The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-14

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But in all her young life she had
never suffered a more painful ex-
perience than that slow ride home,
with the hasty, husky words she a
just heard ringing in her ears.
Who was this George LaXon? The
question rose persistently, and she
remembered with a start that piece
of paper she had picked up on the
floor at Weir Cottage, and the ex-
PLANTATION Dorothy had given her.
"a new second footman," she had
said; but though the matter had
passed out of her mind, Enid now
knew she had lied. Every now and
then she glanced down at Gervais,
walking beside her like a knight of
old leading his lady's palfrey, and her
heart ached in a dull, dead way as she
looked at his frank, clear face, and
realized how far above deceit and
dishonor he was, and what a mockery
his great happiness would seem to
him could he but know with how
much falseness his short married life
had been surrounded. She must act.
She must speak to Dorothy without
delay, and warn her of this man, who
did not beg for an interview, but COM
manded 1t.
She found Dorothy, after her re-
turn from the hunt, in her room.
Enid waited n moment before
she spoke, and Dorothy, finging her
self into a chair, called in a cross
tone for her maid.
This reused Enid, who had been
trying all the afternoon to think how
best and delicately she might breach
the subject Of that mysterious man.
Don't have Virginie in just yet,
Dorothy" she said, hurriedly.
Pray, why not?" inquired Dor
othy, coldly and d~isagreeably.
Enid took a short breath.
Because I have something to say
to you. I must speak to you alone,
Dorothy"
Must" repeated Lady Derriman,
with a frown; then a glance at the
girls eager, troubled face told her
this was no idle thing.
Dorothy then turned to her maid,
who had just come in.
"Virginie," she said, sharply, Ego
at once to the head gardener and tell
him to give you some white flowers
for tonight. I shall wear the dress
that arrived yesterday"
The maid turned away Immediately
and as she disappeared through the
curtains that led into another room,
Dorothy sprung to her feet and went
quietly after, double locking the door,
and then turning the key Of the one
near which Enid stood.
"Now," she said, quietly, but her
lips moved a little restlessly, NOW
for your mysterious communication.
What is it,"
Enid told her all, briefly and hur-
riedly. She could not decide at that
moment whether Dorothy was an
noyed or even affected by the an
nouncement that she had just re-
ceived. Her face was turned from
Enid, and she stood so quietly that
she might have been a figure Of stone
rather than a woman.
But the fire light shone on her face
and read there such anger, fear and
loathing as would have alarmed and
astonished those who were accus-
toned to see the beautiful Countess
Of Derriman's countenance so full Of
b%litheness, happiness and laughter.
She did not answer at first; she was
stunned by this new blow. In an in
slant she jumped to the horrible con-
clusion that Laxon had betrayed her
secret to this man, whoever he might
be, and that she had q fresh foe to
deal with.
Then another thought struck her.
It might be Laxon in some disguise
who had adopted it for safety. Yet
even as she thought this she saw that
it could not be possible.
Laxon would never have mistaken
Enid for her, and was he not already
touching the shores of Australia?
A wave of cold, miserable dread
swept over her heart. She had
thought herself so safe, so secure, and
now all that security was swept away,
and she stood once more on the abyss
of shame, endless disgrace and dis
honor.
Enid put one hand on a chair to
steady herself. This silence dis
tressed her; she longed for Dorothy
to speak, yet when Dorothy did open
her lips the girl shrunk back involun-
.tarily from the sound Of her usually
musical voice, changed to husky,
harsh, painfully uttered notes.
You say-you have never seen
this nan before?"
"Never!" Enid answered, family.
Dorothy put up her hand and
jerked open the collar of her habit
so roughly that the tiny diamond stud
she wore fell over and rolled away.
To be Continued.