The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-14
lHE MAN She LOVED
By EFFE ADELAIDE ROWLANDS.
XVI.
The Dagger.

EMO S RESOLUTION u SpSdh W bol'
.othy was put into practice the next
morning. AS OOH as she had taken
her usual stroll round the garden
Enid went to her cousins room.
She thought to find her alone, FOL
the earl was generally busy with his
letters at this hour; but as she
knocked and received a summons in
Dorothy's voice to enter, she was q
little taken aback to see Gervais
standing by the fire reading the pa
per, while Dorothy dawdled with a
dainty breakfast in her luxurious and
exquisite pink silk draped bed
Enid" she exclaimed, turning her
steel-gray eyes on the newcomer.
II thought you were alone" said
Enid hurriedly.
Il am just off, Miss Leslie" Ger.
vais observed, throwing down the
paper and advancing with out.
stretched hand. do you want any
thing very Particular"
Dorothy rested her lovely head
ianguidly on her hand. She was a
picture Of beauty in her dainty lace
robe, her golden hair falling loose
on her shoulders.
Enid hesitated.
"Ah, a secret confidence, I see; SO
I will depart" said the earl, with a
laugh.
mo, 1t is no secret; and II may
speak just as we'll before you," Enid
answered, calling up all her courage,
Then she said plainly and simply
what she wanted.
Gervais smiled as she finished, and
Dorothy frowned.
"We don't intend to let Miss Leslie
60. do we, my darling?" he said with
genial warmth.
Dorothy had no particular wish one
way or the other; but she saw in this
q splendid opportunity for acting, fol-
giving Gervais a glimpse of her In her
sweet, generous womanly role.
II don't intend to listen to any OF
my little cousins nonsense" she said
lightly. "She knows what happiness
it gives me to have her here, and
therefore I feel sure she will not
think of leaving u.s."
Gervais gazed at her with a glow OF
tenderness in his eyes, and then
looked at Enid with an air Of salts
faction; for who could Withstand such
words as those and from such lips?
Enid had given her cousin one deep
glance full of surprise Dorothy was an
enigma to her. She felt that it was
wrong to doubt this sudden affection,
yet something told her how untrue 1t
all was.
Gervais, seeing her hesitate, came
forward and took her hand.
Remember, you are my cousin
now" he said, with a laugh, "and as
Dorothy's husband, I consider my
self part guardian, SO I mean to exer-
else a share of her prerogatives, and
forbid Miss Leslie to leave Bromley
Manor on pain of-well, all sorts Of
things"
Enid colored family.
She saw that she must yield, and
so she agreed to look upon Bromley
Manor as her home for the future,
to take it with its joys and its ills.
She little knew how great and terrible
the ills would be.
One afternoon, as she sat working
hard at a painting she intended as a
gift to the Dowager Lady Derriman,
the gallery was honored by the un-
expected presence Of Captain Leices-
ter, the young officer who was annoy
ing Enid with his conceited atten-
tons.
II say, Miss Leslie" he said, as he
made his way cautiously into the
room where she sat, disorder and dust
,reigning rampantly around; "you
really are too cruel to hide yourself
away up here, you know; won't you
take pity on us poor creatures?"
Enid smiled at his pathos and his
bad grammar.
II am afraid I can't just now, Cap
tain Leicester" she answered. 81
thought you were shooting?"
mo, I got tired; that COMPOUNDED
Indian climate has played the deuce
with my constitution. Excuse my
strong language, but it's the truth"
He sat down as he spoke, and did
indeed look rather fatigued.
Enid, with her ready sympathy
was sorry for him.
II say" the young man suddenly
exclaimed, II wonder if Broughton
and you would mind if I brought my
work up here, too?"
Enid would much rather not have
had his company, but she could not
very we'll refuse.
Captain Leicester was not long in
coming back, followed by his servant
carrying a small wooden trunk.
There, Miss Leslie!" he exclaimed
as he opened this, having dismissed
his man..
Enid looked down and saw moth.
ing but a heap of rusty-lookins
knives, curiously carved handles an6
a large sheet of sandpaper.
Some Indian weapons I picked VI
from time to time, and I am going tt
clean them"
In the midst of this in came Dor
othy, in a new. short gown Of black
serge, which, with its cap and trim,
ming Of astrachan, suited her to per
lection.
Captain Leicester!" che er
claimed.
Yes, that's me. I'm very busy
Lady Derriman, I assure YOU"