The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-07-10
XIX
Ill in College.

Mr.. MAYORS was very i'll, and Rob-
ert went over to see him.
His sitting-room was a large and
handsome one, looking upon Neville's
/ Court. The door, which communi-
Gated with the much smaller bed
room, stood wide open. Robert took
| a chair in front of it, and a book to
while away the time. All was quiet
| save for the COO of a pigeon on the
stone balustrade outside the window
and the football of some solitary I'M
dergraduate in the cloisters beneath.
The book Robert had taken up was
i'Plutarch's Lives" a work of the
highest reputation; but notwits-
standing its attractions he had fallen
into a ~reverie, from which he was
suddenly aroused by the words,
"Sophy! Sophy!" At first he thought
he must be mistaken and that the
sound was a part of his own. day
dream-with which, in fact, the name
had been connected; but on looking
up his eyes fell upon the sick man,
now broad awake and staring at him
from the bed with stern suspicion. 3
rs your name Adair?" whispered
the tutor, hoarsely. Z. z &
mo, Sir" said Robert, rising and
approaching the bed softly. MY
name is Aldred. I am the son of your
old friend the canon" g &
why are you SO black, then, like
the other?" -. ~
"It is the Indian sum-" said Robert,
smiling. Il was white enough when
1 wished you good-by five years ago."
True; I remember now" replied
the tutor. pray forgive a sick mans
fancies. Your father did not sayghe
was expecting 3 q *
No; I came home without giving
him notice"
because he was in t~rouble?"
why, yes. 1t struck me that I
might be, if not of service, at least OF
some comfort to him"
Just so; a good son." murmured
the tutor, looking at the young man
wistfully. '<Sons and daughters
blessed is the man that his culver
full of>them.' That is not a disputed
passage"
There was a long silence, and then
the same name was softly breathed
that had already fallen on the others
"sophy, sophy! Have you seen
herr" g.. ss:Es
mo, sir; I passed too rapidly
through town, but I saw the 1rtons,
who told me a great deal about her.
No good news, ! am sorry to say
Unhappy"
VERY; at least I fear So"
poor girl, poor girl"
ut is not only-as you are doubt
less aware, sir-that she has a bad
husband, but, unfortunately, ssheshas
some little knowledge of the full ex-
tent of his business, which until late
ly has been kepttfrom her"
"Then the poor girl knows at last"
he murmured. What anguish, what
remorse she must be enduring!"
Indeed, sir, I fear so. 1t has Just
struck me, however, that I have been
very indiscreet in speaking of all this
to you. 1 have been distressing you
since Sophy is an old friend Of
yours-by telling you the very thing
which I have been enjoined to keep
from my father, namely, that Sophy
is aware of having been made the III
strument of his ruin. His object
throughout has been to spare her
that knowledge"
That is so like him" exclaimed
the tutor, with a flush on the worn
cheek:
ga mai who bears without abuse
The grand old name of gentle
man; .,....a-
Dehled by every charlatan,
And soiled with an ignoble use.
Young man, you are a gentle
mans SON."
II know it, sir" answered Robert,
simply. IF l cannot initiate him, l
hope I shall never disgrace him"
mo, no, you will not do that. He
will live again in his boy"
Presently, after another pause:
"You spoke of ruin, Robert. The ex-
act sum which the canon had to pay
twice Overcome forgets these things
in sickness"
ut was f15,000."
"Just so And never to have told
her." then, putting out his wasted
hand to Robert, "Give my love to my
la fr;op5