The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-12-23

and what he liked best was to gamble
all day long. He did not care with
whom he played-the noble earl, his
>host, the steward, Or the stoker, 1t
was all one to him, so that they
played and staked something-any-
thing. He was Indifferent about the
value of the article, and had triumph
antly exhibited a set Of bone buttons
one day, won from off the said
stoker's greasy blouse at a game OF
toss-up, played standing in the stoke
hole in the intervals Of tending b
fires; and he was prouder of that
victory than Of any, because, he said,
the stoker was a dodgy chap, and a
man had to be all there to beat him.
This was not the sort of thing that
Mr.. Leslie Somers, in his right mind,
one of the ablest and most polished
ornaments at the bar, would have
done and Boosted about; and LORD
Wartlebury was anxious, If possible,
to spare Gertrude of all knowledge
Of the change in him in this respect.
1t was hardly possible, however, I'M
less the patient could be persuaded to
exercise some se%lf-control. He knew
that there were ladies on board the
yacht, and had made sundry Inquiries
regarding their age and social status
not at all complimentary to Lord
Wartlebury's character. 1t was there
fore deemed advisable to give him a
hint about his conduct, and warn him
to be guarded In his language before
them: and DR.. Mansell thought, while
they were speaking of the ladies, they,
| might sound him again on the sub
| iect of his wife, and make an effort
to recall all that he had forgotten to
his mind. This done, the rest would
be easy, for the delusion about Law
renee Soames must disappear before
the recognition of his own Identity.
Gertrude heard this plan, and felt
| almost hopeful about 1t, but ex-
pressed a wish to remain concealed
tin she knew the result. The con-
| finement was doing her harm, how
| ever, and it was therefore arranged
that she and Miss Somers should go
on deck when Leslie was at dinner,
and have their own dinner at a differ
| ent hour; and also in the morning
before he was up. This gave them
plenty of time, for the poor FELLOW
could hardly be persuaded to leave
the table at night nor his bed In the
morning. During this time Gertrude
did not ever catch a glimpse of him,
but Miss Somers saw him once sitting
with his back to her playing cards,
| without necktie or collar, his rudy
brown hair all tossed, and a huge
| glass of brandy and soda beside him.
It was after one Of these games,
when, having won it, he was in a
particularly good humor that Lord
lWart1ebury-of whom he seemed to
stand, in awe-approached the deli
cate subject upon which 1t was nee
essary to fix his attention by be-
ginning to discuss different phases
Of mental aberra--on with DR.. Man.
sell. The soi-disant Mr.. Soames was
interested at once. de knew nothing
about the subject, and seemed fas-
cinated, listening and asking ques-
lions with the eagerness OF an In
telligent schoo1boy. Had DR.. Mansell
met him casually he would have set
him down as an u%ncultured man OF
lew tastes, with a good brain much
weakened by dissipation and drink.
A certain shrewdness was all that
remained of the great insight by
which he had made his name. He
confessed gross sins and Ignorance
without shame or reserve, but seemed
to know the possibility and recognize
the advantages of leading a better
life; he had even times of longing for
what might have been had he con-
Quoted himself otherwise. He was
weak. however, and sensual, cared
for nothing really but constant ex-
citement, and only remorseful when
this was not to be obtained, and he
became subject to the depression con-
%sequent upon its absence. Lord War
tleburyvpitied the poor man from the
bottom of his heart. He knew him
we'll by reputation, and thought 1t
sad to see so fine an intellect reduced
to such a level by disease. He con-
sidered him a wreck, and never for
got to make due allowance for any
ravage caused by the storm that
might appear.
70 be Continued. .Ha
NFaJtino nv Pomhardment