The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-07-29

with eyes like stars, and a soul snow
pure" .
Yes, but, my dear chap, you can't
marry on stars and snow, don't you
know. Has she got any other prop
erty?"
IL do not know. I hat not ask"
"Well, have you?"
Enough with what I shall gain at
giving philosophy lessons to live upon
with care.
Doesn't sound hopeful-take my
| advice, and stick to a single life"
You say that because you are a
bachelor, and a despiser of all do
Investigated joys"
Shows how much you know about
it, Nebelsen. Do you see this ticket"
and he took one from his chemney-
| glass. This card is my passport to
felicity; when the porter takes it, he
will take my bachelor existence, too.
You don't follow? Well, I'm going
to meet the sweetest girl in the world
at this same soiree, and I've made up
my mind to ask her to have me this
very evening""
"And you hat no doubts what she
will say?"
Babcock smiled. well, I don't
want to boast, but I fancy I've as
good a chance as any other fellow.
I used to be afraid of that COMPOUNDED
| Campion, but he has done for him
self now"
Champion! 1t is not possible that
you are speaking of Miss Ellsworth"
"Ah, I forgot you knew something
of them; but there's no harm in men
tioning names; you see, it's time I
married, and she's a dear little girl;
I don't see how I could do better, do
you?"
"To!" said Chela, in a low voice,
mo -ou, and not the greatest in the
land, could do better"
clad you think So" said Babcock.
"Well, Of course, this is all in the
strictest confidence at present. I only
told you to get you out of that notion
of yours that I was a confirmed bach
elor, And now there's just five min
utes les for your own love affairs. l
thought, by the way, you were vowed
to celibacy all your life?"
cit was not a VOW, only it is found
that even the purest affection is
rather a hindrance to occult progress,
but that matters not now since l hat
renowned occultism, my Mahatma,
further initiation-all, ALL"
You don't mean to tell me you've
only just found them out?"
Il believe in them just as before,
only my Mahatma is becoming indol-
cradle; you remember at Sussex Place
the letter which came. Ach! you
cannot fancy what was within!"
UNLESS it recommended you by
any chance not to be a condemned
fool?" said Babcock.
"You know-but how them"
"How? Simply because I wrote It."
And Babcock burst into a shout Of
laughter-"Scribbled it, off while you
were out on the balcony! Greek
characters; because you knew my
hand, and I didn't know your Mahat-
mas. Then I gave it a twist up in
the air behind somebody's back-and
there's one occult communication &C
counted for! So you took it all in,
and actually went home and solemnly
renowned your Mahatma, and the
Bounding Brothers Of Thibet, and all
Why, I made sure that you would see
through my little joke, though was
pretty certain you wouldn't say so
at the time; it's so funny"
"Yes, it is too fon-ny!" said Nebel-
sen; savagely. "They will think me a
worthless apostate, which will very
amusing be, and I hat renowned all
hopes which made this earth life
bearable. I shall be quoted in their
annual rebort as a failure; all be-
cause of your fon. All, you are a so
charming humorist, Mr.. Babcock,
that you will appreciate a leedle biece
VI pls olSoi 1Oh III ~
You are to meet this yong laty at the
Academy tonight" .
WELL" said Babcock, have you
any objection?"
"Yes, you do not see her tonight!
Another, a rival perhaps whom you
do not fear, will speak in your place,
and it will not be your cause he will
plead. You will not be there!"
Il should like to see any one try
to stop me-"
you are going to see me. You
may not know that in agomblish-
ments of an archaeological kind I
am, as you would call, a high-dis-
tinguished dab. Often, only by al
ways looking at him hat I a man
from eating his dinner prevented.
| You think not, eh?"
To be Continued.
A Ditch is n Stream.