The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-08-19

in my time; makes you doubt your
own senses, by CAD! And then, when
you come to look at it, it is rather
too bad to put these native gods
about our houses as ornaments. we
shouldn't like it if a Parsee stuck up
well, say one of our eagle lecterns,"
said the colonel casting about for an
illustration, land made a hatstand OF
it. We should call it bad taste on his
part now"
"Oh, there's ne question about Mr..
Campion's taste in this matter. But
7 can see you Ealf-believe already.
Thank goodness, here comes a ra-
tional person-how did you find out
we were here, Lionel?"
"They told me at Sussex place" he
replied. II wanted to explain my abb
sence last night. I must say, Cam
pion," he added, looking him mean
ingly in the face, II didn't expect to
find you here!"
"Not in his own studio!" cried
Sybil, resenting an indefinable some
thing in his tone; "he's not you, Lilo
nell"
The unhappy Campion was dumb.
He suddenly remembered when and
how he had met him the night before,
and the misunderstanding that Var
ker's well-meant evasion must have
occasioned; worse still, he saw that
Babcock remembered, too, and meant
mischief.
And Nebelsen, too?" said Bah
cock; dear me; two unexpected
pleasures!" On reflection he conclud-
ed not to make any %allusion to the
CheEA's archaeological perform
anc4. Il suppose, Campion," he went
Or, "the magistrate thought a fine
you'd meet your case, eh?"
What magistrate?" cried Mrs.
Standard, seeming a special provi-
dence.
Hasn't he told you?" said the ami
able Babcock, who had realized from
SYPHILIS expression that extreme meas
ures were necessary. AFTER all,
though, I don't suppose you would
be here like this If he had. But it's
his story, I won't spoil it."
And l." said Campio9a, "see no oc-
casion to tell it,"
Pardon me-" said Mrs. Standard,
acidly, there is every occasion"
Its unfair to press him." said
Babcock, "for, really, now, judging
from what I saw I doubt if he al re-
member it himself. And every n
has his own ideas about how to spend
an evening with combined profit and
pleasure"
Ronald was with me yesterday
afternoon" said Sybil, proudly; "I'm
not afraid to hear what he did after
ward"
you have that quality, my ch.ld,"
said Babcock, suavely, (which the
poet tells us is superior to a Norman
extraction; take my advice and ask
no questions"
Ronald" said Sybil, with a sweet
imperiousness, "tell mel"
The hoplessness of telling such a
story then and there came upon him
with a crushing force. BY what evil
dence could he support it? Who
would believe him against Babcock?
He turned away with a stifed groan.
"Everything's against mel" he said,
II can't even tell you, Sybil."
And at this moment the door above
opened and Bales stolid walnut face
looked down upon them. Some one
called and says he must see you at
once, SIR" he announced, from the
police station"
Was this Internal idol about to
bring some new disaster upon him?
when, too, he had thought to have
done with policemen for a while!
Campion's heart seemed to reverse
it's action; he stood helpless, speech
less, in the track of this unknown
advancing calamity.
What police s%tation?" Mrs. STAN
iland inquired in an awful voice.
II don't know, Of course" said
Babcock, "but I should imagine it was
the establishment which had the
honor OF receiving him last night"
This is too d~isgraceful!" cried
Mrs. Standard, Indignantly.
But 'Sybil mad come nearer to her
lovers side. "Papa-Aunt Hilary"
she cried, "he has done nothing dis
graceful; it is that idol again! Ron
aid, was it not?"
You know I would never deceive
you, darling" he said. at was"
BAH" cried the colonel, in a vio-
lent revolt, there are limits, really,
Mr.. Campion! You can't make that
ridiculous image the scapegoat for
everything, you know"
To be Continued.