The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-22
THE MAN she LOVED !
By EFFE ADELAIDE R0WLANDS. I


all, Enid" Gervais observed, after
awhile.
Eyes," she answered.
II have been selfish" he went on,
Forgetting that my mother is no
longer young and needs me-"
"She will be happy, ! know" the
girl murmured.
And you, are you glad?"
yes" she said, simply, Il am
glad"
Gervais hesitated; the lights of
Bromley were twinkling in the dis
lance.
Enid" he said in a low, uncertain
way, II have no right to ask you the
question, but I want to hear the truth
from your lips. When-when are
you and Dare to be married."
Enid started and then trembled.
"You are-are mistaken" she
managed to get out. Il am not"
"You are not vexed with me-" he
exclaimed, quickly.
81 am not going to marry Mr..
Broughton," she cried, in despera-
ton.
What" Gervais stopped and
looked at her. Enid, is this true?"
She only nodded her head.
why are you not going to marry
Dare?"
Enid turned away.
Because II do not think it
wise"
as it because you love some one
else? Oh, Enid, forgive mel"
There is nothing to forgive she
murmured, family.
Gervais said no more, only drew
her hand through his arm, and then,
as if urged by some strong emotion,
he released it again.
NO." he said, almost to himself.
II must know. Enid, be gentle with
me. You are not going to marry
Dare. Is it because you love some
M else-it it-oh, my darling, is it
because you love me-"
She breated a word so low he had
to stoop to catch it.
"Yes."
With an eager cry of JOY he
clasped her in his arms and kissed
her.
Enid, / should have been home
nearly two years ago, but I thought
that Dare and you we're"
Hush" she said, family, yet SO
happily. why, G~ervais, I have loved
you from the first-the very first day
I saw you"
He softly touched the sweet lips
with his own.
And out of my sorrow has grown
my great love for you, Enid. 1 thinB
it must have been there all the time
Cling closer to me, my darling, and
deal gently with me, for I have suf.
fered so much"
Her answer was to wrap her arms
around him and pillow her head OF
his breast.
"Oh, my dear, dear love-" she said
brokenly. IF 1 had only dared le'
you know all I felt for YOU"
II did know it, Enid" he said
"and even in that awful past tn.
knowledge comforted me. Enid, !:
have come upon you SO suddenly, per
haps I have startled your confession
from you; if so, I will be patient ant
wait till you have thought it all over
my dearest, and"
Il want no thought, Gervais. ,
know my own heart too we'll. I have
always loved you"
He stood silent for a moment
hardly compromising the fullness O:
his joy at first; then a feeting, darb
memory came.
But the past, Enid" he said, JUS
Tightening his hold. II must tel
you all now"
Tell me nothing" She lifted he,
pure, lovely face to his. Let he,
secret be buried with her, poor crea
ture!"
Gervais murmured the last. two
words after her.
1T was one terrible mistake" he
said, sadly. But it is over; anC
~henceforth, my darling, our lives, by
heavens blessing, shall run VI
smoothly to the end. Kiss me again
Enid, my " dear one, my wife,"
The moon broke through the cold
gray sky, and shone down on them as
they walked on, lost in their great
happiness; it cleaned, too, on the
home that had been so degraded an6
desecrated, and it fingered on ENID
with a soft, tender touch, as if it i'm
printed a blessing on her and on the