The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-10-14

III lldQ lnOuSlI uei StloHS, DIV
had known she was good, but any
thing like this large, unquestioning
charity, this readiness to relieve
trouble without seeking or apparent
ly suspecting cause for blame, she
had been quite u%nprepared to find in
her-or anybody, perhaps.
So far, however, she had met with
| nothing but kindness in her trouble;
the very cabman even was good to
her; but it does so happen some
times in cases of great misfortune
all the little worries cease, the bust
ness of life arranges itself to perfec-
ton, and everything comes right but
the one thing needful.
Yet a reason for her sister-in-
laws abstinence occurred to her.
| Perhaps she knew already-he might
! even be here. us he?" Gertrude
exclaimed, jumping up from the
sofa at the happy thought.
"Is who? what?" the elder lady
asked.
"Leslie-is he here?" Oh, I hope
he is here"
Leslie is not here" was the de-
cisive response.
Gertrude sank back on the sofa.
And you must come to bed at
once"
"Oh, but I must ell you first
Gertrude protested, making ar effort
to rouse herself.
"On the way, then-come!"
And while she helped her to IN
dress, Gertrude told the story. Miss
Somers heard it almost in silence.
She was one of those women who
are born to be nurses, and instructive
ly knew better than to excite one VINO
had borne as much already with use
less comments and conjecturcs. When
Gertrude was in bed, she made her
take a soothing drink and then she
spoke decisively.
you must not puzzle your brain
any more tonight" she said. go
to sleep and trust me to worry AMI
surmise enough for both of us, until
you awake refreshed. Poor child,
what a state your arms are in"
ooh, do let me talk" Gertrude
exclaimed. "I am in pain all yer
Every muscle in my body is
wrenched, and l am a mass of
bruises. You cannot expect me to
sleep in such a state. And besides,
I may think of something if I lie
awake"
But even as she spoke her eyelids
dropped, and in a few minutes she
slumbered peacefully under the in
f1uence of the opiate Miss Somers had
wisely given her.
We won't have any brain fever
here at all events" that lady said 10
herself as she quietly drew down
the blind and went to her dressing
room, where, as she carefully dressed
herself for the day, she certainly
worried and surmised enough for
both of them.
Moon, the cabman, duly arrived
at 9 o'clock, and Miss Somers
thought she might, under the circum-
stances, venture to write to Lord
W%artlebury herself to tell him where
Gertrude was, as she had promised to
let him know.
She sent Moon with the note to
save time, and was not exactly sur
prised when, an hour later, her but
Ter announced, The Earl of Wartle-
bury. and showed that nobleman
into the breakfast room.
How kind of you!" Miss Somers
reclaimed. Il dare say you have not
even breakfasted? But breakfast is
just coming up. Do, pray, have
some" and so they sat down together
to the most intimate meal of the day,
these two people who had never seen
each other in their lives before; and
in ten minutes the courtly old gentle
man, with his bald head, piercing
eyes and waied mustache, had con-
ceived a regard for this unaffected,
straightforward, middleaged gentle
woman which lasted for life.
She was tall and thin and large
boned, with an uncertain complexion
and much gray in her coarse, abun-
dant dark hair, and her face was
plain. as we have said, but pleasant,
especially when she smiled and
showed her teeth, which were white
and regular; yet, with all her disad-
vantages she was a more attractive
woman than many better looking
ones, there being something in the
sc%rupulous neatness Of her dress and
in the way she looked you in the face
which made you know without a
doubt that she vas an honest, pure
minded woman, without arriere pen
see or any thought of evil-a gentle
woman, in fact.
To be Continued.