The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-15
The MAN SHE LOVED !
By EFRIE ADELAIDE ROWLANDS.


into her breast as she alighted and
passed in through the open door
Meg, the collie, rose to greet her with
a low whine of delight, and Parsons
hurried into the dining room full OF
surprise and pleasure at sight of Miss
Leslie.
Where is Lord Derriman?" she
asked, quickly. And then, before he
could answer, some one came rush
ing down the stairs toward her.
Could her senses have left her, or
was this Dorothy-the beautiful,
golden-haired girl whom everybody
worshiped so blindly? This was an
untidy, shapeless creature with dis
heveled locks. white, bloated cheeks,
red, bleary eyes and coarsened lips;
her whole person breathing the ex-
istence of some hideous meaning.
Enid staggered back as this adj
vanced toward her and Maria uttered
a cry of alarm.
Parsons flung himself between
Enid and her cousin.
You must go back, my LADY," he
said, firmly; then, lifting his voice. he
called, loudly, "Virginie! Mrs. Rob-
erts! Come down."
The wretched creature tried to
force past his arm, growing savagely
the while at the pale, frightened girl,
who crouched back in sick dread and
pain, and then the hall seemed full of
people running, and sounds of ex-
| postulations mingled with a woman's
hoarse cries and screams, in the midst
of which Enid felt rather than saw
| Gervais' pure, pale face pleading al
most tenderly to his wife to 60 quiet
ly back to her room.
She closed her eyes and leaned
against a chair. Parsons stood by,
brushing his brow with his hand.
shes awful bad to-day; the
tremens is worse nor usually" he
muttered.
Enid gasped; the CHASTITY process
sion had passed up the broad stair
case down which Dorothy had glided
so often, decked out in her silks and
diamonds, lovely as the stars.
"What-what is it," she breathed
to the man.
He turned and looked at her and
shook his head with a sigh.
Its drink, miss; she's been like
this for weeks past. She must a seen
you a-comin' and got loose. Here
comes his lordship, poor fellow! All,
it most breaks my heart, that it does,
to see him"
Gervais came quickly up to Enid.
Involuntarily she held out her two
hands, and he grasped them; the
sight of her pure, fair face, her sweet,
trustful eyes, was like heaven to him
after that hideous m Without
speaking, he drew out into the sun
shine. Maria stood aloof, tears rain
ing down her cheeks.
Gervais drew a deep breath as they
were outside, then buried his face in
his hands, and she stood trembling
beside him, knowing him to be the
very acme of her existence, yet for
hidden to minister to his s%ufferings.
my mother-what of her? For
Heavens sake, never tell herr"
Can you not trust me?" she an
swered; and then she told him the
reason Of her coming.
81 will return with you," he said,
as a sigh broke from his lips; "but
I can not stay am wanted here"
He took two or three turns on the
c%olonnade, then stopped before her.
"Oh, Enid! child, if you could only
know all I have endured-the shame!
This-this has been going on ever
since Christmas, and now, you see, "
he shuddered, Il can do nothing for
her-give her no pleasure in life
but this horrible, cursed drink! She
does not even realize my efforts; she
has grown to hate me! My wife, the
woman I loved so well-Heaven help
me, too well!-is degraded to the
animal you saw just now!" Then
suddenly looking at her, did she
touch you?" he asked n%ervously; "did
she hurt you? She is strong and
powerful at these times-her keepers
can scarcely held her"
Enid shook her head; she could
not speak: words were choked in her
throat
poor child" he said, %tenderly;
poor child! I would have spared
you this"
Enid turned away.