The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-01-30
You have never congratulated

"You have never congratulated
He did not raise his eyes fromEthe
contemplation of the faithful Adonls
during the little pause before Lena
spoke.
"I congratulate you," she said, in
differently.
VINEYARD smiled suddenly. The re-
ply and manner of delivering it were
so exactly as he would have done 1t
himself, that it seemed as if she were
mimicking him.
"I am sorry I have to go at such a
short notice." he said, conventional
ly; but he laid his hand on Adonis'
rough back close to her wrist, which
somehow changed the burden of his
remark.
Eyes, it is O pity" she replied.
~cheerfully, as if he were leaving to
keep some pleasant engagement.
However," he said, STOPPING to ex-
anime the name inscribed on the
dogs collar, which could not have
been very new to him; however, we
will get the theatricals in"
Yes, we will get the theatricals
in"
He was not looking at the dog now,
but at her.
Lena rose from their humble seat
unon the clean. gray stone and moved
toward the house. 800.
II know" she said, that Charlie
is patiently working away at the seem
cry. Let US be virtuous and help
him." 4
And SO she led the way into the
house, Adonis and his master meekly
following.
Since the midnight interview with
Marie Bakovitch and her lover, Win"
yard had heard nothing from or OF
those unsatisfactory foreigners. He
had duly advised Colonel Wright OF
their entire proceedings, and they
had sought inf vain some likely eX-
planation Of Ivan Meyers peculiar
conduct, for diplomatists grow sadly
skeptical regarding the dis~interested-
ness of human motives. Also it Is
difficult for the practical western
mind to comprehend the strange
Quixotism of the Slav nature.
VINEYARD was somewhat uneasy
about the whole affair. His OWL per-
sonal risk in the matter did not ap-
pear to him very great, but he was
fully aware that he ran great risk
of Hlisapprehension, or, worse still,
Misrepresentation, If the circum-
stances Of his connection with
Marie Bakovitch should transpire.
A story such as that could so
easily be twisted and turned
into something quite different. He
would have felt still more apprehen-
sive had he known that his beautiful
enemy had actually been guest in
Mr.. Wright's house under the name
of the Baroness de Nantille, and that
she was, therefore, personally known
to his mother, Mrs. Wright, Lena, and
his brother Charlie. But VINEYARD
was spared these additional compll-
cations. Ivan Meyer had faithfully
fulfilled his promise Of leaving Walso
with Marie as soon as possible, which,
however, was not before the Wednes-
day morning, as the girls condition
was not such as would allow of a long
journey. Had Meyer known that the
slight amelioration in the state OF
her physical and mental health was
only a temporary lull, he would have
felt even greater relief than he did
at turning his back upon the peaceful
little town. The girl bore the long
Journey well, but it was written that
a higher hand than Ivan Meyers was
now to guide her troubled steps. A
blessed oblivion came over her tot
tering reason, and while the mind
wandered, the body throve and pros
pered. .'s...,. .t.,
It was only on the Thursday morn
ing, in the midst of preparations for
the theatricals and ball, that Win
yard learned of their departure from
Walso. A groom had been sent into
the little town to make some pur-
chases, and when, on his return, he
delivered his parcels to his young
master, he mentioned that the fur
rineering folks had left. 1t was a
great relief. For although VINEYARD
was not the man to bow down before
an ontoward wind-meeting, rather,
every breeze of heaven as it came
with watchful eyes and steady lips
his was a courage Of that type which
can afford to disguise no danger by
- y n !. =.