The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-01-29

'hSi Z IOI tldiu aAICi lual, 10
there?"
no, she replied.
"Now, I make this suggestion" he
said, still holding the watch in front
Of him, ''in ali earnestncss, not think
ing that I am helping you out of a
difficulty, and probably only throw
ing YOU into another one, but be-
cause.-The took her hand-"because
l love you. Connie-and it is bar
gain. Now, the man who proposes a
bargain is always the one who is 60
ing to gain by it, and I shall gain
everything
She was leaning back in the wick
er chair, and her breath was coming
faster with each word that he said.
What do you propose?" she
asked, almost in a whisper.
When the hand gets round to
there" lie said, pointing with his
finger to the face of the watch, what
hour will it be-"
"A quarter to 12," she replied,
wondering.
Just an hour from noW?"
She nodded and smiled sadly.
Well, if when that hour is over.
and he has not come then, will you
marry me instead?"
Il said that he might come at any
time till H." she said, smiling in
spite of herself.
Il know you did, and that quarter
of an hour is my interest on the bar
gain. l an quite fair with you. I
offer YOU all the happiness of my
love-against the comfort that you
will gain with his money-not that
you will be pauper with me. And
the advantage that have over him
lies in that quarter of an hour. Will
you consent?"
She looked at him questioningly.
What do you think you will gain
if he does not Gomez" she asked.
"All the happiness in life," he an
swered.
"Are you sure that you are think
ing only of me?'
"No-nearly all for myself. You
will think of yourself when you give
me the answer"
'Then I will consent" she said,
"and"-she placed her hand in his
II hope that he will not GOMEZ"
1t was twenty minutes to 12, and
she felt her heart beating with each
stroke Of the clock that stood in the
hall. He had not come yet, and all
her newly found love was yearning
that he might not come at all, or be
late in coming
She was sitting in the same alcove.
but with another partner, whose con-
versation she could barely pay atten.
tion to. And then in one moment al,
life seemed suspended in her body-a
cold chill penetrated her very bones.
The bell at the front door had pealed
across the music that was throbbing
in the ballroom. 1t could be no one
but he at such an hour. She watched
the door narrowly, in the fear of anX.
iety, as the butler went to open it,
There was rush Of cold air, and she
shivered-partly it seemed with an.
ticipation.
Then she turned away as a figure
that she dared not look at came into
the warmth of the hall.
Aren't you well?" her partner
asked, and almost before she could
answer him she heard her fathers
voice speaking and she turned her
face away.
"Ill go and get you some tea,"
her partner said anziously, and be-
fore she could tell him not to mind
about it he had left her. Still she
did not look round until she heard
her father say as he reached the al
cove and stood outside the curtain.
God bless you, my boy" And then
the shadow of familiar figure fell on
her eyes.
1t was Cyril Foster.
Then it wasn't he?" she cried,
new happiness in her voice.
Yes, it was," he said, "but he
knew that under another name only
could he hope to make you love him.
Let's call the bargain settled. New
York Weekly.