The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-10-07
CHAPTER ".
Continued.

Simply. Then turning 10 LII. Mdhsell'
she said: "You have not found my
husband?" speaking in a steady, SELF
contained, almost b%usinesslike tone,
which betrayed strong feeling enough,
but without a symptom of tears or
Mysteries.
"No," was the doctors direct reply.
"Lord Wartlebury's men have secured
the heath in all directions, but they
found no trace OF him there. I heard,
however, at the station that a gentle
man did leave by the midday train for
London. He was a tall man, clean
shaver, regular features, thick brown
hair, with a tinge of red in it., cut
short behind, but curling on the fore
head; pale blue eyes, deep set; and he
wore a suit of summer tweed, light
gray, and q white tie"
THAT is my husband" she said,
quite quietly
"The fellow from whom you got
your information must have had a
nice faculty for observation, I should
think" Lord Wartlebury observed.
Eyes, apparently" DR.. Mansell an
swered. But he had a reason for
noticing this gentleman particularly,
and that made me think that perhaps
/ was on the right track. 1t was the
ticket collector that gave me the in
formation, and he said he couldn't
help noticing the gentleman because
his manner was so peculiar. He
walked up and down the station while
he was waiting for the train, flourish
ing his stick and talking at the top
of his voice to everybody, and he
would insist in getting into a third
class carriage, although he had taken
q frst-class ticket. He had no lug
gage with him, either. And the mai
thought he had been drinking"
A painful spasm contracted the
young wife's face for moment.
THAT is very unlike my husband"
she said. at must be as you say,
Motor, he has lost his senses"-ani
then, turning to Lord W~artlebury,
and speaking with more emotion than
she had yet shown, she exclaimed:
"Oh, sir, help me to find my hus-
band!"
my dear young lady" the old gen.
tleman answered, nothing would
: give me greater pleasure"
y Then there was a pause.
az must follow him." she said at
last.
THAT is what DR.. Mansell thought
you would wish to do" Lord Wartle-
bury replied. "He has inquired about
the trains and finds there are none
until 8 o'clock this evening, and that
is a slow one; but there is a fast N
about 10, which arrives at the same
hour, and it would doubtless suit you
better to go later. You will probably
have arrangements to make, friends
to communicate with and that sort
of thing"
II am ready" she answered. II
packed my things while I was waiting
for DR.. Mansell. We heard, you
know, from a laborer that a gentle
man had been seen going to the sta
ton, and so I prepared to follow him,
if he had indeed gone. But about
communicating with our friends; what
would you advise? He may only
have gone to our house in London, or
to his own chambers, in which case
I shall find him easily. And / have
been thinking that the fewer people
who know about this-this-thls-
his going away like this, the better.
If it were made public it might injure
him in his profession. I do not kno
where my own people are at this mo-
ment. They have gone abroad, and
are moving from one place to an
other, so that I am never sure of their
address; and my husband has no
near relatives, except a sister, who
lives in London, and whom l shall
go to, or send for, as soon as / ar
rive, to ask her to come here and look
after my boy, in case I have to be
away any time. She is a very dis
Greet person, and I can trust her. Our
own servants are all here, and I shall
tell them that their master has been
obliged to go to. London suddenly on
business of Importance, and that I
mean to run up and do some shopping
while he is busy. They know he likes
me to be with him always"
This last thought brought a dry sob
to her throat. Were the happy,
happy days all over? Was her husT
band to be hers nc more? If she
found him, would he look at her
strangely, not knowing, not remem-
bering?
On, God! She Strengthened herself
on her seat as she uttered this bitter,
inward cry, renewing her strength
with the effort, and casting the dis
tressing thought far from her. But
how should she bear the hours of sus-
pense that must elapse while she
waited for the train? For the first
time in all her healthy, happy life
the fear of being left alone with her
own thoughts appalled, her.
Indeed, I scarcely think you need
advice" Lord Wartlebury answered.
What you propose seems to me in
every way the proper thing to do;
what do you say, Mansell?"
A hot flush came and went on the
young mans clear skin. 1t was a
popularity, this flush, in the way it
came and went whenever he was
moved. 1t was eloquent now of the
sincere admiration he felt for the
young creature, so cruelty placed, and