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

away tie key with him, and departed
with the same extraordinary silence
with which he had come.
Arthur heaved a sigh of relief as
the door closed noiselessly behind
him. Il can't stand this another
night" he said to himself. "lf the
old heather cannot sleep without
counting his treasures, he must
change rooms with me; he shant
come into mine to do it.
The next morning at breakfast
Monsieur Rigaud asked Arthur II
anything had disturbed him in the
night. He answered Yes; that he
had been greatly disturbed, but
would explain later" Monsieur Ri
gaud's face turned more yellow than
ever, but he changed the subject with
all the grace of Frenchman apollo
gizing for having made a mal-apro-
DOS remark When they were alone
Arthur told him that his own sensa-
tions had troubled him; that he had
an inward conviction that the casket
left in his charge was Of greater
value than he had thought. He was
afraid of the responsibility, and ne
proposed an exchange Of apartments.
Monsieur Rigaud accepted with alac-
rity, and from thenceforth to the end
Of the week, when he departed, the
Denstones saw little of him. He
spent the whole day in his room,
locking it up with the greatest care
when he was obliged to leave 1t, and
manifesting so strong dislike to any
inroad of housemaids that they re-
marked to each other that he was
only going to stay week, for his
room would be unfit for any respecta-
BILE dog to live in, let alone a Chris
tian!
Arthur, meanwhile, had been gain
ing in the graces of his neW-found
relations, and he would have been
quite happy in the pleasant conscious
ness that he was both giving pleasure
to them and also beginning to help
the severe necessities at home, but
for a letter from Tola which drew
him back into the region of worries
for the time. Tola did not often
write; she had really more on her
hands than she could get through
properly; but for her, the little ones
would have grown up untaught and
neglected.; but for her, the mother
would never have been able to sit
down for five minutes. She had had
a little disappointment lately, not
very great one, but still one that
weighed on her a little. The first
fruits Of Arthur's ten pounds had
been the long-coveted cashmere
gowns for the girls, and one for the
dear mother, too; but, like true
man, he had followed the advice OF
the linen draper's man and had
bought dress-lengths. Ten yards
would have amply suficed for Tola
and for her mother; but ten yards
for Janet! that was impossible. Tola
was the first to see it, and the first to
suggest a remedy. Janet should have
five off hers; and the remaining five
would make frock for Lefty. Janet
would not have accepted it, but the
stuff was all cut out by Tola's deft
little fingers before she knew or could
demonstrate.
One person observed it, but that
was because of the extraordinary per-
spicacity of his gaze whenever Tola
was concerned. This was the vicar,
grave, tall gentleman of nearly forty,
John Irvine by name, who lived with
his mother in st. Johns vicarage,
and was beloved by the poor, and
rather feared than liked by the rich.
He seemed to know instinctively how
things stood. He would talk to Janet,
and give her directions as to her
school teaching and her district visit
ing; but he never gave directions to
Tola, and once, when he saw her
large, brilliant eyes looking at him
wistfully when he spoke of some sick
person Janet was to visit, he turned
to her and SAID, WITH the rare, sweet
smile that used to tighten up his
grave features: Grand old George
Herbert would appreciate your life,
Miss Denstone."
She did not thank him, but the fine
light came back into her eyes. She
thought a good deal of the few words
he said to her, feeling that she was
little household drudge and he like
some saint of old days.
But though Tola's letters were
rare, they were generally very full
Of matter, and this one carried Ar
thur back at once into the society Of
the home circle.
TO be Continued.