The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-12-30

I denCe Of j. s. BachS nrsC pfeiuue,
| set as retournelle and accompanied
by Gounod to his ave Maria" 1t
was played with exquisite feeling,
and at the right moment a lovely con-
tralto voice took up the air: ..
cave Maria!
Mighty yet lowfy
Pure and most holy.
! Hear from, thy starry throne our prayer:
Though faithless friends, may grleNe us,
Wealth and fortune leave us,
Grant to our grief and TO our. pain, tny
tender care. II. .
Sancta Maria!
When we are fearful,
When we are fearful, .. .
Give to us thine aid-to us thine aid-of
prayer!"
Lawrence Soames turned to the
| side from whence the sound proceed
ed, and sat listening spellbound. An
unmistakable flash of recognition had
come into his face when the first
notes were played, and swiftly follow
ing came signs of softening and emo
ton such as had not yet appeared
since he came on board the yacht.
The whole man was transformed for
the moment, elevated undoubtedly,
and when he spoke it was ina broken
voice, from which, for once all the
Earring coarseness had disappeared.
4Well I may be. mad" he said,
land I may have "a wife and child, as
you say, and I mayn't be Lawrence
| Soames, British Consul at Frisco
it ts'all possible enough and by JoVe,
If she sings again, I shall want to be-
Iieve it! I-shall want to believe that
I didn't desert her, that i stood by
her like, a man, and by the child,
and that she is singing that now, as
she used to sing it long ago with a
thankful heart, as she said because
of the great joy my coming had
brought into her miserable life. For
lit was a miserable existence I took
her from, and she wa happy with
me; butt don't know why-she got
out of health, and I think it bothered
me to see her Scat any rate, 1 de-
serted her."
His head sunk ON his breast and
he fixed his eyes on the table before
him, then suddenly he looked at Lord
Wartlebury.
,"Are you a sort of prince in a
fairy:tale, sir?" he said. do you go
about righting wronged damsels, and
have you brought us together ON pur-
pose?"
l. II am very anxious to see this
matter put right" Lord Wartlebnry
answered, guardedly.
yes" Lawrence Soames went on
again in his strangely altered voice,
III begin to recall her-the soft dark
hair, the great tender eyes, the little
loving ways. Doctor, ask her to sing
again-no! suddenly jumping up.
.1Ask her to see me-ask her to. for
give me the misery I have caused
her. Tell her / see 1t all nowl;a am
an altered mani repent"
Lord Wartlebury looked at DR..
Mansen inquiringly.
HAS 1t come right.?" he asked, in
la low tone. r..
mot quite" was the answer. "You
see, he is mistaken about the circum-
stances. However, he remembers her
that is the great thing; the rest
will come by degrees. Stop;a minute,
|Soames!" He had been about to leave
the saloon. "You don't know your
way. Stay here a moment, and I will
go and find out if she is prepared to
see you" -
During the few minutes the doctor
was away Mr. Soames stood motion
less with his head up, in the attitude
of one straining his attention to hear,
and neither spoke. He was very pale,
and when the doctor came for him he
followed him out %nervously.
DIR. Mansell returned to Lord War
t1ebury Immediately. He was cheer
fully rubbing his hands. II did not
see them meet" he said. AThey VIII
get over the interview best by them
selves. I quite expect he will re-
member everything distinctly directly
he sees her" .
Lord Wartlebury parted his lips
to reply, but just at that moment a
piercing shrek rang through the ship
and made the glasses dance on the
table.
The mailman is numbering herr
they both exclaimed, and rushed to
the rescue.