The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-09-09
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world. I'll have TO take what | can
get and be thankful"
The two girls were directly oppo-
site types. Eleanor was tall. grace
full, high strung, nervous, full OF life
and energy. Her most attractive fea-
lures were her eyes, dark and deep
set, with a longing, unsatisfed eX-
preston. Edna was a type much less
interesting, cold, phlegmatic and
clear sighted; a much smaller wom-
an. too, with colorless gray eyes.
On the bed lay lingerie Of the most
alluring kind, the sort Of things that
only can appreciate. Pile
upon pile of lacy stuffs were scattered
about the room. Surrounded by
these pretty things that women love
sat Eleanor Godfrey, who tomorrow
would be the bride OF Tom Grant.
There's one thing 1 can never re-
greet" she said. Il told Tom every
thing before he took me. 1t was
brutally frank, 1 admit, to tell your
future husband that the best love of
your life had been given to another"
"Poor boy" murmured Edna.
"Poor boy. indeed. Don't have
to live with him? Don't l have to
see him waste his life? And it is
nothing that l have to exc out an ex-
istence crushing down my signs, fore
ing back my tears?"
Walking across the room to where
Edna sat she put her hands on a pair
. of very unsympathetic shoulders.
How can you judge? You do not
know the case. Now listen. Every
breath 1 breathe, every prayer I ut
ter, every breath of my aching heart
is for Jack Winston. I've loved him
ever since I was a little girl, but you
. see I could not very we'll marry him
because he never asked me. Then,
too, Jack is so poor, and all my life
I've been longing for things that Tom
Grants money will buy for me. l
. don't deceive him. I said l couldn't
love him; but he, still knowing this,
wants to marry me, and l accepted.
Now judge me if you will"
Edna Strengthened up a bit and the
lines about her mouth seemed to
. grow deeper in an instant.
''One question, please, before I
render the verdict. You take upon
. your soul the wrecking Of this mans
existence. You will suck the honey
from the flower of his life and leave
him nothing but the stem. This is
easier for you than being an old
maid Then, too, suposing that Tom
was in love with some other girl?"
Il plead guilty to the charge,
judge, and accept the sentence of the
court. Your logic is getting stale;
so let's go to bed that l may get my
beauty sleep and make a handsome
bride. Think of it, dear girl, to-mor-
row at this hour my visiting cards
will read, Mrs. Thomas Kemp
Grant"
The next morning was colorless,
the air heavy; in fact, just the sort of
day to make a bride look out Of the
window and wonder if she really were
: superstitious.
1t was about 9 o'clock and Tom
was whistiing n minute and singing
the next. He walked into the bed
room where his friend and best man
lay peacefully sleeping.
Get up, you lazy vagabond. We
can't keep the bride waiting, yon
know. That's her privilege"
The best man rubbed his eyes,
grcwled a bit, and finally crawled out.
Tom was practically ready. After
working about an hour on it, he had
managed to arrange his puff tie to his
, entire satisfaction. He had buttoned
and unbuttoned his waistcoat until
his thumbs were blistered. He had
pulled it down in front and buckled
it at the back until the al threat
> ened to give way.
BY II the men were ready and on
their way to the house. As they
neared it Tom became more and more
nervous. There seemed to be a
weight on his heart that he could not
lift. At that moment the best man
was hanging out the cab window,
cursing the cab driver for the snail
like pace they were pursuing.
Il say, cabby, this is a wedding that
We are going to, not a funeral. I'll
give you an extra half dollar ii you'll
hurry"
AN extra half, is it? You talk
like a politician. Well, sir, you might
corrupt me, but the horse can't be
bribed and weddin's or funerals, his
gait is all the same. Rest easy while
you can, sir-the lady will drive you
fast enough, once she gets the reins.
The best man was about to rail at
the Irish as a nation, when Tom said:
IF anything should happen"
jumping Juniper, Tom, brace up.
You look as if you had curvature OF
the spine. Pull yourself together,
will you? Any girl who had such a
looking object as you on her calling
list would be ostracized by good So
ciety, and one who would marry you
would be declared mentally incom-
petent."
"All s:ght. I'll pull up, but I've a
beastly idea that something is going
wrong. Jack, old man, I can't do it.
I'm in love with Edna Cross and not
with Eleanor. I've just begun to
realize it."
"You old poacher, then why did you
ask Eleanor to marry you, when you
knew that l have loved her all my
life. and have been trying to forget