The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-12-19

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sponsibility of her position too well
to abuse it by retailing to her neigh
bors incidents that might be injuri-
Gus to her dodgers, but the ways Of
this vague, fair-haired girl were not
her ways, and Mrs. Armstrong posi-
lively ached to confde the fruit of
her observations to the ear OF some
sympathetic soul. Mrs. Armstrong
succeeded in containing herself until
the arrival of Ivan Meyer at Walso.
This took place two days later than
the advent of Marie Bakovitch her
self, and before the wonder of her
coming had been fully discussed or
exhausted.
Meyer soon discovered that the 81
lence of the absorbed and dreamy
girl was more likely to do harm than
a discreet straightforwardness OF
speech. He therefore informed Mrs,
Armstrong of sundry particulars or"
corning himself and his sister Marie.
Without %ill-treating the truth, he
slipped round about it by that same
path which at first looks SO broad
and easy, but soon becomes tortuous
and hard to trace with reliant clear
ness. -; .- "
Ivan Meyer was young, and there
fore full of hope, which is essentially
a flower of springtime growth. TO
have constant intercourse with Marie
Bakovitch was to this patient lover a
source of happiness. His cold north
ern blood allowed his mind such thor
ough control over his heart, and those
latent passions which exist deep
down in the soul Of every man, be
his eyes of calm blue or fiery black,
that he could, at her bidding. in very
truth cast away the lover and become
a brother.
He still hoped to persuade the girl,
whom he in his simplicity looked
upon as possessed for the time being
by a mental disease-though he did
not suspect that the doctors had al
ready commenced to give it a name
to give up her mad project of serving
her country by a useless murder.
Also he hoped, by the constant infu-
ence of his. presence, to turn her
thoughts + other things, and bring
back the sweet and merry little Marie
of his boyhood. Yet behind the sub
lime light Of hope he vaguely felt the
presence Of a cloud. A dull misgiv-
ing was ever lat the portals of his
heart, awaiting the night hour, or the
aid of some passing untoward cir
cumstance, to effect an entrance.
He rather dreaded the first men
ton of the subject which occupied
the girls mind, and, though he did
his best to talk of other topics, she
took the very earliest opportunity OF
bringing it forward.
Mrs. Armstrong had just cleared
away the remains Of their simple
evening meal, and set the lamp on
the table. Meyer produced his port
folio and spoke of his latest sketches;
but the girl quietly placed her hand
upon it so as to keep it closed, and
looking across the table, forced him
to meet her eyes, and said, slowly:
Ivan, what news have you?"
"He is here" replied the young
artist, reluctantly.
cat Broomhaugh?"
"At Broomhaugh. His mother is
there also; Colonel Wright, his wife
and daughter as WE'LL
Marie Bakovitch sat for some mo-
ments in silence. Her hands, very
white and beautifully formed, were
lying upon the green tablecloth, with
a peculiar stiffness which was char
acteristic of the girl. 1t was a still
ness without peace. Without raising
her eyes she said, presently:
And the other-the ~sailor?' Her