The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-03-18

tImacy with my uncle is OF recent
date; yours is probably much earlier
Il Judge from facts that have come
to my knowledge" said Arthur. qul-
city. Your uncle has enough, at
all events, for Mademoiselle Rigaud S
comfort. If l might venture to sug-
gest that you, as her nearest relation,
should endeavor to insist upon her
having at least the ordinary comforts
Of fife
Paul interrupted. Against these
supposed facts, Monsieur" he sald'
"I have the word of my uncle. EX-
cuse me, you have only the evidence
of hearsay to offer; for the moment
l see no reason to doubt my uncles
veracity. But, come he added, with
a frank movement of his hands, Il
give you my word that no sooner
shall 1 have finished t~ransacting my
business in Paris, than l will at once
return and use all the influence l
possess with my uncle, to arrange
matters here on a footing more suita-
BILE for the abode Of a charming
Ii lady. My salary is excellent;
/ have no ties. We need not inquire
INTO the question as to whether my
uncle's poverty is real or imaginary;
Antoinette shall have enough"
Arthur only bowed. 1t was intol-
cradle to him to think that she would
be dependent on the charity OF this
man; but his dislike to it he knew to
be entirely unreasonable. Another
vague, uncomfortable feeling that he
had seen those white, smooth hands
before, rushed into his mind.
Monsieur Leduc," he said, sud-
denly, were you eve in E%ngland?"
Never" he answered, carelessly;
and looking up, he let his eyes meet
Arthur's with a peculiarly frank,
open look.
at is only a coincidence" Arthur
thought to himself. 1T can be moth
ing else
Paul now changed the subject to
one of more general interest, and
Arthur began to find him a decidedly
agreeable companion.
Presently the door opened and An
toinette came in. Her eyes were red;
she had evidently been crying much.
Monsieur Paul sprang up to meet her
with empressement.
"Alas!".he said, II am afraid it is
as I anticipated; you have not had
the happiness of embracing your
father"
You were right, and I was in the
wrong" she said, quickly. Il am
sorry, perhaps ever absurdly disap-
pointed" and she tried in vain to
check two large tears from running
down her cheeks.
my uncle had doubtless closed the
outer door as we'll" said Paul.
Yes, it is very STANCE" said An
toinette. why should he thus bar
ricade himself behind two huge oak
doors? What can be the reason?"
He has a very strong, peculiar
dislike to being disturbed" said her
cousin. Indeed, he complained to
me repeatedly that Battiste used to
annoy him by poking about and an
noying him at his studies"
Arthur, from his w recollection
of what had taken place in his bed
room at Liverpool, had a better idea
of what the real occupation of the old
miser was; but he said nothing.
MY father never used to be much
of a student" said Antoinette, abb
sently.
perhaps not" answered Paul
But from what I gather, his habits
must have changed very much OF
late; indeed, from things 1 have
heard him say, 1 have imagined it
to be possible that he was engaged IN
literary work, and that some day we
should be surprised at the production
Of the result in a complete form. l
suppose" he added, lowering his
voice to almost a whisper, that you
have every reason to believe that old
Battiste is safe and honest"
"Monsieur!" exclaimed Antoinette,
suddenly. She stopped herself and
looked at him with a strange, dis
trustful look, which somehow startled
Arthur. Paul seemed to vince under
it, for he shifted a little uneasily and
then said:
You wish to ask? Heavens!" he
exclaimed, so naturally that a quick
SUSPICION that this was consummate
acting flashed into Arthur's mind.
Heavens! how like you are to my
roor mother! Forgive me if, for a
moment, the recollection the likeness
recalls overDowers me-"
1T is quite natural" said Antoin-
cite, kindly. The look of distrust
passed away; it was succeeded by a
kind, plying expression. us it long
since you lost your mother?"
To be Continued.
T, eopo Marie Of France more cider