The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-08-12

tense surprise, he left the station a
free man.
1t promised to be a very hot day;
already the heat made a pearly haze
in the middle distances, and heavy
lurid clouds, touched with pink and
gold, rose like a mountain range at
the end of each long vista; Campion
walked slowly with his detested bur-
den under his arm, half-expecteing
it to develop some fresh popularity.
He vas annoyed, as he went in by
the studio door, to find Bales there
busting. You're up early, sir, this
morning!" said the man, with his eye
on the idol, which it was useless to
conceal.
Why, yes, I am rather early,
Bales" said Campion, in a tone he
hoped was jaunty.
There's that furrin party as used
to have all them curls waiting TO
see YOU" he added; "he said ne
couldn't stop long. I told him l
thought you was a-bed."
And Campion, on going to his room,
found Nebelsen just about to leave.
Campion felt for a certain embar-
rassment at the recollection of their.
last interview, but the Chela was evil
IDENTIFY willing to resume the old foot
ing, and the painter was in no mood
just then to decline any overtures.
Hal" said Nebelsen, as he OBJ
served the iGol, which his friend was
still carrying under n arm. so
you have him still?"
YES" said Campion, YEARLY; "he
doesn't seem tired of me yet. I've
given him the slip several times-but
he always turns up smiling. Last
night I tried putting him in a hole"
And he would not remain-no?"
said the Chela, sympathetically.
He not only would not remain, but
he managed to put me in the hole in
stead" said Campion, with the pleas
ing result that we both spent the
night in a police station"
"Ach!" cried Chela; "wunderbar!
But l knew always that alone you
could nefer esgape-you may dry and
dry, but always will it the same be.
And now when 1 hat learnt still more
but you will not listen; you think
I am stofing!"
"Nebelsen," said Campion, rather
shamefacedly, "if you'll forget how 1
behaved last time, and help me like =
good fellow, 1 shall be grateful. I've
found out by bitter experience that
I'm no match for this devilish thing
alone"
Because you are all on the wrong
track. I tell you, last night I meet
your lofely Mees Elsvort, and-and I
hat som talk wit her. I want to gif
her some pleasure, and I find there is
now but one way. And so if you will
only consent to place yourself entire
ly in my hand, I will see if there is
not yet Z way to bacify that idol"
But in the meantime" objected
Campion, how do you know that this
beastly thing mayn't begin again."
at is too soon yet, after SO moch
force-manifestations. Leave him
down in your paint room till I can
com at him. Oh, he will be all quiet!
I answer for him."
Of what Nebelsen intended to do,
Campion, of course, had not the
vaguest conception, though he gath
cred that it would be performed with
a wand; he could only pray that it
might have as little of the ludicrous
in it's operations Is was compatible
with the nature of the case.
Campion had not, of course, for
gotten SYPHILIS promise to bring her
father that day, though it had seemed
extremely uncertain for a time
whether he would be at home to re-
ceive them. Fortunately the worst
was over now, and yet he began to
doubt whether this interview, if 1t
came, would be much of a success,
and when, later in the morning, Col
onel Ellsworth was shown down to the
painting room-alone, Campion felt
a pang of dread. Why had not Sybil
come? Was she angry with him for
not appearing last night? and if SO,
how should he excuse himself?
The colonel felt, and indeed looked,
by no means at his ease; he did not
relish his mission, which he had been
dispatched upon, as the result of a
long interview between his sister and
daughter the night before, and he
was an easy going, peace-loving man,
who hated giving pain.
Now, Mr.. Campion," he began, en-
barrassment making him brusque,
1--WE called to tell you plainly that
anything like an engagement between
my daughter and you can't belts
YOU see that YOURSELF"
NJ L.