The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-09-25

he spoke. Elsie turned 10 nlm, SILL
COMPOSED and smiling, without any
trace of the nervous dread which she
had evinced at their meeting.
Il am in a strange land here" said
Deering, when they had exchanged
greetings, 80 1 claim your protec-
ton; you must be my guide, philoso-
pher and friend" He drew a chair
forward as he spoke, and Elsie sat
down. Are you a frequent attend
ant at these soirees, Glynn?" he
asked, after having bestowed a nod
!, on his countryman. You are Ger
tainly fonder of innocent amusements
here than in London"
1T appears that Paris produces the
same effect upon US BOTH" returned
Glynn coolly. ~.
Monsieur Glynn,H said Madame
Davilliers, sailing up, will you come
and speak to my old friend, M. LIE
| Colonel Dubois? He is a most inter-
esting person! He fought at Water
loo in the first year of his service,
and is all the fonder of your nation
because they were gallant foes"
So Glynn was carried off, to his
great annoyance, just as Deering took
a seat beside Elsie, and seemed to
| settle himself for a long talk.
M. LIE Colonel Dubois did not find
the most attentive listener in Glynn,
| and was not sorry when the host
| came to pay his compliments to the
| o~ctogenarian, and permitted his Eng
lish guest to escape. Glynn strolled
into the next room, and found Miss
Lambert still conversing with Deer
ing, with an air of interest, too, that
surprised him. He did not attempt
to interrupt them, but stood watching
an opportunity of begging Madame
| Cavaliers to ask Miss Lambert for
another song. From his position
near the portierres between the two
! rooms he could see the door leading
| to the vestibule. While he looked it
| opened, and Lambert came in-Lam-
| bert in a gorgeous colored waistcoat
| and a bright necktie, for evening
| dress was not indispensable at Mad
anne Davilliers' receptions. There
was a joyous twinkle in his eye. an ir-
repressible air of success in his bear
| ing. He saluted madame with much
warmth, and then looked round the
| room as if seeking his Jewel" Sud-
denly an extraordinary change passed
| over his face. The laughing, joyous,
| humorous look vanished, and was re-
| placed by a fierce, startled, angry
| glare, like a wild creature suddenly
| reused to apprehension and defiance,
as if, through the thin, smooth coat
ing of lately acquired domesticity,
the savage nature Of the untamed
desperate had broken forth all the
more vehemently for its temporary
slumber. Glynn saw that his eyes
we're fixed IN Deering, who was smil-
ing and bending forward as he spoke
to Elsie. She did not heed him, for
she had caught sight of her father,
and Deering, struck by her express
| sion, turned to see what had attracted
her. Then his face changed, too, his
| jaw closed with a look of frigid de-
| termination, his steel-blue eyes lit up
with a flash of angry recognition. By
an involuntary impulse Glynn started
forward to greet Lambert with a
vague intention to assist him in re-
covering his self-control-to aid FL
| sizes father in any way he could.
"Glynn," said Lambert, gripping
| his hand hard, "who-who is that
man-sitting thereby my daugh-
[ ter?" =
HE is Deering of Denham. Do you
| object to him."
"No: why should I? Only I knew
a Deering once-mot a clean potato,
by any means! This may not be the
same-Ah, Elsie, my child! Come
here, keep by me-"
What is the matter, dear? You
are not like yourself" she exclaimed,
as she came up and passed her arm
through his. At. .@N
mot like myself? You are wrong
there" Then, with a sort of effort.
he went straight up to Deering, and
said audibly, in English: We have
met before, sir, have we not?"
Deering, who was considerably the
taller, looked down on him from the
ineffable heights of his social superb
GRITTY, and replied deliberately:
II have certainly had the pleasure
of YOUR acquaintance, some years
ago."
Then they stood silent, eye to eye
silent, yet exchanging deadly de-
fance. Deering, the most self-pos-
sessed of the two, was the first. to
speak:
Il fancy we have cen some
changes since We met. Paris is not
a Lad place to anchor in after a wan
dering life, especially when one has
so charming a companion as-Miss
Lambert" adding the name after a
slight pause.
How do you know my daughter?"
abruptly.
Your friend, Mr.. Vincent, was
good enough to present me-" said
Deering, calmly, with some emphasis
on the name.
"My father seems to have found
another acquaintance" said Elsie to
Glynn. 1T is curious"
Glynn scarce knew what to say. 1t
was probably tDeering had known
Lambert by some other name, known
him under more doubtful circum-
stances than even he (Glynn) had.
The idea stung him with a sense Of
angry pain. Deering was the last
man to be trusted with such knoWl-