The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-08-25
THE MAN She LOVED |
By EFEE ADELAIDE ROWLANDS'


against them. Mrs. Baker, a middle
aged widow, appeared in Loxton on
the day of the inquest, but she could
give no information at all.
Mr.. Laxon had placed the child
with her about a month ago. He was
very particular about it, and said dis
| tinctly that in a short time he would
be settled in a house of his own, and
| then little Barbara would live with
him. He gave her the idea of a mar
| suddenly come into money; he paid
her literally, and the child was well
| clothed and had quantities of toys
sem to it. She never heard of any
| relations, and did not know what to
| do with the child, as she was a poor
woman, and had only accepted the
charge because of the payment.
That was the gist of her story, and
| Sir Gregory and the earl both looked
grave as day passed day and nothing
turned up either n day or another.
The murder had been freely ven
tilated in the papers, and they had
put several advertisements in to see
if they could possibly find out his con-
nections and relations, but with no
avail; the only persons who came for
ward at all being his bankers, who
! testified to a sum of nearly a thou
sand pounds lying to his credit at
their bank, and the sporting men al
luded to before. George Laxon was
buried in Loxton churchyard, and all
the village turned out en- masse to see
the funeral.
When the excitement was over, it
was marvellous to see how quickly the
subject was dropped; it had been a
tremendous thing, but o it was
over, and the village people were glad
to lapse back into their ordinary,
peaceful course; all except the land
lord of the Sparrow, who had reaped
a golden harvest during the week of
the inquest and funeral.
The police were fairly staggered,
and even the London detectives could
make nothing of it after giving their
whole attention to the matter.
Dare Broughton and Dr.. Waters
were slightly triumphant; if the local
authorities had not insisted on using
their own men in the beginning, the
fellow would never have escaped;
that was their opinion.
AS for Enid, her ars were weary
Of listening, while her heart was filed
with such tumult of fears as came
into it more quickly and heavily each
day; for to her great alarm she found
the agitation and anxiety that Dor
othy was undergoing was gradually
running her cold Indifference and ruin
ing her acting.
1t would be impossible adequately
to describe the condition of Dorothy's
mind at this time; her remnant Of
courage and wit seemed to vanish be-
meath the continued strain; she found
it difficult to scheme or lie as she used
to do, and she vas hopelessly at sea
as to what tale she could tell to ex-
cuse herself if a grain of the truth
ever came to her husbands ears.
us her brain touched?" thought
one of her extraordinary fits of mood
mess had followed on what had
seemed almost frivolous behavior.
"Is it. consciouce?" murmured
Enid. "Oh! if I only knew what to
do-pray Heaven she may change
before he notices it,"
But Gervais was aroused from his
ignorance at last.
About four days after George Lax
on was carried to his last resting
place,'a larger party than usual was
assembled at Bromley Manor for din
ner. Dorothy looked positively radi-
ant as she swept into the drawing
room, that was a glimpse Of fairy
land, with its dozens of tall white
candles, and Enid could not repress
a vague sensation Of coming evil; she
had learned to know what this mood
meant. Gervais, however, thought
his darling was only returned to her
dear self, and he went forward to
whisper a word of love and proud de-
light in her ear.
Sir Gregory, too, was lost in ad-
miration, and as he led her in to
dinner paid her some very fowery
compliments. DR.. Waters was pres
ent, and followed with Dare Brough-
ton, Enid bringing up the rear on
Gervais' arm.
Some news for you," he whis-
pered; my mother is coming to us
for Christmas. 1 hope you will tell
me you are glad. Does not my darl-
ing look beautiful tonight"
Enid was thankful he had spared
her an answer, in his lover-like eager
ness to speak of his wife, for she
shrank from the very thought Of Lady
Derriman coming until Dorothy
should be more herself.
The conversation started well, but
at last it drifted-how, no one could
tell-to the old subject of the muir
der, and the failure of the police to
track the murderer; then the poor
child, Barbara, was mentioned, and
her future discussed.
Il think it will be well for the child
to remain in the village" Sir Gregory
said, thoughtfully. the money that
remains will keep her for some years,
and then she can be trained to do
something"
"Never!" observed DR.. Waters,