The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-11-06
"a magnetism you ought to resist.

How is the beautiful city,"
beautiful as ever: but there Is
mischief in the air. However, l am
no prophet. l wandered about the
old scenes like a troubled ghost, and
I saw Lambert"
Indeed! I wish, Hugh, you would
break away from all the painful asso-
| Citations with that man; you a do
him no good
True; but ! have the most pro-
found pity for him, all the more that
he seems by no means glad to see
me I fancy his terrible misfortune
has affected his brain. He is sullen,
and averse to speak of anything that
leads up to the subject of his lost
daughter, and yet he looks in sur
prisingly good health"
He has not had a brain fever"
said Lady Gethin, significantly. Il
suppose no trace whatever has been
~discovered?"
Not the faintest. I succeeded in
obtaining an interview with NJ.
Claude, who reluctantly admitted
that the French police have rarely
been SO baffled."
1T is a most extraordinary case"
said Lady Gethin. and then fastened
to change the subject. Il have had
rather a pleasant time of it at the
Kingsfords'. 1 went down the day
hofo,o Nh - ;ct,o opd on1v roturnpd
yesterday. The Deerings put up there
for two nights on their way to Lord
Arthur Saville's. Lady Frances was
looking a little more alive; and real
ly Deering can be very agreeable"
He is, l suspect, a tremendously
white-washed sepulchre."
Il cannot understand your sus-
picions of Deering," returned Lady
Gethin; "as to his being mixed up
with the Lambert affair, it is mere
nonsense. What on earth could he
have to do with such a man as you
describe Lambert? He might have
met him in a train, or on a steam
boat, or a horse race, but it is impos-
| sible he could have known much of
him"
HE did, however, I am certain"
said Glynn, slowly and thoughtfully;
land you would agree with me had
you seen them together. There was
deadly enmity as we'll as acquaint-
anceshlp between them"
"Well perhaps So" she returned.
"Will you have a cup of coffee, Hugh?
1t will rouse you, you look sleepy and
distrait."
Thank you; a cup of your coffee
will do me good"
Lady Gethin rang and ordered
some to be brought, talking cheerful
ly on a variety of subjects. But
Glynn's attention wandered while he
slipped the refreshing beverage, and
as he put down his cup Lady Gethin
exclaimed, Il don't think you have
heard a word 1 have been saying!"
YES" he exclaimed, starting from
his thoughts, Il have heard, but, /
confess, not taken in the sense of
what you have been saying. l am
perhaps .foolishly excited by an Incl
dent which occurred to-day, and as
you are tolerably acquainted with all
my weakness you may as we'll hear
this instance too. l was, as l told
you, at Chaplain to-day; after the
christening of my little godson we re-
turned to luncheon at Heathcote's-
at my cousins house, and when the
other guests had left he asked me
to smoke a cigar with him in the
garden. AS we talked and walked
up and down beside a railing and
hedge Of holly, which separates
Heathcote's garden from the next, I
heard some one speaking at the other
side, and as l listened 1 could have
sworn that the voice was Elsie Lam
bert's. 1t was soft and low, yet won
derfully distinct; then a highly
pitched woman's voice declared in
French that she feared some task
would be difficult. Again the voice
that made my heart stand still said,
Difficult, but not insurmountable;
kindness and steadiness will over
come so much; l would trust them
too Then / ceased to catch the
words, though the we'll known tones
came to me again, as the speakers
evidently turned away. Great heav-
ems! l hear it still, it was Elsie's
voice! l lost my head for a moment;
1 rushed to the railing, and thrusting
my arms beneath them, tried to tear
away some of the branch to look
through. My cousin thought I had
lost my senses, and begged for an
explanation. l told him l felt certain
that a lady I had been seeking in
every direction was at the other side
Of the hedge. He said the adjoining
grounds belonged to a ladies' school,
and l asked him to accompany me to
the house, and back me up in my In
quiries, as he was known to the own.
er and the teachers. At last he con.
scented. The parleying occupied some
time, then we had a walk round by
a road which ran the length Of the
two gardens, to turn again on reach
ing the common, and go a little way
back to the gate of Montpcrier
House; altogether twenty minutes
must have elapsed from the time ]
first heard the voice before I rang
the bell at Mrs. Storrer's. AS we &p'
preached a cab was driving away. On
asking for the head OF the establish.