The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-15
sense of having revealed a weakness.

"Good night he said, land forgive me
for any in!pertinence." She scarcely
| had time te, reply, to ask his meaning,
for Mrs. Barnett ordered him Instantly
to bed.
No voice responded to Louis knock
! at Raymoni's door next morning, and,
hurrying 10 Barnett's room, Louis
called excitedly, Cousin Don, have you
seen Rob?'
Barnett, splashing in his tub, shout
/ ed: "No. Can't you find him?"
| s'He isn't in his room
Hes gone down to breakfast, then.
Hurry along and keep him company.
Don't let him go out"
Louis rushed into the breakfast room,
but found it empty. The maid said:
care you looking for Mr.. Raymond?
He came down very early and said he
was going out for walk
The boy hurried outdoors, filed with
dismay. He shouldn't be out alone.
He might get dizzy and fall" He ran
round the block, eagerly seeking Ray
mond, who was nowhere in sight.
When Barnett entered Rob's room be
found two letters lying on the little
desk. One was addressed to Don and
| one to Ann.
Barnett broke the seal and read his
note almost at a glance:
/ Dear Ba:-nett-Im sorry to pull out in
| this way, but T am afraid it's my only
HOY fco Ne
| cause of MY growing Indebtedness to you
! and Mrs. Barnett. and so have cut loose.
! Please don't think me ungrateful. It Is
! because I feel so deeply your kindness
! that go. Don't look for me. I'm going
to hole up for a few days till I get
j strong If you happen to get any clew to
where I've gone, don't tell the boy.
can see that his sister does not approve
Of his fon iness for me. and she is quite
right. Tn not a proper companion for
+ boy Of his sort. I inclose check. which
squares US; so far as money can, but your
/ kindness In other ways, and especially
! Mrs. Barnett's care and assistance, [ am
/ in despair of ever paying. l slide out be-
! cause it would be difficult and painful to
say goodty, and, besides. I feel that /
must cut loose from the boy.
Raymond's note to Ann was short,
almost curt:
Since my thanks are burden to you,
the least T can do is to take myself out
Of your life and beg pardon for having
!: entered it. Had I attended to my duties
that night Of the fire, you would not nave
I been troubled by me. I stayed because
you were beautiful, and that is the whole
truth It is not the first time man has
neglected his duties for a woman, and the
/ pain I ncw suffer in giving up all hope
| Of meeting, you again is a just punishment
! for my presumption. am sorry to go
without saying goodby to Louis. but 1t is
best. I know you do not like his growing
regard fol. me, and you are quite right
Louis came to her door and cried
out dolefully, "Ann, Rob has gone
awayr'
81 know it. Come in"
He entered with troubled, fearful
face and in deeply aggrieved tone said:
"He went without saying goodby. l
want to go hunt him and bring him
back, but Uncle Don says that we
must respect his wish. All the same,
i l like him, and I want him back. No,
! don't-I want to go with him."
aAnd leave ne:'
/. His resentment, long smoldering,
| burst forth: ..Yes, would! Don't you
suppose l have seen how you treated
him? You think because you're from
New York you can snub a man like
| Rob, bu: you're not up to him. You're
not half as good as he is"
d Ann listened in astonishment to this
outburst from her brother and then
cuttingl.7 remarked:
Zone would think I had taken away
some plaything Of yours. Go out Of my
room and stay out till you can treat
[ me with respect
.:I'm going, and you'll never see me
J again. I'm going to follow Rob. I
don't care what you say" With this
| defiant cry he rushed from the room.
A keen ache Of jealousy ran through
! the proud girls heart. The one soul Of
! vital interest in her life, her sweet little
brother, seemed about to pass from her
hands TO that Of an adventurer. Her
resentment of his influence blazed hot
within her. Il will defeat him with his
own weapons" she said. Il will win
! him back to me. 1 will go wherever be
wishes 20 co.
But Louis did not return to lunch,
and she was greatly troubled. He did
not appear at dinner. and at last, open
| ly alarmed, Ann told Mrs. Barnett of
Louis bitter accusation and Of his
threat that he would never return.
Don't worry. Don will find him.
He'll get tired of it and come back.
These boy1sh tantrums don't last
1T scares me to think Of that poor,
innocent lad spending the night alone
in big. wicked western city. l wish
Don would hurry home. Can't I go
down TO his Office"
"Oh, no; there's no need of your
going. III telephone him at once.'
When Barnett returned, Ann, white
with anxiety, poured out her story. He
colnfo1ted her by saying: you take it