The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-12-08

! y
fellow" said Doris. He belongs to
me and I think you will be glad &c
know him"
The sagacious Trojan waddled UP
to the child, parked a friendly greet
ing and licked his hand. Trojan pos
sessed some genuine accomplish
ments, which he exhibited with great
docility. He played the beggar, with
crooked paws hanging abjectedly. He
died at Basil's feet and leaped JOY
fully to life again at his call. He
danced clumsily on his hind legs, his
! long body held with ludicrous up
rightness. He hunted out coins and
minute things from impossible places
! and went through a rare game of hide
and seek with his new friend, his tail
wagging the while, his eyes full OF
intelligent camaraderie. Basil shrieked
with delight. Here was something
fresh and novel. He forgot his daily
battles with nurse, his feverish thirst
for the fairy queen. In the nursery
calm succeeded constant storm and
Doris drew a breath Of relief.
That afternoon Teddy Craven came
| to meet her on the avenue, under the
fimsy pretext of looking after Tro-
jan. At his approach her tired face
lighted, her soft eyes shone with
frank welcome.
""Trojan has proved a complete
success" she announced, land I have
had a day of peace"
Thank Heaven" answered Ora
ven, with fervor. THAT boy is too
| wearing. I'm afraid your position is
no sinecure."
True, but Basil is really growing
fond of me; and pray consider! I am
| earning money in Jacqueline's abb
sence. That thought fills me with
pride. All, if only I could receive
news of JAG l would be quite happy"
>"Well," replied Teddy, hopefully,
"she has
deeply ventured,
But all must do SO who would great
ly win
Let us have patience a little longer
we must hear something soon!"
But they did not. Every afternoon
the young fellow sailed forth to meet
Doris on the avenue, and help her
home with Trojan. She was lonely
and harassed with fears, and his un-
failing kindness and sympathy
touched her deeply.
"You are very, very good" she
said, again and again, land I am, most
grateful"
Such expressions quickened Ted
dy's heartbeats in an alarming way.
Rejected by J%acqueline, he threw
himself with ardor into the service OF
Doris.
Il ask nothing better than to de-
vote my whole life to them both" he
said to himself, with bitter grooming.
One afternoon, when the boy Basil
had been unusually trying and even
Trojan had failed to divert him
when his shrieks for his absent father
had distracted the whole household,
Teddy reached the St. George man
sion just as Doris was descending the
steps. Her eyes we're heavy with IA
tigue. her voice very husky with ex-
haustion.
Just powers!", crie1 Teddy, "you
have had an abominable day. see 1t
in your facet
She answered not a word. For a
space they walked on in silence. How
fragile and delicate she looked! How
the setting sun glinted on her golden
hair! AS they reached the umbrage-
Gus Gardens, Craven said:
Let us turn in here and rest a few
moments under the trees"
She made no demur. They passed
into the odorous shelter of Towering
shrubbery and spreading branches
and had barely reached a rustic seat
by the lake when Teddy caught his
companion, as she swayed helplessly
against him. Doris had tainted.
Fortunately no one was near. He
laid her on the garden seat, and
while Trojan whined pitifully, he
chafed her hands and wet her tenn
pies with water from the lake. With
a long, shuddering sigh, Doris opened
her eyes.
"Oh, l fear I have given you a
great fright" she gasped.
Certainly his face looked gray and
strained.
Il confess it was very alarming to
see you go off like that" replied Ted
dy, in a shaken. voice.
She broke down, and covered her
face with her hands.
This suspense is killing mel" she
! sobbed. 81 cannot bear it. Oh, what
has become of JAG? l shall die if I
do not have news of her."
His heart sank within him, but he
did not finch. He drew up his in
| ferior figure with dignity and cour-
age.
IF that be So" he answered, slow
ly. lit is time for me to go and look
f.S your sister. ! tell you frankly,
| Miss Hatton, l would rather face all
the fends of the Pit than Philip Ire
vor, but you have spoken the word,
and l will not hold back any longer
i will CO."
CHAPTER TX.