The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-15
CHAPTER xxx.
Continued.

CHAPTER AALA. ~
Continued.
LADY Derriman!" repeated the
girl, family; words were almost i'm
possible to her just then.
will you do this? 1t will give
me great happiness if I know you are
together"
A wave of inexpressible gladness
and Joy mingled with Ends mental
agony; the tenderness Of his tones
.ouched her poor, aching heart to the
core.
Then I will go most willingly"
she said; and Dare saw hat the tears
we'll into her eyes.
1t was he who then took up the
subject, and very briefly told Enid all
hat Gervais wished, and before IL
lad struck, while the bells were CHM
Ing out on the cold, wintry air, Enid
lad stepped into the carriage with
Dare and her faithful Maria, who
went at the earl's command, and
,olled away from Bromley Manor,
leaving the man she loved above all
n the world sitting, with bowed head,
alone before the shattered remains Of
ais great love, faith and happiness.
And while the world gossiped, and
:hen forgot them for a time, two
women lived a peaceful life together
In the London house of the Derriman
family. Enid and Gervais' mother
would have been happy-more than
nappy-in the mutual pleasure their
close companionship gave, had not
both their hearts been heavy and sore
with thought of him; they neither of
Them knew half Of the misery that ne
was enduring, but they had learned
enough to pity and to MOURN
MY child" Lady Derriman would
call the girl, my dear child!'
And Ends big blue eyes would fill
with tears as she was drawn down
and tenderly kissed.
MY mother in Heaven sees this,
and is happy" was her grateful
thought.
In her letters to her son Lady Der
riman told him again and again how
much she loved Enid, and what a
comfort she was; and Gervais always
felt a thrill of satisfaction and pleas
ure come to him as he read this; a
momentary CLEAN of something rare
and sweet that flashed across his
dark life like a golden meteor, only
to vanish and leave a blackness of
despair and suffering worse than be-
fore.
What had passed between himself
and his wife that awful Christmas
Day none would ever know; perhaps
Enid alone out of all guessed what a
terrible meeting it must have been,
out she did not see him again. and she
never spoke of the subject to his
mother.
Gervais and his wife travelled about
from place to place, staying in none
long.
VIVA was the matter with the
countess?" the fashionable world
would ask itself; lit certainly was
mysterious; no one seemed to know
what allied her, and yet she undoubt-
idly was an invalid, and the earl was
dreadfully troubled about her, any
body could see that. Why, he looked
a different man of late, he seemed
to have grown almost worn and old
handsome Gervais, the idol Of soci-
ety!-and his hair was almost gray.
Oh! he was absurdly fond of her
then, she was very beautiful, per-
haps not so beautiful as she used to
be, and her manner was so strange"
Enid and Lady Derriman heard
little of this chatter; they lived in a
quiet world of their own, peopled
with artistic fancies and poetical
thoughts. The few guests who came
to visit marvelled at the sweet beauty
Of the girl, and her contentment with
50 monotonous an existence, and they
would ask her out, now and then,
from a mistaken idea of charity.
why not go, my dearest?" Lady
Derriman would ask sometimes.
You are too young to be cooped up
with an old woman"
Eut Enid had always Il answer:
II do not want them, and l want
YOU"
So time went on, and as spring was
East melting into summer, Bromley
Manor was opened to receive its lord
and lady again.