The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-05-22

we'll what it was to be under anoth-
er's thumb not to recognize, in his
attempt to take advantage of that
Fact, the first turn of the screw.
| Since Perry's death it was true that
Adair had been careful not to at
tempt to apply that instrument, but
since he must have known (though
not so well as she) how little lever
age was now left in it, she did not
give him much credit for his forbear-
ance. There was little doubt in
Adair's mind that she was nov pur-
posely avoiding him; a circumstance
that irritated him exceedingly, but
which he knew not how to remedy.
Until the late revelation Of the ca
mons sentiments toward himself, he
had, indeed, almost begun to despair
of any success with Sophy, but now
hope once more awoke within him.
He would have much preferred to
win her upon his W merits, but
so that he did win her, even at sec
ond hand. e., through the infu-
ence of a third person-he would be
we'll content.
Musing deeply upon this matter,
as he only allowed himself to muse
when in the open air-for when in
his own rooms his studies Con which,
if he misses this short cut to fortune,
all depended) claimed his undivided
attention-he turned back into the
town. Many of the shops were shut,
not from the lateness of the hour,
but from lack of their usual custom
ers. And the dim, half-lighted
streets suited we'll with his thought
full humor. In n Of them, not a
main thoroughfare, there was a fur
niture shop, the contents Of which
we're half displayed upon the pave
ment. He paused in that aimless
way which is natural to persons SINH
larly self-involved, and a his eye
over the various objects exposed for
sale.
In n corner was a little heap of
articles placed by themselves - e
small sliding bookholder, two or
three sporting pictures in 1ashy
frames, an inkstand and a plotting
pad.
1t struck him that he wanted the
bookholder, and he inquired the
price of it.
The proprietor, arough, r~ed-beard-
ed man, whose eyes shone keen as a
ferret's in the faring CLASHES gas,
ran out to him at once, like a spider
who sees a fly in his net.
well, sir, I don't want to sell it
alone" he said; "the whole lot, you
will observe, are ticketed together
at an uncommonlyl low figure; they're
just the thing to furnish a young
gents rooms with who wishes to do
it on the cheap"
And he looked at the young schol-
as, whose apparel boosted of neither
scarf pin nor watch chain, as though
he thought it probable that he might
have a frugal mind.
81 am neither a freshman nor a
fool, my man." returned Adair, by
no means pleased with the accuracy
of the others diagnosis. 81 wouldn't
have such pictures at a gift"
Every man to his TASTE" returned
the shopkeeper, indifferently: "they
were the property Of a young college
gentleman recently deceased, who
held his head up pretty high, I can
tell you. If you're not a freshman,
you must have heard talk enough in
your time of Mr.. Perry, of Trinity"
ooh, those we're Mr.. Perry's, were
they" said Adair, unable to exclude
from his tone a sudden access of in
terest.
You knew him, sir, I see. Well,
even as a memento. these little
things should have some attraction
for you, and they're dirt cheap"
Adair was passing the highly col
ored pictures in review. "The Meet"
THE Find" Full Cry" etc. Then
he took up the plotting pad, which
was of tartan, uniform with the ink
stand and bookholder, and as he flut-
tered the leaves his hand suddenly
began to shake.
"All as good as new" urged the
dealer. "The poor young gent vas
not much of a reading man, nor yet
of a writing man; a frst-rate oar,
and a good swimmer-yet he was
drowned
81 think I'll take the inkstand and
the Slider" said Adair, IF, as you
say, they will be cheap"
And the blotter, too," said the
man. "I cant spoil the set, though,
as for the pictures, perhaps I may
sell them separate. Let US say five
and twenty shillings."
Very good, here is my card" said
Adair; send them round to my
rooms tomorrow morning, but as
for the blotter as it happens, l
want a blotter, so III just take that
home with me-"
And he tucked the thing under his
arm, where it was hidden in the
folds of his college gown. He bent
his steps to the house in Green
street where, as he knew, the dead
nan had lodged, and rang the bell.
Mrs. Aylett answered it in person.
Her lodger's death had, of course,
left his rooms upon her hands, and
being of economical habits, she had
dismissed her serving girl, or "sla-
vey" (as such domestics are called in
Cambridge, and superintended all
matters Of the house herself.
"These are the lodgings, I believe,
| occupied by the late Mr.. Perry?"
MNnn en- -