The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-07-31

spair or fury driven him to menace
Sophy or the child.
1t is difficult, theI efore- to UNDER
rate the sense of loss which MI. John
Adair experienced when, On coming
home at one o'clock Che had n vir-
tue-he was punctuaD-he found
both wife and child had flown. He
had a notion at first that they might
have preceded him to the railway
station-that they were mot lost, but
gone before"-but the parlormaid
assured him to the contrary. "Missus
and Miss Willie, with Jeanette, had
gone two hours ago." as she supposed
to join him; she was loud in her
admiration of the vehicle which had
conveyed the child away in an easy
and recumbent posture, and appar-
emily in high spirits. AS to their
destination, Jeanette had given out
that they were going to the sea-" a
rather vague address, ven supposing
it was a correct one, and one which
certainly did not satisfy the inquirer.
AS a matter of fact, Sophy had no
more knowledge of where they were
going than had the parlormaid.
Jeanette, who had long been head
of the intelligence department a. re-
CARDS all outside matters, was cow
commander-in-chief. From the NO
ment when her mistress informed
her of the injunction her husband
had laid upon her, she took the con-
duct of, everything in her own hands.
do not take on about it," she ex-
claimed, my dear Miss Sophy"-in
moments of excitement she always
thus addressed her mistress, notwith-
standing that she had been twice
married-"for this is only what we
have been expecting, or something
like it, for ever so long. We will
take the dear child away, safe and
sound, a couple of hours before mas
ter returns; and If he eve sets his
eyes on either you or her again I'll
forgive him"
But where are we to go, jean
nette, whittier my husband cannot
follow; and what friends have +
though it is true T have good friends
who can protect me against the
strong arm Of the law"
GAS to that matter?" returned the
waiting-maid, confidently, II have
reason to believe that master has
something to settle with the law up
on his own account; so that, for once
and away, it will be found on the side
of the weak. While as to friends,
you have got one, Miss Sophy, that
loves you as we'll as l do, loves you
more than you have any idea of, only,
for the present, she doesn't wish her
name known-so let's call her John
son."
IT have only one woman friend,
Jeanette - save my dear Aunt
Maria, whom 1 myself have rendered
powerless to help me-and that is
Mrs. Triton. I have done harm enough
to those who love me already, and
nothing will induce me to accept any
help which may bring Henry into
trouble. Why, the first place your
master"-it vas very significant that
she should have avoided saying my
husband" when speaking of Adair-
will turn to look for us will be her
house"
ITO any question where you and
little Willie are gone, Mr.. Triton can,
I assure you, lay his hand upon his
heart and honestly say-though,
being a lawyer, he would say it, Of
course, in any case-that he knows
nothing about it. Don't trouble your
head, my dear Miss Sophy, about any,
thing but packing your things"
Their preparations for departure
we're proceeding, indeed, throughout
the conversation, during which jean
nette maintained an air of confidence
that vas not without it's effect upon
her mistress.
what art and trouble you must
have taken, Jeannette!" murmured
Sophy, gratefully.
80 l had need, ma'am," was the
waitins-woman's reply. The tone as
we'll as the words were significant
enough, but Sophy was too wrapped
in her own thoughts to pay attention
to either. The hour in which the
captive breaks his chain is even more
critical than the n in which it was
riveted on to him; the beginning OF
a new life, however preferable it may
seem to that which we have done
with, is momentous.
To be Continued.