laboring under wrong i'm
preston don't know Arthur and
never saw any letter."
She arose and brushed the hair from
her forehead with a pathetic motion
Then" she cried despairingly, "it was
something else. Oh, Fred, tell me-tell
me-what was IT."
Percy drew himself up resolutely
THE fact is,' he said, that | am moi
the man you think l am"
Don't say that" she cried. 81 have
forgiven the past long, long ago. You
are the man | have always loved, and
that is enough for me-"
you are still wrong" said Percy
brutally. "a mean that I am not the
defendant in this case"
She looked at him quickly, and as
she gazed the humor of the situation
forced itself upon her face. Then In
a hysterical sort of way she laughed
and pressed a tiny handkerchief to her
eyes. "You look very much like him,
she stammered.
Il hope" he replied with some gal
lantry, that am not like him"
Mr.. Bowden of Bowden 6 Johnson
hustled in at this juncture. "Your
counsel" he said significantly to Percy
has asked that the case be held over
until the next term of court. l am
happy to hear It, SIR"
so far as | am concerned" returned
that young man, and 1t is note.
worthy fact that he smiled at the
young lady as he spoke, "the case may
be absolutely dismissed"
Mr.. Bowden beamed upon the de-
fendant, and then beamed upon the
plaintiff, and then ended all by reso.
lutely turning his back to them both
and beaming out of the window while
he wiped the moisture from his heavy
spectacles.
"Mr. Bowden," said the plaintiff
softly.
"At your service" replied that gen
tleman, whirling sharply around and
still beaming.
81 think you may-you may"
Drop the case altogether" suggest
ed Percy.
EYES," she said, coloring at the sug-
gestion and looking very much embar-
rassed and very delightfully."- charming
"you may drop the case altogether
Mr.. Bowden watched them as they
left the room Then he chuckled
wisely and tore up legal document he
had in his pocket. In all probability
he beamed again as he did it.