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

"Then you WON'T marry me, swesk
ssarts" The words were low and plead
iAR, the voice very tender and true, bat
tho girl ON whose dainty ea1s they fan
threw the beautiful head little farther
back and laughed out her half yexed, half
defiant answer.
"When you arc on the road TO Juccess,
Gerard, III marry you at once, II 1t be
soon; for .oan't wait forever, but as you
don't apparently wish for success. them.
with o lovely, willful smile and the prett-
ess Of pstulant moues-"goodbyW
The man listened, his handsome fAos
turning white, as II carved in stone.
"suooessWIth you is only auother name
toe''-
Money" the girl interrupted, with
that lovely light laugh again. II know
II, Gerard, and despise mo for IL II you
will. II you had been brought up In pov.
erty, II you had wanted frocks and pretty
shoes and dances and pleasures Of every
kind-and, oh, Thousands Of things that
you couldn't get-then you, too, would
spell success with an Ma very big M
and call IL money! You would, know
you would" she ended bitterly.
The man sighed heavily. Fate was In.
deed against him now, and his career,
light and hopeful - 1t looked q short time
aso, seemed sadly dull and somber now,
and whyi Because of that lovely face that
was turned away from him 30 petplantly,
because of the mooking words that fell
like little strokes Of whip across his low
Ing heart. And while he thought the
music In the distance ceased its soft throb-
bling, the dance was over, and he had had
his answer. he supposed. ...
he would yay one moro thing before
they parted, he determined suddenly. he
would have at any rate q clear understand.
Ing with the woman he loved 30 madly.
And after that then the venture-to the
right or to the leftl
he put out his hand to stay her a. she
would Lave risen. II want TO ask you
one thing more" he said, % gently that
her wandering attention was fixed on him
snoe again.
III went Into the business, my IA.
ther's business, which, a. you know, I
hats-n gave up my dreams Of the bar
and o life which should love-a life
which would be poor perhaps, but full Of
promise-f I had the prospect Of success
In the business Of which you speak 20 high.
~, what thenf"
sbe turned 10 him with . new Light
sparkling In her beautiful eyes. Had she
conquered st everything, every hope
every ambition At her feeti ,.r
"Then," she said, her voice tender with
feeling and her soft eyelids dropping abovs
the brilliant eyes, "then I should say no
mora" And her tones trembled into 3D.
lenoe, and her white hands played nerv-
ously with the violets at the bosom Of her
delicate gown.
The snow foil outside very softly, wrap
ping the sordid city In tenderest white
coverings and transforming it into . king.
dom of crystal and pearl. Inside ono OF
the greatest of its many fair houses there
were rsvelry and the ripple OF silvery
voices and the ring Of tuneful laughter.
One Of the lands richest men entertain.
Cd his guests and feasted them right roy.
ally, 90 that they spoke increasingly well
Of him and Of his entertainment and Of
the beauty Of his peerless wife.
She stood In the great drawing room In
pusest white, with diamonds on her snowy
neck and beautiful stars In her golden
hair, and around her little company OF
the gayest and wittiest and cleverest kept
her court and pleased her with their sal'
lies until her clear laugh rang out above
all the gentle badinage around.
The husband heard the silver ripple OF
laughter, and IL awoke some Of the old
thoughts, the Old memories that he had
striven to lay by, a. child lays by its
dear old toys when playing days are over
and done with.
\ And all Of . sudden he felt very weary
nd tired-tired Of the lights and the scent
Of the great banks Of roses that his wife
had ordered the skillful florist to arrange
tired Of tho music and the faces and
tho crowd, and he slipped away unnoticed
to his quiet study and sat there awhile to
dream.
10 had gone into the business that he
had heartily disliked-for Marguerite
and 1t had proved q success in his hands.
They spoke Of him for knighthood this
year. It did not elate him much, but his
wife was delighted, and be was not tired
Of pleasing her yet. Only he had pleased
her 10 much once, he had given up 90
much for her sake, that every sense had
been ourioualy deadened to him since, and
40 the worlds wear and tear came and
went, and he felt but little Of 1t.
And his idealsi They were laid away
very safely and seoretly-the steps he
would have climbed with 30 much vigof
and perseverance were moss grown now
and gray with molding age. There was
not much to work for now-so much had
come to him, he supposed by his own on
deayors as we'll as by good luck-and he
had no child to leave 1t to. And bis wife!
How tenderly she had osressed him at
tho time Of tho saorifoe-how gently her
pretty fingers had smoothe the wayl enc
was 90 much accustomed to 1t all now, and
he had "uved 1t down." as she once said
playfully to him. She was always sweet
and always beautiful, and every one said
he was the luckiest man In London. Per-
haps II was true.
BE got up and sauntered back to the
drawing room. His lovely wife was chat
tdu1 with q young barrister as he passed.
aMy husband would have been Just like
you today" he heard her say a that ex'
auisite voice of hers, III be had not taken
my advice. Hs took 1t, and you see the
result"
The younger man looked round. He
saw the beautiful rooms. the brilliant
crowd, the flashing Of countless gems, the
peerless beautSof the woman who spoke,
be heard the music rising and falling Id
the distance and breathed the delicate
scents of rarest blossoms
Again he saw the word "Success" writ
ten eyerywhere--success that he, begin
ner, a novice, could never hope to emulate.
Suddenly the worn face Of the master met
lis eyes. II see tho result he said quiet